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Rats in my Roost
If you’ve dabbled in self sufficiency and growing your own, you’ll know only too well of the wars and battles that rage in a garden. For those like myself who stay away from all chemical controls alltogether, stemming the flow of predatory creatures is a daily routine. Squash a lily beetle here, a lavender beetle there. Scoop up handfuls of ladybirds and set them marching into battle on aphid stricken plants. Wait until nightfall before going out for the slug and snail stomp. The conflict never ends, and as much as I can attract natural predators in, there’s a certain amount of upkeep that I have to do myself. However, I now have a foe that I cannot squish with a finger, or pop into a bottle to feed the hens later; rats.
I’ve always had mice in my garage for as long as I can remember. I don’t mind them at all actually, I have fond memories of growing up in the country and watching the field mice rustle back and forth under the living room window. I have three cats, and when populations start to boom, my felines soon curb it. The presence of rats is that bit more ominous though, and whilst on one hand I can appreciate their little cute noses and black button eyes, they have to go.
Behind my garage is a piece of private land which is owned by a man who used to live with his family a few doors up from me. He set about converting his home into a huge block of flats some years back; plans which us neighbours instantly put the kybosh on. He has since moved out and let his house out to a staggeringly large number of tenants. However, the private land behind me has become rat city, with old mattresses, deceased cars and general junk thrown there as a middle finger up to all of those who opposed him.
Last year, I noticed that several of my Australian finches were missing. No dead bodies, no hiding in corners, seemingly vanished. Then, I spied rat droppings above the aviary and realised that these omnivorous critters had decided to make a meal out of my gorgeous birds. Finches extinct and chicken grain sealed I thought the problem had been resolved. Until now. There have been a few cases where I’ve found eggs stashed underneath the nesting boxes, obviously rolled there by wily rats wanting a takeaway. However, now realising that though they may be able to squeeze through the tiniest gap themselves eggs just wont, they’ve started devouring my precious hen fruit right where they’ve been laid.
Eggs are being nibble right where they’ve been laid
If you’ve read this blog for any length of time you’ll know that I’m a lover of wildlife and letting nature be. However, I’m afraid having rats in my roost is simply a health risk, not to mention the depression it brings to my lack of eggy breakfast. So alas, it’s off to rat poison I go. I’m afraid that in this instance, my chemical free rule will have to be bent slightly.
2 Responses to Rats in my Roost
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