Rats

[henryherbert]

I’ve had hedgehogs in the garden for the second year now, watching them on a nightime Nature Camera. In the last 2 weeks, I’ve also seen a rat. Last night it spent 5 minutes looking for food at the bird ground feeder, and drinking from the water bowl, both of which were used by the hedgehog just before that. It didn’t go into the hedgehog feeder which has dried cat biscuits inside.
I obviously want to get rid of the rat, without harming my hedgehogs, but I’ve seen opposing opinions on the internet as to whether hedgehogs would eat rat poison. I’ve seen where the rat is coming and going from, and could raise the rat poison off the ground, but does anyone have any advice?

[Nic]

You might find something helpful in the following link:
https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/forums/topic/hedgehogs-and-rats/

Be aware that hogs can be quite good at climbing also that traps which catch the rats alive have been known to catch hedgehogs as well.

From what you’ve said, it sounds as if the bird feeding area is the problem. So make sure that is kept clean and tidy and try to prevent any from reaching the ground. If the rat doesn’t find any food, there will be no point in it visiting. Also generally make life more difficult for it by filling in bolt holes, etc.

2 more links but might be repeating some of what’s said in the above:
https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/forums/topic/rat-poison/
https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/forums/topic/rats-3/

[Author]

Posts