Bird Feeding Ruined By A Rat

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andyfraser

Über Member
Location
Bristol
I happened to look out of my kitchen window today to see a rat climbing up my bird feeding station. I dashed outside and scared the rat off but to be on the safe side I've had to throw away the food and remove the feeding station.

I actually feel quite upset by all of this. I enjoyed looking out at the birds. There was a blackbird and a robin that visited every day. Today they looked confused. All the birds did. I feel so sorry for them.

Does anyone know the best way to get rid of a rat? I might put some humane traps down but I won't use poison. I don't want to hurt anything that's not a rat.
 

AndyRM

XOXO
Location
North Shields
Some good advice on this thread - https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/rats.172365/
 
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andyfraser

andyfraser

Über Member
Location
Bristol
Rats are considered a health hazard and can spread disease. I'd have no problems with feeding a rat if it wasn't for that and I could be sure I wouldn't end up over run with them. I quite like pet rats.
 
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andyfraser

andyfraser

Über Member
Location
Bristol
The RSPB encourage the feeding of garden birds so they can't be that bad. People actively destroy rats because they're a health hazard.
 

Spinney

Bimbleur extraordinaire
Location
Back up north
Was your feeder on a pole? You could try the squirrel-proof pole option:
e.g put one of these things on the pole:
 

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  • rspb bird feeder pole squirrel proof - Google Search - Google Chrome_2015-01-19_15-15-41.jpg
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Arjimlad

Tights of Cydonia
Location
South Glos
I have put a Fenn trap in a suitably blocked-off tunnel under the rabbit hutch, because a rat was seen whilst we were having breakfast the other morning. This will kill a rat very humanely.

Air rifle safe storage requirements imposed by law and by having a young family make it harder to deal with the rat as I would have done 25 years ago !
 

Spinney

Bimbleur extraordinaire
Location
Back up north
I've added the pic that was supposed to be in my previous post!

I've also got a pole with an extra tube around the outside with a spring - I think the idea is that if the squirrel jumps on it and grabs the external tube, it falls off when the tube descends on the spring - but couldn't find one with a quick google. The things in my pic above look more effective to me, and probably cheaper!
 
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