Yes this is what my local council is saying!! They reckon people feeding the birds is the reason for the swelling reports of rats in the district.
it,s nothing to do with the fortnightly rubbish collection then?
or the fact that it only now collects 3 large items (in 1 visit ) a year. I know fly tipped furniture etc doesn,t attract rats but it does attract other fly tippers
the council is south glos and this was in the local press
marg
I think there is some truth in it. but it's certainly not the only reason for the increase. I've taken down one of my feeders after I saw a rat on it more than once, but I'veleft the other one up, although the birds don't seem interested at the moment, not sure why.
Quote from: theothermarg on January 19, 2008, 15:17:14
Yes this is what my local council is saying!! They reckon people feeding the birds is the reason for the swelling reports of rats in the district.
it,s nothing to do with the fortnightly rubbish collection then?
or the fact that it only now collects 3 large items (in 1 visit ) a year. I know fly tipped furniture etc doesn,t attract rats but it does attract other fly tippers
the council is south glos and this was in the local press
marg
The fly-tipped furniture might be a nice shelter for the rats....
Like most of these things, it's probably a quarter-truth with enough it it to pull the wool over some peoples' eyes. Careless bird feeding can certainly attract rats, but if you're careful how you site feeders, there's no reason why it should.
I have just had the Council in to eradicate the rats I have been having in my garden. I have not seen any since last Monday and hope thats them gone. I shall continue to feed the Birds because they depend on the feeding at this time of year. I had to remove some of the feeders while the Rat Poison was given a chance to work, but from this morning they are in place again and shall ensure there is no waste feed left over before dark.
The Council have to blame something for their short comings. I am pleased our council still collect every week.
:)
I have noticed a few posts on other sites about rats in gardens but I sincerely believe it is due to people putting the wrong kind of stuff on their compost heaps.
We have had a wormery for years, free from the Council, and it only ever contains peelings, garden waste, paper - anything that came from something that once grew. I couldn't not feed the birds as we have been very successful this year. We cut down a large conifer and it has left a sort of circle of shrubbery. Since putting fat balls, lots of seed container and different foods like Nyger seeds, sunflower seed hearts etc we have seen lots of different birds like Greenfinch, Coal tits and all the other tits,nut hatches, our family of blackbirds who live in our garden etc.
No, my rats were due entirely to bird feed. However, they are gone now and I am back feeding the birds but being more careful and not putting out too much later in the day so that food is left overnight.
I shall not stop feeding the birds, they are dependent on me now and if I go away on holiday I get someone to do it for me.
;D
I stopped putting out food for the birds when I saw a rat climbing up the post of the bird table early one morning in search of seeds/grain.
Well that's all there was.
I'm trying to get my birdies back. In my extended absence darn sarf, the OH didn't bother and all my little feathered friends appear to have deserted me.
:'(
There are always rats about, it's a fact of life in this greedy privatised age when nobody's spending the money on rat catchers. They only become a real problem when they have regular access to food though.
Have you tried the plastic guards on the birdfeed pole that look like a big salad bowl turned upside down? We have one on our pole and have never seen any rats in the feeder (though there could easily be ones on the ground feeding on the feed that scatters out. We have seen squirrels trying to figure out how to get past the guard but after a couple years it is still working. I need to attach a big tray above the guard to catch the scattering seed but so far haven't because a big wind might topple the whole kit and kaboodle.