My normally busy garden is movement-less since I have had to stop offereing food for the birds because we have rats around. Reading all the advice on line it seems i should feed on poles (I do - irrelevant), empty bird baths overnight (OK, but we do have a pond) and cut down any long grass and plants - so should I take up all my flowery perrenials which I grow for the bees and make my garden a desert? I have had to call in contractors to get rid of the rats at ridiculous cost. i could probably live with them, but I don't think the neighbours would like it.
Any suggestions? Can you feed birds in this situation or shall i just have to give up indefinitely?
www.gov.uk/pest-control-on-your-property Did you know that in certain exceptional circumstances Schedule 1 protected wild birds can be controlled. But here is a link about pest control in your home. But for anyone that didn’t know that should read the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act from beginning to the end and it is a long read.As I’ve mentioned before it’s not straight forward that 1981 Act or you would all know that.
Regards,
Ian.
Also Rats get in to peoples homes not just through holes, as most holes in to people's homes are to small for rats to get through. But they get in homes more often by other easy means. I also have a neighbour as well, but is seriously ill. Live traps are normally useless as I'm sure you why Robbo! Just waiting to see replies about this to se if anyone else knows the reason why. I will post more about this tonight. I'm out right now birdwatching and having my lunch/bait right bow And i always use the local bus service every day!
www.pestcontrolberkshire.com/.../could-a-pest-return-if-humanely-trapped-and-released This is the only way a live trap would work and I couldn’t be bothered to do this tevery day, as I’ve got better things to do. If anyone else want to this ok. But I certainly won’t be doing this. And if anyone says they just release mice and rats in to their garden with a live trap after being caught in their home. I don’t believe them. There are also a lot more links about live traps similar to above.
And this from the RSPB about live traps.Less distance away but at least 1 Mike.
www.cdc.gov/.../rodent-control.html
How to control rodents infestations.Link above.