Question about ratting

[T.eddie]

Hi all,
My neighbour has started getting a rat / rats in their garden. They have determined they are heading underneath their shed and have seen them at approximately 19:30. I mentioned traps and they don't want to put any down due to the hedgehogs they get in the garden which is fair enough (same with poison) so have asked if I can get them with the air rifle. Do rats tend to come out at a similar time each night or are there other variables that would need to be taken into account i.e. weather etc.

Cheers in advance all
Tom

 

[The Singing Stalker]

Depends on the food availability. But certain rats seem to like coming out at the same time. I have CcTV pointing at my bird table. And yes, I am a saddo.
Bait a spot and watch it. Usually after dark they will become more active, but then, I have had them run out at all times of the day. They often seem to have their routes. One used to run straight past my office, once I removed that one the next preferred running along the hedge line.
I have a couple of small spots for ratting and I tend to pop up there for an hour, once they have eaten they disappear and don’t come out until hungry again.
really depends on how many you have there.

 

[Tim.243]

Have a look out with your thermal.....food is the main draw for rats also under garden sheds the earth tends to be dry do they can scrap a hole easy.
When I ran a local shoot I would pick up tailings from farms I was working on so they went in the shed, a big increase in rats. Since I stopped just the few you would expect in a rural area...

 

[T.eddie]

cheers both, they feed the birds in the morning and the hedgehogs of the evening so will have a look at the feeding time to see if it pops out, ive asked them to let me know times they are seeing it also so as to formulate the best plan to get it

 

[Fosbery Holster]

All the above information is all good……the main thing for me would be make sure your air rifle is zeroed to the exact distance where the food is, you tend to only get the one shot, good luck .

 

[T.eddie]

Thank you a very good point

 

[Kjf]

cheers both, they feed the birds in the morning and the hedgehogs of the evening so will have a look at the feeding time to see if it pops out, ive asked them to let me know times they are seeing it also so as to formulate the best plan to get it

That's why that have rats
They have a constant food source

Kjf

 

[T.eddie]

That's why that have rats
They have a constant food source

Kjf

Yeah I've said that to them though I don't see them stopping, they have said they won't put the food down for the hedgehog now but have the bird feeder up, there ate a lot of song birds here so suspect its good to keep

 

[Longstrider]

Bird feeders will just act like sprinklers, scattering the seed as the birds feed and discard the 'lowest value' bits (Yes, they really are that picky when faced with an abundance of food).

Your best bet will be to bait a spot under a board or similar where you can still see the rats as they feed. (Sit far enough back to give a view under the board) Rats don't usually like to feed in the open, exposed to the sky (they know all about owls ) and will grab at food there and run into cover to consume it. Put your bait somewhere the rats have a 'roof' and they'll be far more likely to sit still for long enough for you to settle the crosshairs on them. Don't break cover to move the dead ones. Not only do they not seem to worry and take the hint, they'll often start feeding on any dead rat they come across, usually starting by licking the blood as it drips from the pellet hole just by the base of the ear
Peanut butter makes a good bait, as does liquidised cat food. The rats can't grab a bit and run off, they have to stay if they want to have a good feed.

 

[T.eddie]

Some good thoughts, thanks again for all the input

 

[shakey jake]

as above good advice. once dead block the entrance holes they were using to stop the next lot. also change the type of bird food, single seed veriety is better than mixed and only feed over the lawn so pigeon and jackdaws clean up spilt seed

 

[Game1]

Use cage traps then if you catch a hedgehog let it out if it’s a rat pop a pellet in it.

 

[LarryLightFoot]

Hey Tom
As some have mentioned defo sit and watch them with the Thermal, set up a bait spot, engage your NV and start taking care of them . If you can’t be ersed with going full bait mix try some cheapo BBQ sauce in a squeezy bottle, others swear by things like blitzed sweet corn, cat food, tuna etc, I’ve used peanut butter and oil with BBQ all blitzed up and just BBQ on its own, main thing is if it’s a thick liquid they can’t grab and go they stay put long enough to be taken care of.

 

[T.eddie]

Thank for continued input on this one, will give an update once I've been able to get the rat...finger crossed

 

[The Singing Stalker]

Nb. It is a great way to practice freehand shooting.

 

[bullet chucker]

Don't pick up remove the shot ones with out gloves on,(vinyl)

BC.

 

[Tim.243]

Thank you a very good point

 

[Ratel]

Rats generally make runs and use them. Great fun catching them in "benders". Noose too small for hedgehogs which are also too heavy and don't usually follow rat runs.

 

[shakey jake]

id say cage traps are a waste of time and money, unless you are over run the catch rate will be low

 

[foxdropper]

Boxes with a 2 inch hole will prevent hedgehogs .No need to bait just set on the run .Rats ,unless left alone ,dart from one hiding place to the next .The box with two inch holes either end will become one of these hiding places .Leave the traps out for week then set .I’ve used a two foot box with two fens inlayed in the floor just inside the entrances to very good effect .
Shooting will need to be done in one session if there’s multiple rats as it only works once or twice unless you want to wait up all night or keep the sessions to fortnightly .Pressure changes rats feeding habits as with most things .
One place I do they have become very IR sensitive so I’m not trialling black IR which is ok at the moment .
If it’s earth holes under the shed use a smoker and bolt to terriers .