Mice in the garden
Find out how to prevent or eliminate rats in your garden Rats are generally unwelcome visitors to our gardens - they are generally considered to be pests and can spread serious diseases, including leptospirosis, which can lead to sunstroke. They can build houses under barns, sheds or greenhouses and compost piles.
Mice may not be able to see them as they are often nocturnal, but there are a few other tips to keep in mind. You can find their tunnels (6-9 cm in diameter) or their 'run' - walls, fences, or tracks near buildings with a width of 10 cm. You may notice their cylindrical debris (about 15 mm long and 5 mm wide), the bitten tree (especially where food is stored) or the parallel teeth in the crop.
Like all living things, rats need food, water, and shelter to survive. Remove any of these from your garden or allotment as they are less likely to stay.
How to get rid of rats in the garden
1 Stop feeding wild birds and animals
Rats eat grain and may be attracted to your garden by foods that fall from bird feed. If you suspect rats are coming into your garden, stop feeding the birds and protect the chicken coops. Store bird and other animal foods in safe containers.
2 Keep the garden tidy
Elegant gardens are less likely to attract rats as they provide less coverage. Place grass in narrow, clear noisy storage areas, remove debris, and reduce overgrown areas, especially near fences or garden buildings.
3 Move things around
Mice are ‘neo-phobic’, which means fear of new things. They do not like obstacles in their territory, so place obstacles in their streams and move garden objects frequently.
4 Block access to decking
The space under the deck is ideal for mice - it is sheltered, hard to reach and food debris will fall between the boards. Wipe off fallen food after Alfresco meal. If the problem persists, consider blocking access if possible or installing a patio instead.
5 Block access to garden buildings
Securely prevent holes in the walls, floors, and doors of your garden buildings. To prevent entry, you can add a metal ‘kick plate’ to the door of your shed.
6 Protect your compost bin
Avoid calling your tank or pile - do not add food debris and keep it moist (rats do not like it) by adding lots of green and brown stuff. Regular watering of the piles can also prevent them. Attaching the chicken rod to the bottom of the tank will also help, as it prevents the rats from digging into the bottom of the tank and climbing inside. Turn the piles regularly, but keep in mind that other wildlife also uses compost piles. If rats are present in your pot, do not apply fertilizer to edible crops.
7 Keep an eye on crops
There is not much you can do to stop the rats in your crops. Mice eat sweetcorn, pumpkin, squash, root vegetables, and apples, so store them safely somewhere after harvest. If you suspect stored or growing crops have been infested with rats, do not feed them. Mice also eat seeds, so store them safely.
8 Remove water sources
Mice cannot survive without water. While it is not a good idea to remove garden ponds or bird ponds, removing other water sources, including drip pipes, can help prevent rodents, protect drains, and add barriers to drain pipes.
9 Encourage mice hunters
Rats are a significant part of the fox's diet, so it's a good idea to give foxes a place to live in your garden or backyard - where possible. Pets can also deter rats because they can be a destructive force in the garden, thus making the rats less likely to stay.
10 Control them
As a complete last resort, you may want to consider taking strong measures to control rats. Do this only after all other efforts to prevent them have been completed, as poisons can be harmful to other wildlife in your garden and can enter the vast environment. First, identify where the rats live and the food paths that go between them - and in neighboring gardens. Traps and poisons are sold at garden centers, but they must be used properly - read the label. It is best and safest to contact your local council or professional pest controller.
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