There's a rat in my garden, what am I going to do?

You're lucky it's not in the house. Sounds like a juvenile rat which means there's probably a bigger mummy about and siblings.
We were plagued with house rats for a long time, huge ones, so I wouldn't worry, just make sure they can't get in.
They'll be around as long as there's a food source, so focus on why they are there rather than trying to kill them because that doesn't work (they'll keep coming back if there's something they want).
 
We keep chickens, so rats tend to come with that territory. The bait boxes that Roofie pictured are the best means of control that I have found. That and my trusty Crossman.
 
Lady Felicia said:
This is the second day that my other half has reported seeing a 'rat' in the garden first thing on a morning. From the description I think it really is a small rat/s we are talking about.

I've looked at various traps online, but as with most reviews, for every five star review there's one saying its useless...leaving me unsure.

Advice very gratefully received
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Be positive, and say to yourself

'I'm gonna fix that rat. That's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna fix that rat'

Seriously I hope you get sorted @Lady Felicia
 
Get rid of the food source, usually bird food, they particularly like grains.

But they will also eat fallen fruit.

If they keep coming put rat poison in a length of drain pipe.

Or get a cat.
 
Lady Felicia said:
This is the second day that my other half has reported seeing a 'rat' in the garden first thing on a morning. From the description I think it really is a small rat/s we are talking about.

I've looked at various traps online, but as with most reviews, for every five star review there's one saying its useless...leaving me unsure.

Advice very gratefully received
.
Click to expand...
Get in some professionals to sort it
 
Lady Felicia said:
This is the second day that my other half has reported seeing a 'rat' in the garden first thing on a morning. From the description I think it really is a small rat/s we are talking about.

I've looked at various traps online, but as with most reviews, for every five star review there's one saying its useless...leaving me unsure.

Advice very gratefully received
.
Click to expand...
Do you live in Westminster ?
So….just come to me that sunak looks like Roland rat…just thought I’d share it 🤷‍♂️
 
We've lived in our house 35 years, never saw a rat until just after lockdown and they were awful for about 18 months
We used bait boxes and stuff which didn't really help and still saw some until about 9 months ago, then now nothing

Either it was because they've gone back to living around the takeaway places that were closed for a bit or maybe because more cats and dogs have been out a while now.
So sorry, no idea why and I know that doesn't help much. But I feel happier! Fkin hate rats, especially the big ones [shudder]
 
kuepper said:
My council (High Peak) deals with rats for free so check if yours does.
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The rats work at my council (York) ;). They had no interest in dealing withe problem apart from telling us to be more careful with our waste. Which was helpful
 
Hard cat is a really good idea.

You could offer to foster from the local rescue place on the condition that they only give you absolute steely-eyed b***ds.

My mate had a serious problem with a mouse infestation in his venue, we’re talking 50-100 mice. He adopted this complete psychopath of a cat, asked specifically for the meanest one they had.

It was a slaughterhouse. Pros, no more mice, cons, my mate was covered in scratches from the neck down for the rest of this adorable demon’s short but eventful life.
 
They grow very fast. and can live in all weather conditions.
My house is very cluttered, so it is easily accommodated.
All I could do was put mouse trap glue, sprinkle it with rice and wait for it to stick.
I always sin against it. Because I don't have a softer way.
I had to put it in a garbage bag. Then tighten the mouth of the bag. I drop it off at the garbage disposal and when I'm done, I sigh every time.
Stop coming into my house.:cry:
 
Mid Winter they are seen more near houses, because food in nature is harder to find. The also may be looking for warmer and cosier places to sleep.
 
We had a rat in our garden, we live next to a nature reserve. My neighbour came to my house shouting and screaming at me saying it's our fault because we had a sofa we needed to get rid of in the garden.

I'll be honest, I don't have it within myself to use traps, my little dog was killed by rat poison on his dog field 8 years ago.

He disappeared now, but we didn't use anything. I think as much as it's an inconvenience compassion is needed, my parents told me my dog suffered greatly in his last 24 hours because someone wanted to kill a rat in their garden. There's humane ways to do it, might take a bit more time and patience but at least your conscience will be clear
 
Morton94 said:
We had a rat in our garden, we live next to a nature reserve. My neighbour came to my house shouting and screaming at me saying it's our fault because we had a sofa we needed to get rid of in the garden.

I'll be honest, I don't have it within myself to use traps, my little dog was killed by rat poison on his dog field 8 years ago.

He disappeared now, but we didn't use anything. I think as much as it's an inconvenience compassion is needed, my parents told me my dog suffered greatly in his last 24 hours because someone wanted to kill a rat in their garden. There's humane ways to do it, might take a bit more time and patience but at least your conscience will be clear
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So sorry to hear about your dog, that's awful.
I ordered two humane traps yesterday which arrived this evening. They'll be outside laced with peanut butter in the morning.
 
Lady Felicia said:
So sorry to hear about your dog, that's awful.
I ordered two humane traps yesterday which arrived this evening. They'll be outside laced with peanut butter in the morning.
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It was awful, thankfully I was at university at the time so I didn't have to witness it. Ever since though I've gained a lot of compassion for Rats because at the end of the day they're still living creatures and nothing deserves to die in that way.

It's great to hear you've gone down the humane route! I hope it solves your problem!
 
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