How Do I Get Rid of Rats?
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Hi, has anyone ever had trouble with rats? I have a neighbor who moved next door who has been leaving all her rubbish out her back. The guy next to her shouted on me 2 weeks ago and showed me videos of rats going in and out her rubbish bags. Now they have came into my garden and went under my decking. I can see the holes where they are going in. My dogs are going mental when they go near the decking. I ordered rat catcher things from Amazon. It's a big tube and locks when it goes in. Last night was the first night using them. I didn't catch anything last night. I am absolutely terrified of seeing it. My partner doesn't want to kill it, just catch it, take it down the woods and let it go. I don't know how many could be under it. Any help much appreciated.
Note from Tom - This post has been edited for clarity.
They only way to stop it is to remove the source and block any access to where they are getting in.
We recently had this issue, someone was leaving meat out for the Red Kites (which we aren't suppose to feed! They are getting more aggressive and injuring people, trying to get food. It isn't their fault, people need to stop feeding them!)
They were getting in the loft and into other people's as we are in a terrace house.
If you feed the birds or near a river, you are more likely to get rats too.
They often have a usual route or runway, ours was down the side of our garden and through the hedge, the into a small hole at the side of the house. So we had to block the areas and fill the hole in the house with Postcrete. Although I am aware that decking might be harder, as rats can dig and climb.
It might be worth talking to your neighbour if they are open to that or you should be able to complain to the council. Even if she owns the house, if it is causing issues to surrounding houses and bringing in pests, then they should be able to do something.
Sadly if it is a big issue, just trapping won't help, as they are good breeders. You'll need to find some way of killing them, but not so that it affects other animals. As you don't want a neighbour cat, or even your dogs catching a poisoning rat and it making them ill!
Best of luck xx
DeBunny it's council houses I will contact the housing when they are back they are closed at the moment my other neighbour went to her door but I don't think she is bothering as she hasn't removed the rubbish I bought some wire to put round my decking ran put so I have ordered more I need to watch what I put down as I have 2 dogs I don't throw any food out for birds I take it down the woods dreading to know many is under there thanks for your advice 
Iβd suggest starting from the route of the problem but they shouldnβt be killed as itβs not their fault we find them annoying.
rubydooby that was the same as me when I stayed in the flats some people are just black and disgusting my old neighbour died he stayed there 23 years was ill took a stroke has his other leg amputated so was in a wheelchair it didn't have this trouble they move in couple weeks and rats everywhere it doesn't take much to keep a small area clean it's just lazy they don't even work to make that an excuse I will die if I see them out my back
Last time our dog saw a rat coming out from our neighbours garden into ours our dog went mad and got it and bite it she killed the poor rat the rat bite our dog once of her body this all happened at night time we turned our lights on what a nightmare we had to keep a eye on our dog and clean the cut for 14 days the next day we look over our neighbours garden and was shocked to see tons of rubbish bags food and nappies and even saw the rats in daytime we tried having a chat with our neighbours but they did nothing so we got in contact with there private landlord and the council and they got the rat problem sorted
Need to get the food source dealt with first and then Get some rat bait boxes. Rats are vermin and harbour diseases
TracyStorrie yes thats what we said to but she's still leaving bin bags out side I think I need to try and look I don't put any food outside I bought traps but not to kill them just to catch them my partner will take them down the woods if he catches them I need to watch what I put out as I have 2 dogs
kate1310 I know you may not want to kill them but itβs the best option. Even relocating them might not work if a rat (even mice) know where there is a food source they will just travel back to that source. I have a curious terrier but even she canβt get into a bait box
TracyStorrie at the moment I would be happy for someone to kill them its driving me mad every morning I go out back and can see they have dug back under just hope I don't see them going to see if my housing is open back up as they closed for Christmas 
kate1310 hopefully they will do something quick and effective. If past experience I have had with housing they are absolutely useless
TracyStorrie my housing are useless can't even get repairs done they better get this sorted I will be on the phone constantly
Rats reproduce at an alarming rate and carry diseases. Itβs all well and good to say not to kill them but as a nation we cull deer.
Make sure that there is no access points for them to get into your property. If it is council housing then contact them about the rats and they will send someone to deal with them.
and not cheap either If one rat theres more, if you know where nest is or they arw getting in use sime wire wool (rats hate chewing this.)down holes and then block holes up with (chicken) wire.
