Forum Topic

Rats

Bad news about rats. My neighbour two doors up had a rat walk in to her house while she was watching TV with her dog. Her neighbour on the other side also had a walk in rat while the family was eating dinner. Possibly the same rat? Council ratcatcher summoned. His gadget says no rats living in either house at present, but rats becoming ever more bold in Acton. They enter houses through an open door or cat flap often drawn by cat or dog food left on the floor. Hmmmmmm What to do? Apart from screaming of course?

Maire Lowe ● 5039d17 Comments

Go back to the beginning.  In order for vermin to flourish, they need food.  So what food is readily available in Acton?:- abandoned fast food (dropped on a regular basis by those with a can of lager in one hand and a burger in the other)- compost heaps (a nice warm bed to live in and a supply of food carefully added to by the owner of the heap)- badly wrapped household rubbish- dirty homes and of course dirty greengrocers/food shops (a couple of which are located on Churchfield Road)the list is endless.  Stop the food supply and they will not breed so fast.

Dee Cook ● 5039d

Decking in your garden.

Keith Iddon ● 5039d

My dog caught and killed a rat the other day, then sat in front of it looking pleased as punch, whilst my mother was having a meltdown at the front door.

Glenn Young ● 5039d

Glenn can I suggest you take this dog on walkabout every day in the area - that should keep the rat population under control!

Dee Cook ● 5039d

But you miss the one that Maire mentions specifically: food left out by owners for domestic pets.Is that because that's not blameworthy and the others (presumably apart from composting) are?

Sara Nathan ● 5036d

Not wanting to apportion blame.....any more thoughts?

Dee Cook ● 5035d

As a classicist, I am for standing on the nearest chair and screaming.  I have bought a big rat trap,not advised by the Official Rat Catcher.Another alternative is to learn to play the pipes ,but would that be enough?

Maire Lowe ● 5035d

Marie, get some glue and someone who will dispose of the beast when it gets its feet stuck.  It works.    I understand in Ealing that there is a major problem around Ealing Broadway Underground Station.

Dee Cook ● 5035d

A trap works much faster make sure you can glue the food to the trap as rats can flick it off with their tails

Mavis Walker ● 5035d

try chocolate as a bait....they can smell it from a long way off.

Dee Cook ● 5035d

peanut butter they love it

Mark Ryan ● 5035d

Fred Bray ● 5035d

If he/she had steppedon the glue, there would have been no escape.........

Dee Cook ● 5034d

Can I just say how deeply impressed I am by the understanding of rats' habits we have on this forum. Who knew  they liked chocolate and peanuts! And Dee's ways with glue seem most effective. Perhaps you should all consider an alternative career as official rat catchers! Thanks so much for your concern. The rats of Cumberland Road are unlikely to be able to get life unsurance now. I will keep you posted and thanks again.

Maire Lowe ● 5034d

Marie, I had a fear of rodents, but overcame that when they became a problem when my husband was away and I had to deal with them myself.  I always remember my mother dealing with them with a broom.... and a strong arm.  They are not pets, they carry horrible diseases, wasn't the great plaque spread by them? - so dispatch them as quickly as possible by whatever method you choose.

Dee Cook ● 5034d

Many rat problems are caused by them entering properties via broken or redundant sewer/drain pipes.London's main sewers are rife with vermin and if the "rodding cap" is missing or broken where your sewer pipe enters the street sewer it will allow vermin to travel back along the pipe and potentially into your property.Thames Water have the responsibility and if called and asked they will check that your "rodding cap" is intact.

Rosco White ● 5033d

I have seen many a rat running down the Uxbridge Road - very scary.  There does seem to be a huge problem in the area.  Mice are bad enough but rats are something else.....

Eileen Francis ● 5033d