Saw a couple of rats -what to do?

[Guest]

Prep.sarm.ca

Looks like they do have a program

[HappyFarmer]

We had them too..... bad, real bad last year and throughout the summer. They dug under one of our aeration bins and we're eating canola all winter. They filled one bin under the air floor almost solid with gravel and canola. The were in combine. Had tunnels dug from bins to some of sheds... it was nasty.

My brother put out a few of those warfarin blocks, the ate a couple of them and that cleaned the pricks right up. They are gone... for now.

[bucket]

Cats help too.

[kato]

No rat control in Manitoba. Our neighbour burned a bunch of old buildings a couple of years ago and we inherited his rat population. It was a real infestation. Nasty. My German Shepherd would toss them in the air until they were dead and then bury them. She killed a lot of rats, but they say if you see one, you have fifty. What finally settled our problem was when two weasels took up residence in our hay yard for the winter. We haven't seen a rat in two years now.

[SASKFARMER3]

So the seed reps were out in full force.

Oh rats rats.
Weasel works the best.

[farmaholic]

We generally don't have a problem but in fall there can be an issue when they move around. A family of skunks would probably be better than a barn full of welfare cats at controlling rats. But who wants the risk or rabies and getting sprayed?

We try to keep things tidy and have bait boxes/stations set up in buildings for mice. As with rats those little "f"ers are on the move now too. We no longer have cattle so bales are no longer a haven for them. Good luck sumdumguy, don't let them get established.

[wmoebis]

When you find entrance hole shove an exhaut hose from vehicle down it. Older vehicle with choke pulled a wee bit works the best.

[riders2010]

You put up a sign job opening Pmo office 10 miles north. Works every time

[bluefargo]

In a previous life I had quite a lot to do with rat control. Actually with the exception of hog barns, feedlots and a few other situations they are relatively easily to eliminate. A few strategically located bait stations usually do the trick. I it is especially helpful to put the bait and stations along their runs "in their face" with minimal disturbance. No need for fancy stations. Old tires with plywood on top work fine.
Most importantly keep the poison fresh till the bastards are eliminated. I like oatmeal and liguid warfarin best. But whatever they like best.
Don't use strychnine or anything like that. You will kill a few rats but older smarter ones get very bait shy.

[bluefargo]

The reason warfarin and other rat poisons work so well is that they have a delayed reaction thereby reducing bait shyness. They have to eat warfarin for a number of days. Some other poisons require only one feeding. Good idea to give them a buffet of various rat poison. But keep the poisons topped up till they are eliminated.