[Closed] Rats. I have them. How do I kill them?

Maybe some traps?

rather than let them starve to death

edit - oops, read full post then reply 😳

- Get some big f off traps (snap type) from screw fix and distribute liberally in the loft.

Traps are on my list.

Get someone in and *pray* the poison they put down for them doesn't result in them dying in a cavity. Apparently the smell of rotting rat is one to behold and is very difficult to shift.

Don't use poison like I did. One croaked in the wall cavity & the stink was horrendous for ages.
I hate rats.

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Good to figure out if it is actually rats or just mice.
If it's mice then you need to fill any hole big enough to get a pencil in!

Spray foam won't last long for either - they'll nibble right through it unless you generously mix in some wire wool.

Are you sure its not Squirrels? We had Squirrels- you could hear them up there. **** it made my skin crawl. Local Council chap came (only £50) and sorted them out.

Sealing up the holes is Ok but they will always find a way in.

I think you need to put a shout out for any pest-controllers on STW with another thread maybe.

Failing that you could buy some bait stations and rat-traps and lay them where you think they might be coming from.

The best way will be to put some night-vision CCTV up there then you can see their rat-run.

Seal up the holes they're getting in from with spray foam. Easy for ground level pretty much impossible for the eaves of the house etc. I will also talk to next door as we're in a semi so I assume the cavaity walls are linked.

They will chew through that in no time, I think you can mix it with some wire wool/chickenwire to slow the little buggers down.

more likely mice?

just some old fashioned mouse traps in that case, bait with choice of peanut butter, chocolate. keep checking and they'll eventually get the message (or get the snap).

I'd talk with next door first, there may be 'history' you don't know about...

The droppings look like photos of Rat poo i've seen on the net (hardly conclusive tho).

How do you tell if they're squirrels?

Not going near poison, I don't want a dead rat in my cavaity walls. I have no problem with putting down traps or emptying them.

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Can never be too careful with rats...

Rachel

could be mice in the roof?

We got a man in to get rid of rats in the garden, but subsequently i just bought poison boxes from b&q and put them down myself. Worked just the same.

edit: was a bit slow typing.

How do you tell if they're squirrels?

You look at their nuts.

(coat please)

could be mice in the roof?

The poo looks too large, although I am not an expert in rodant poo.

If I had a thermonuclear weapon I would be orbiting right now - it's the only way to be sure.

One thing when going to empy to traps give them a prod with something other than your finger first just to make sure there dead, 😯 You would be supprised with what they can survive go for Fenn Mk 4's traps wise, and in a loft space are fine but legally any where else would need to be place in a tunnel of sorts.

Make sure you nail the traps chain down well so they cannot go walk about in them as well.

Killed 100's in my time as a gamekeeper still gave me the creeps BTW ALWAYS wash your hands after touching them or areas where they have been.
REF http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptospirosis

Yeah, that makes me think I would rather poison the ****ers and risk it...

Call the council and have them deal with it.

Edit: and as someone who is three weeks into recovering from leptospirosis and still feeling drained, yes, wear gloves, wash your hands and don't cut yourself!

Our local council (Plymouth) deals with rats for free and mice for very cheap if it is your own home (as opposed to business premises). Would be worth a look at your council's website. YMMV, but apparently our council's pest control people are well good.

Large poo is rats. Get a few different traps (they're clever, see). Wear gloves all the time you're handling the traps and if they're new, leave 'em outside for a few days to weather.

The newer traps are easier to set and place, but the old style ACME snap ones work really well (gloves mask the smell of human and protect your fingers a bit.

Put the traps along runs if possible, not always easy or obvious to see them though. Close to the wall is good. Bait them with different stuff, peanut butter works well as it's sticky and they can't flick it off the trap easily.

They will try to chew their way out of a live trap, so you'll hear them if you catch one. If a snap trap doesn't kill them, they'll make a hell of a racket too.

Best way to kill them in a live trap is drowning apparently. Fill a bin with water and chuck it in for 20 minutes.

Oh and bait a few traps but don't set them - let the rats get comfortable around the traps for a few days before you start killing them. Don't think that once you've caught two you've got them all - they travel in groups. Expanding foam is a good idea as they will chew through it in moments, but then at least you can see where they get in and out. Block all holes properly with concrete once you're happy the traps are done an there's been no activity for a week or so.

I was going to go for - http://www.screwfix.com/p/procter-little-nipper-rat-trap-pack-of-2/60553

Why do I need to put them in a tunnel?

Do I really need to chain them down! How big are these things?!

Those little nippers are the ACME snaps I mentioned. Work well, but can be a bastard to set and place without going off. Easier to screw them down and them set.

