MM Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 so, having tried trapping (with every bait in the world) with little success, shooting them with some success (not a lot) and even using harsh language, im fed up with rats. They seem to be taking over the farm i shoot, and the farmer is getting just as fed up. He has a farm shop selling all kinds of organic bits asn bobs, and they seem to have got into the walls. Poison is not an option, as they could die in the walls, and people do not want to smell that (its not an 'organic' smell ). Another non option is to remove the food source, as its not practical. I have spent this evening shooting indoors with an air rifle in the hope of catching them at it. The fav food of all things appears to be organic flour. There are other things on offer but this is the main stock being damaged. They are really causing hassle. So, Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sambu13 Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Cats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 If you've seen rats, run in the opposite direction as fast as you can and scream like a girl. I know I would Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeonblasterian Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Have you tried gassing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nommo Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Dogs But you need to prevent access... it may be that the farmer needs to spend some money on new doors and stuff, but if the access is via holes in walls and the ground - you can help out with plugging the gaps with chicken wire and filling it in with plaster - or even chicken wire and foam. You will then find yourself reducing the actual population inside with the shooting and trapping, and dogs. A couple of resident farm cats will help keep numbers down - but not as effective as dogs and a lamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Place some organic flour in an optimised location for shooting, leave a dim light on for them to get accustomed to... you know the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted March 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Dogs But you need to prevent access... it may be that the farmer needs to spend some money on new doors and stuff, but if the access is via holes in walls and the ground - you can help out with plugging the gaps with chicken wire and filling it in with plaster - or even chicken wire and foam. You will then find yourself reducing the actual population inside with the shooting and trapping, and dogs. A couple of resident farm cats will help keep numbers down - but not as effective as dogs and a lamp. you know what they are like. This guy is ok about spending, and seem to have tried this. god knows how they are still getting in as its a good solid building. Place some organic flour in an optimised location for shooting, leave a dim light on for them to get accustomed to... you know the rest. tried this Dave, but they dont seem interested when i do. cant get my head round it at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter_zero Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 (edited) They seem to be taking over the farm / He has a farm shop selling all kinds of organic bits asn bobs, and they seem to have got into the walls. Poison is not an option, So, Any ideas? Okay, not trying to be harsh here. The farmer is putting peoples lives at risk by selling food from a rat infested shop. Make no mistake about it, he is breaking the law and if caught will face closure and fines well over the annual income from the shop. What annoys me in these situations is people worrying about "smells" and trying to squeeze every last penny before the 'rats' out the bag so to speak. FIRST the farmer needs to CLOSE the shop. SECOND the farmer needs to 'proof' the shop from rat entry by blocking up every hole and gap. THIRD the farmer needs to remove all stock, throwing away ANY stock that could have been in contact with rats. FORTH the farmer needs to bait and trap and do every thing he can to remove ALL rats from inside the shop. Then he needs to deal with the rats around the farm. With all due respect to you, you are not a professional rat catcher and to put the burden of sorting the rats out on to you is simply unfair. My honest personal advice to you is that you are dealing with a food premises, get out of the situation and recommend to the farmer that he needs professional advice. Fines and imprisonment can be handed out in a drop of an EHO hat, you really do not want to be caught up in the mess and if you are dragged in to court, you could lose a hell of a lot more than a farm to shoot over. Take it from someone who deals with things like this everyday!! If you want me to get the ball rolling and sort things out, PM me and I will give you my works number, give me a call and I'll do all I can to help. John Edited March 28, 2010 by Hunter_zero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted March 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Okay, not trying to be harsh here. The farmer is putting peoples lives at risk by selling food from a rat infested shop. Make no mistake about it, he is breaking the law and if caught will face closure and fines well over the annual income from the shop. What annoys me in these situations is people worrying about "smells" and trying to squeeze every last penny before the 'rats' out the bag so to speak. FIRST the farmer needs to CLOSE the shop. SECOND the farmer needs to 'proof' the shop from rat entry by blocking up every hole and gap. THIRD the farmer needs to remove all stock, throwing away ANY stock that could have been in contact with rats. FORTH the farmer needs to bait and trap and do every thing he can to remove ALL rats from inside the shop. Then he needs to deal with the rats around the farm. With all due respect to you, you are not a professional rat catcher and to put the burden of sorting the rats out on to you is simply unfair. My honest personal advice to you is that you are dealing with a food premises, get out of the situation and recommend to the farmer that he needs professional advice. Fines and imprisonment can be handed out in a drop of an EHO hat, you really do not want to be caught up in the mess and if you are dragged in to court, you could lose a hell of a lot more than a farm to shoot over. Take it from someone who deals with things like this everyday!! If you want me to get the ball rolling and sort things out, PM me and I will give you my works number, give me a call and I'll do all I can to help. John wise words John, and ill be passing them on. In his defence, he checks the stock every day, and has a proper clean up. Although this sounds like penny pinching, i can see his point, but he must not put the public at risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lincolnshire poacher Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Poison but a type that requires them to drink as long as there is no water souce in building, or traps and stick boards at all times the shop is closesd, gassing is good and the smell from trapped dead rats will subside fairy quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 In the warmer months, and you will laugh, release a couple of yellow rat snakes in there, they are voracious eaters of rats and will survive all sumer, once they get into the swing of it the rats will leave, release them directly into the wall space. You will find people trying to rehome grey and yellow rats snakes all the time as they dont realise they get to 8 feet long and eat like pigs!!! I susggested a friend of mine do this and i worked a treat!! If you have the balls to do it, ring all the local pets shops and see if they have any cheap rat snakes in stock or try a few rescue centre......obviously dont tell them what you want them for!