Rat sighting!

Dylis

I had one on my kitchen work surface. We had new windows put in last autumn and it has been bliss to open the kitchen window. Unfortunately I forgot to close the window at dusk and the little sod climbed in.
I yelled for my DH and slammed the door behind me. My DH picked up a golf club (no idea why he has it, he doesn't play) and went bravely into the kitchen. The rat disappeared behind the washing machine and under the kick boards. We put out an ancient trap and caught him after 2 days.
I was relieved because I had spent several days wearing long wellies and a thick overcoat every time I had to venture into the kitchen. Also while I was cleaning and disinfecting the kitchen after his visit.
I now close the windows at dusk and after talking to a pest controller it seems there has been a huge explosion in the rat population locally.

Poor you. Why the thick coat! It might have jumped into your pocket 😂
Not funny really, I’d be petrified too

I think l most gardens will have rats!
😱

I think this will be quite common atm with people eating outdoors in their gardens and leaving crumbs etc outside.
Did your friend feed the birds in March??
As long as your friend makes sure there are no tasty edibles in his garden and has not seen the rat for months, would imagine the rat has moved on to pastures new.

I had one on my kitchen work surface. We had new windows put in last autumn and it has been bliss to open the kitchen window. Unfortunately I forgot to close the window at dusk and the little sod climbed in.
I yelled for my DH and slammed the door behind me. My DH picked up a golf club (no idea why he has it, he doesn't play) and went bravely into the kitchen. The rat disappeared behind the washing machine and under the kick boards. We put out an ancient trap and caught him after 2 days.
I was relieved because I had spent several days wearing long wellies and a thick overcoat every time I had to venture into the kitchen. Also while I was cleaning and disinfecting the kitchen after his visit.
I now close the windows at dusk and after talking to a pest controller it seems there has been a huge explosion in the rat population locally.

Our local fox population deals with any rat problems in the gardens where I live.

Yes we had one come trotting quite the thing past the conservatory. By the time I put my head out of the door it had disappeared.
I think it had come from next door’s drainage as they were dug up at the time.
Like they say, you are never more than 6 feet away from a rat 😅

I bought a sensor gadget on Amazon, but that is for indoors and at the time it was to get rid of mice. My cat at the time sat and looked at them. I bought a fairly expensive one for half price and I haven't had a problem since. It is meant to cover upstairs, but I bought a similar one, not that I have ever seen one upstairs.

If he is certain there is a rat problem, he should have a word with his neighbours and they employ a professional to get rid of them.

Having an occasional rat appear in the garden is nothing to worry about, I expect it happens in most gardens.