These are the traps I've had best success with [url] http://www.discountedpetproducts.net/HAVAHART_TRAP_SQURL___16X6X6-UKP108124.html [/url] but you do have to dispatch the beasties then. Big gloves are the order of the day and don't try shooting them unless you have a fairly powerful gun and don't mind blood.

I'm surprised no one else suggested this:
jack Russell. In fact where are you? I'll bring mine round if yuh local. He works for nothing. We're in the midlands; not too far from Burton.

Surrey i'm afraid. I'm not that (at all) bothered about capturing them alive.

I shall 'tool up' at screwfix this weekend.

Debating whether i can use this as a justification to buy an air rifle using the joint account.

or if you know of anyone with a Ferret - send one up to your loft and not only will it be cleared, but they won't be back in a while - but still need to find how they're getting in.

Have you had a look at [url] http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/stray-kitten-what-to-do ][/url]

When working in a pub I once resorted to beating one to death with a length of bamboo cane as it attempted to run into the bar.

No such thing as a joint account old chap. It's your bank that your misses should appreciate contributing to. Spend it how ever pleases you.

the little blighters can get through the smallest of holes.. think pencil as above.. in the supermarkets we use a sticky tape that you lay everywhere.. they get stuck struggle .. get wrapped up more .. chew off legs etc.. but the world soon gets out to ratatouille and his mates..

Hi Ewan the tunnel is for if your setting the the traps in the outdoors etc you legally have to set them in tunnels to stop dogs, cats, kids 😀 getting caught in them.

Should be ok in an enclosed space in your loft though.

The traps I mentioned do already have chains attached those your looking at seem ok but i would still attach them to something, but it's not me who will be crawling in lot space trying to catch a well pi$$ed off rat with one leg caught in a trap so the choice is yours 😯

Night vision and an air gun would be my choice

Ah gotcha. I will screw them to the floor or something - don't want to chase annoyed rats.

We also have rats, we think they're great.

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Best using the rat box traps not the snap ones cos that may not catch their heads and not kill them. There's also the uppity eco mentalists who want them to be killed in the namby pamby humane way too. So satisfies both then.
Or as mentioned get the Ratcatcher in.

I used a poison, slow acting so the idea is they take traces of it back to the nest and also kill the queen; works humanely and they die of painless internal hemoraging. Sorted it in a couple of weeks. Had them running through the garden and on the roof tho so no chance of a dead rat in the walls. Tried a .22 air rifle and although a lot of fun, they were too quick and I missed every time.

i would try an air rifle

Just be careful of ricochades in confined spaces.

Get the professionals in, they will seal up holes and remove them once killed off, rats are very clever and can chew through anything they wish, causing ££££££s of damage a friend of mine had to have his house rewired due to the ****ers!!!!! On other hand jacks do have a very good rep for sniffing them out, a local firm round our way uses plummer terriers bigger and stronger than a jack but look the same, i know how good they are as i bought one!!!! N im sick of her bringing in various wildlife into the house especially when im eating me tea!!!! Lol

we had rats in our loft a month or so ago. you could hear them all night scurrying around and getting between the walls. in the end our friendly pest controller (and a mate) got rid of them all within 2 weeks. bit of a ball ache getting rid of all the insulation afterwards though and to clean up all the crap they'd left

I use an air rifle but mine are in the garden so it is a different problem. It is fun but not easy as they are very quick.

There's also the uppity eco mentalists who want them to be killed in the namby pamby humane way too.

Can't say i'm bothered! The more lethal the trap the better I say.

Get a snake:

I used a poison, slow acting so the idea is they take traces of it back to the nest and also kill the queen;

Surely your thinking of ants?? Or possibly Aliens?

I don't think rats have a queen.

Depends on the species, mole rats do. I'm not sure about aliens having queens, but I guess if you believe in them then anything is possible.

Jack Russell terrier. the AK47 of pest control

I used a poison, slow acting so the idea is they take traces of it back to the nest and also kill the queen;

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My loft earlier.

I reckon flame units for those

I'm worried it'll damage the lath and plaster ceilings. Have you tried pulse rifles with successful results in an older building?

Jack Russell's Weill get the bastards. The rats come in from outside but don't tend to live indoors. My Russell's killed several and got the last after I'd concreted the hole the rats were coming in through trapping him inside, they nearly tore him in two when they got him. Bait the traps with chocolate if you're using them.

If they are rats in the loft check for access points at ground level or climbing plants if you can't find any holes then you have to suspect a fault on the drains allowing furry friends into the cavity wall and loft space. Chocolate biccies are all good way to check if rodents are current.

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