Mysterious Digging

[Garden Manager]

A short while ago i noticed a strange pile of earth had appeared in one of my flowerbeds, close to the edge of the lawn. On investigation i discovered a small but deep hole next to the pile of earth so something had started to dig a burrow or nest ready for winter. I cleared away the soil and a few days later more appeared. Then no further activity ocurred for a couple of weeks. Then this afternoon I was doing some work in  the garden and spotted ANOTHER pile of earth and corresponding hole in the middle of a different border but not that far away from the first one.

I am mystified as to what could be making it.  It is certainly not a mole, not only is the excavation different from a molehill, our geology does not encourage moles and have never had any problem with them before so why now? The hole is between 1.5 and 2 inches across so it cannot be a rabbit (again we are not prone to them in our area). I can only imagine it is some kind of rodent but cannot think which, although i dont believe rats dig burrows so I think they can be ruled out.

Can anyone suggest any likely suspects? It would be nice to know if it is something to worry about and deal with or just put up with as part of the fauna of the garden.

Many thanks in advance.

[Garden Manager]

[star]

Cant help you much GA. But I think rats can burrow, mum had some in her garden a long time ago and ran out of runs underground. But no mounds of earth.

Let us know what it is if you find out ;)

[ACE]

Rats. they are popping up all over the place at the moment. You would be surprised at the amount of soil they can move.

[Georgie]

I agree it's rats.  Sorry. :(

G x

[Robert_Brenchley]

Proably rats. It's the right size for them. Get some poison down before you have a plague of the horrible things.

[Garden Manager]

Thanks - I think?!

Rats. Great. >:( Just what i needed in the garden at the moment ::) :o

I suppose they have been attracted by the food i have been putting out for the birds, which hasnt them been eaten by them. One of the burrows is close to a low level bird table on the lawn.

Any recomendations as to a suitable poison that wont harm anything else (including me :o)? Thanks

[star]

Personally I would opt for a trap myself (if it can be placed safely away from other animals). Poison is slow and inhumane IMO. Traps are quick.

Or you can hire a rat catcher or contact the environmental health to do it for you, at a cost though.

Its all down to your own preferences at the end of the day, good luck GA.

[Carol]

Def. rats.  I have had them a couple of times because of the amount of bird food I put out.  I get the Council in and he finds the 'runs' and puts boxes down in the appropriate places.  He also checks a few times that the rat has taken the poison.  All for the sum of £35.   

[ipt8]

Buy some rat packs of poison and put them in some sort of tunnel that will deter birds and stop pets getting them. The rats need to feed on them for a few meals. Just keep putting more untill they are no longer taken.
OR if you know someone with a terrier or a jack russel they will likely sort them out.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I put a cupful of poison, which we get free from the Council, down every week or so. If I do it more often, then rats which have already had a lethal dose will go on eating, and a lot goes to waste. When they stop taking it, I leave it for a while.

I tripped over a half-dead one on the path yesterday; a stomp on the head finished it off, and the body was interred in the compost bin. Dust to dust, veg to veg...

[valmarg]

I would also suggest that you contact your local council.  They are obliged to help you if you are infested with vermin (rats and mice), but not squirrels.

Our council was very helpful in 2006.  The heavy rain we had was driving the rats out of the sewers.  They came round several times, and (fingers crossed) we are now free from them.

You need the Environmental Services, Pest Control Officer.  At least that's the department in our council.

valmarg

[Garden Manager]

Cant say that I am infested. Yet! It is only a couple of holes and i havent seen any rats about, nor has there been any activity since i started this thread. I think i will wait and see what happens before I take it any further.

[valmarg]

Another suggestion would be wood mice.  I'm not terribly knowledgeable about them, but I understand they do burrow quite large holes.  You usually find a cache of peanuts at the end of their tunnels.

When I used the word infested, to me if you've got one rat it is an infestation.

valmarg

[Garden Manager]

Another suggestion would be wood mice.  I'm not terribly knowledgeable about them, but I understand they do burrow quite large holes.  You usually find a cache of peanuts at the end of their tunnels.

When I used the word infested, to me if you've got one rat it is an infestation.

valmarg

Well as mice are not quite as bad as rats, and untill i get evidence to the contrary, i think i will go with mice as the culprit. I am still not convinced that the holes were big enough for rats.

[Suzanne]

Here is a description of brown rat burrows, taken from a conservation website helping people spot the differences between rats and water voles.
8-10 com = 3-4 inches - so your birrowas do sound too small. Maybe a wood or field mouse?

"Rat burrows are larger (8-10cm) in size with a fan shaped spoil heap outside, connected by well trodden runs."

[Bryan]

Hi Garden apprentice/All,
one word of advice before putting any poison down for killing RATS!!!
Do not feed the birds for a period of time, seems a bit harsh that they should suffer this time of year, but in peanuts that are given to birds on a regular basis, either on their own or in a mix, there is vitamin k which acts as an antidote to any rat poison.
The rats seem to have worked this out, as when i had a problem with them, they had loads hidden and stored away.