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter_zero Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 (edited) wise words John, and ill be passing them on. In his defence, he checks the stock every day, and has a proper clean up. Although this sounds like penny pinching, i can see his point, but he must not put the public at risk. Checking the stock and cleaning up will not remove rat urine from things like "apples", I have dealt with many people who all do the same thing until one day the little old lady falls ill or next doors little Johnny is in hospital with the forth dose of Salmonella or worse. Then the S.h.!.t hits the fan, the Environmental health visit (it takes me less than five minuets to find evidence of rodent activity, there are things like smear marks that he would have missed in his attempts to hide the activity), he will say I have a chap who is dealing with the rats (you), next thing you know your mixed up in the mess. I'm not an EHO, just a full time rat catcher and have seen people crying after they realised they were facing a prison sentence or a fine that would put their business and home at risk. A professional rat catcher can and will clear things like this infestation with ease and there are legal implication which your friend has to comply with. Just PM me if your friend wants to get this mess sorted and I'll pass you my number (obviously I will not be able to come and sort it out, but I can arrange for the work to be done). John Edited March 28, 2010 by Hunter_zero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 the smell from trapped dead rats will subside fairy quickly I beg to differ, mice/rats on the underground clear areas for weeks, unless we can locate the ******* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter_zero Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 1)Poison but a type that requires them to drink as long as there is no water souce in building,2) or traps and stick boards at all times the shop is closesd, 3)gassing is good and 4) the smell from trapped dead rats will subside fairy quickly 1) Myth no such poison is used in the UK. 2) Sticky boards have legal implications and should not be used at this stage. 3) Gassing is good, but you need to be qualified. Phostoxin is deadly stuff and will not only ingress from rat burrows in to cattle sheads but also homes, with lethal results. 4) Dead rat odour can take 4 weeks to six months to fully dissipate. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted March 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 many thanks for the PM's kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam1 Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 In the warmer months, and you will laugh, release a couple of yellow rat snakes in there, they are voracious eaters of rats and will survive all sumer, once they get into the swing of it the rats will leave, release them directly into the wall space. You will find people trying to rehome grey and yellow rats snakes all the time as they dont realise they get to 8 feet long and eat like pigs!!! I susggested a friend of mine do this and i worked a treat!! If you have the balls to do it, ring all the local pets shops and see if they have any cheap rat snakes in stock or try a few rescue centre......obviously dont tell them what you want them for!!!! Oh please let me be there the first time one slivers across in front of a customer please please please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delbert Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 so, having tried trapping (with every bait in the world) with little success, shooting them with some success (not a lot) and even using harsh language, im fed up with rats. They seem to be taking over the farm i shoot, and the farmer is getting just as fed up. He has a farm shop selling all kinds of organic bits asn bobs, and they seem to have got into the walls. Poison is not an option, as they could die in the walls, and people do not want to smell that (its not an 'organic' smell ). Another non option is to remove the food source, as its not practical. I have spent this evening shooting indoors with an air rifle in the hope of catching them at it. The fav food of all things appears to be organic flour. There are other things on offer but this is the main stock being damaged. They are really causing hassle. So, Any ideas? I wonder having them in the walls has the man been round blocking all the holes he can see and missed the inevitable high level holes and runs.As there has to be a cavity in the walls sures as eggs it will be open at joist and beam level a few fenn traps at that level should prove whether its the case or not, add perhaps a tunnel trap along the ground level ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poorwullie Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 I wonder having them in the walls has the man been round blocking all the holes he can see and missed the inevitable high level holes and runs.As there has to be a cavity in the walls sures as eggs it will be open at joist and beam level a few fenn traps at that level should prove whether its the case or not, add perhaps a tunnel trap along the ground level ? Sound advice. Get them while they're moving. Traps work while you're in your scratcher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Would a .410 hushpower be any good Much more effective than waiting to snipe them with an airgun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pestbry Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 1) Myth no such poison is used in the UK.2) Sticky boards have legal implications and should not be used at this stage. 3) Gassing is good, but you need to be qualified. Phostoxin is deadly stuff and will not only ingress from rat burrows in to cattle sheads but also homes, with lethal results. 4) Dead rat odour can take 4 weeks to six months to fully dissipate. John 1) There is a liquid poison bait that is legally used in UK 2) Glue boards can be used, as long as they are checked regularly ( at least twice a day in buildings etc). But its a last resort in my opinion. 3) Phozzie can't be used within 3 mtrs of a building or water course, further away from any habit structure the better 4) Yes odor from a decaying carcass can take 4-6 wks to linger (depending on weather situation ) So its either get a Qualified pestie in / or traps in covered boxes etc ( not to target non-species ). Using flavored bait that the rats are taking from the available food source. NV and air rifle / 1& 2 of above. Lots of traps and NV and rifle is my option, As you say if the farm is ORGANIC certain poison baits are not to be used at all Just my take on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta28g Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 If the burrows are a suitable distance from buildings Talunex. if not try tuna or carp attract baits to get them to stop in baited safe areas with a airgun smoke out burrows with chainsaw and get some terriers. and have asmany fenn traps as poss. I think the shop should perhaps be shut then the population hammered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted March 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 thanks for the input guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Fill all the holes with that squirty expanding foam laced with poision and they will nibble there way through and POW dead, but then your still left with dead rat odour but if you get some oust that should sort that out would it not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sambu13 Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 What about a few multi catch traps thrown in with shooting and whatever else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted March 29, 2010 Report Share Posted March 29, 2010 Jesus, what ever happend to having a half dozen pints with the lads, borrowing a couple of terriers, some big sticks a smoker and letting all hell break loose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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