My home was flooded last year and then rat's moved in so I did above ans sealed any holes I could 
BirrBoy I have bought wire not heard of wire wool I will look on amazon for that thanks they are under my decking I can see holes that they have made on the grass put 2 tube traps down but nothing omg do the housing charge think mine is open tomorrow so iam going to go round don't know if my neighbours removed the bags from her back but iam stuck with the rats in mine 
kate1310 Steel Wool Mice - 2 Pack 0000 Rodent Control Gaps Blocker Stainless Coarse Wire Wool Fill Fabric DIY Kit, Easy to Use Stop Rats and Mice Insect Pest, Includes Work Gloves.(3m/roll) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086M6PJB3?ref_=cm_sw_r_apan_dp_WXY48N47F71XP8VM7BV7
something like this
butter in trap rodents 
it or chocolate.
kate1310 It is the "property owners" who are responsible for pest control, so if the house is a council house then there should not be any charge.
It's my opinion that the council (or private landlord) could insist on the removal of decking on their property, which does not help keep property vermin free.
davidstockport I know I was thinking that I would have to lift it I have got wire and ordered steel wool apparently rats hate it so will try that tomorrow think housing is open back up tomorrow so I will.go speak to them they will probably put rat poison down I have 2 dogs that's why I didn't want to put poison down
kate1310 Dogs should not be able to get at the contents of bait boxes, chances are the box will be placed under the decking anyway - if not a few bricks alongside the box and a piece of paving stone on top makes them really safe.
BirrBoy hi I have put the wool under my decking and in holes outside my windows are there is small holes iam terrified they get into my house I have reported it so hopefully someone will come out this week 
yesterday it looked like the wool had been moved until the wind blew it going to check today going to put that steal wool in my sheds as when they come out to try remove them they will want somewhere else to go thank you 
BirrBoy hi just to let you know I had pest control out today he saw I had put wire round my decking and the steel wool in the holes he said that was the best thing to do as they hate steal wool he has left a box with rat poison thanks again for your great advice hopefully they will be gone soon
Leave poisoned food for them.
Mice are full of diseases so the sooner the better.
PhilipMarc they aren't even touching the food we put in and it's no poisoned it's driving me mad
kate1310 Rats are neophobic (extremely wary of anything introduced into their environment) and it will usually take at least ten days before they will enter any form of trap. Even repositioning a trap or bait box might prevent them entering until another period of time has elapsed.
It's probably better not to try to attract them with unpoisoned food.
Underestimate the high intelligence of rats - at your own risk
I had rats in my loft and was wondering how the hell they were getting in.
Whilst revamping the garden and pulling up the decking it was apparent they were living under there and there were long tunnels going towards the house. I presume they were probably making their way up the brickwork upto the loft.
I bought some poison and put in the loft, I also decided to concoct my own.
I got a container and put the following into it: packet of poison, bicarb of soda(causes Digestive issues as they cant burb, regurgitate or be sick) cocoa powder(to attract them)polyfilla powder(hardens inside when they drink water and causes blockages inside them), mash potato flakes(swells up inside), tiny chocolate sprinkles, cornflour(thickens inside) and Guam gum powder(thickens inside)
I mixed it all up until it was all well blended together.
I then made little squares out of Cling film which would hold the mixture.
I put powder form in some of them and some I mixed with a tiny touch of water to roll into balls.
I then threw the balls around the loft and threw cotton wool balls doused in pure peppermint oil.
I heard the rats going crazy over the poison so at least I knew they were eating it.
After 2 days I heard and saw nothing(I had cctv in the loft to monitor them) so the poison obviously worked.
Since doing that, getting rid of decking, putting poison in the tunnels and blocking them off and cutting trees down there's been no activity either in the loft or outdoors.
Your problem needs dealing with ASAP before they find a way indoors and trust me it drives you crazy listening to them in the early hours chewing and running around.
kate1310 They literally are pests. I have no qualms on killing them, it has to be done. They do uncontrollable damage. I found chewed up clothes, books, boxes and their urine is bad. I had to throw lots of stuff out, items years old with sentimental value and carefully clean around where there were droppings. If you ever do have to do the same make sure you wear a mask and gloves. A decomposed rat and it's smell is something else, it's a smell you will never forget and it'll make you feel very sickly. It's all out war where rats are concerned, mind you I also go on the attack with flies, can't stand the dirty little horrors.
geywijdbhs I don't care if someone kills them for me I just couldn't remove them 
I hate flies to they are so disgusting I would rather have wasps flying about than dirty flies
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