Mouse/Rat ?

[Hybrid21]

Appreciate your opinions and comments guys on this hole that keeps appearing at the side of my decking.

Over the last month or so I've covered it in and it keeps reappearing. It's being dug out from behind as there's never any evidence of soil outside and is a very tidy hole. Funny thing is there are loads of places for a rodent to access under the decking without digging 😕

Wife isn't too happy to leave it as it's just outside the kitchen door. Appreciate your thoughts.

 

[PCM]

Not sure.

rat? overflowing drain?

Stick some chicken wire in the hole? 

[FROSTYBALLS]

From memory for a householder further up the road who had rats beneath their decking, they were told by the pest control people that decking is a favourite for rodents making nests beneath, as they can nest and access the area without being disturbed.

[Hybrid21]

Hi Piers, certainly not the drain overflowing 👍

I could easily permanently block the hole, but would like to know what my guest is first 😃

[Hybrid21]

2 minutes ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

From memory for a householder further up the road who had rats beneath their decking, they were told by the pest control people that decking is a favourite for rodents making nests beneath, as they can nest and access the area without being disturbed.

Hi Mike, yes that's my concern, so rather than block the hole I may need to put some rat poison down at the hole ?

Would still like to know what it is first, but I suppose no matter what it is you don't really want them living under your decking.

[Rhymes with Paris]

Maybe try a mouse trap a couple of feet outside the hole first baited with a sultana,rodents seem to like them.

If you use rat poison the rodents,if that's what it/they are,may die under there, and stink.

Do you have young children visiting, they often poke various holes around the place in gardens.

As PCM says,it might be water flow.

If you see any droppings around that would be fairly conclusive.

 

 

 

[flash22]

it seems too perfect also it lines up with the gap between the boards and the gap in the joists, stick a large pebble in it

[Hybrid21]

1 hour ago, Rhymes with Paris said:

Maybe try a mouse trap a couple of feet outside the hole first baited with a sultana,rodents seem to like them.

If you use rat poison the rodents,if that's what it/they are,may die under there, and stink.

Do you have young children visiting, they often poke various holes around the place in gardens.

As PCM says,it might be water flow.

If you see any droppings around that would be fairly conclusive.

 

 

 

Definitely not water flow or young children Paul, thanks 👍

[Hybrid21]

1 hour ago, flash22 said:

it seems too perfect also it lines up with the gap between the boards and the gap in the joists, stick a large pebble in it

Yes I know what you mean Bob, it's always the same after I fill it in, what puzzles me is there's never any soil outside, must be scooped from inside 😕

[Roy124]

Rat traps:

Tether the rat trap so that the rat can not run off with it. 

Be prepared to remove any dead bodies. 

Cover the trap area to stop birds or cats tripping it. 

~~~~~~

When we relaid our decking we found the missing trap including the skull.  It's mates had eaten the rest. 

We also caught a blackbird 

 

[Roy124]

Rat Bait:

You can buy a bait box and bait on Amazon.  This is small than the ones you often see around commercial premises. 

Our box is opened with a key and the bait secured with a skewer. It was laid on the run and checked after 2 weeks. No bait left. 

Reloaded and relayed.  After 2 weeks a small quantity of bait eaten.  No signs after that. 

[Roy124]

Rat Catcher.:

Usually 2 or 3 visits. 

First catcher we employed had a bait box and bait poison was put in two clear tubes.  You could see the level dropping. 

Second catcher used a tethered bait box near the nest.  Again bait was consumed and finally stopped. 

In your case I suggest a bait box tethered near the hole.  If you have a dog or cat a trap would be better. 

[Hybrid21]

1 hour ago, Roy124 said:

Rat traps:

Tether the rat trap so that the rat can not run off with it. 

Be prepared to remove any dead bodies. 

Cover the trap area to stop birds or cats tripping it. 

~~~~~~

When we relaid our decking we found the missing trap including the skull.  It's mates had eaten the rest. 

We also caught a blackbird 

 

😲

[Rhymes with Paris]

When Roy says be prepared to remove any dead bodies, I think he only means the rodent ones Hybrid.😃

Another effective bait would be catalytic converters, they seem to attract the larger rat species equipped with angle grinders.

 

[Roy124]

Indeed I meant from the trap, but I found a large female, probably poison, the body was about 12 inches and it was a couple of pounds weight.  I was lucky finding it when fairly fresh. I double bagged abs and the rat man took it. 

[Rhymes with Paris]

That's a good size rat.

And a good job the rat man took it away.

Otherwise you could have been lumbered with all the funeral and cremation costs,had the rat not been covered by one of the many funeral and cremation plans widely advertised on TV.

One thing that I have noticed over the years though,is that all of the council pest controllers seem to be really good fellas , one of them going above and beyond, and climbing a ladder with his gear on, and solving the problem.

I have had a wasp nest here, and at my last house before this one, and both times the pest chap was really friendly and informative.

The last time, telling me to save the council charge of £35 back then, and buy fresh Nippon ant killer.

He was right, it worked a treat.

 

[Roy124]

Rhymes, councils don't seem to provide the service now.  Agree about knowledge though.  We had wasps in our loft, massive football size nest, and in the garage, no visible nest at all.  Also in the orchard wasps underground.  All different varieties. 

In Ramcos near Skegness I got two sets of USAF surplus insect gear.  A pair of long mesh sleeves to cover your hands and a larger one over the head.  Worked a treat though it is important to ensure your bare skin is not in contact with the mesh.  Wasps aren't daft. 

[Hybrid21]

I set up a wee camera last night and caught a picture of it going into the hole,  what are your thoughts guys ?

[Stivino]

Rat.  Most people who have decking,have rats.

[Yugguy1970]

I think you'll find it's a filligree Siberian hamster.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khoJsN3nNzM

[Rhymes with Paris]

Well caught Hybrid,at least you know now.

If you go for the rat traps from the DIY store though, the sprung ones that are a bigger version of a mouse trap.

I'm sure you already know, but if you have not used them before, like the smaller mouse traps, they are very easy to set off, and can break a thumb.

And of course, where there's one, there's usually more.

 

 

[Stivino]

You need one of these.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Your Local Authority may provide a pest control service - and some provide it free for rat extermination.

[Roy124]

4 hours ago, Stivino said:

You need one of these.

Nah, you need a digger. 

One occasion we saw our Scottie absolutely still, then moving millimetres at a time.  Then she ran off the terrace.  I found what I thought was the stem of a leaf until I spotted a tiny bit of flesh on the end. 

[Hybrid21]

5 hours ago, Stivino said:

You need one of these.

Yes Stephen, I'd love a jack Russell 👍 or a border terrier.

Used to have a west highland terrier, she would have done the job ?