Seemingly innocent garden mistake is biggest reason rats come running

10 March 2024 , 09:11

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Once rats make a home in your garden, they are tricky to shift (Image: Getty Images)

Rats are usually unwelcome visitors and one innocent mistake could actually be attracting them to your garden.

Contrary to popular belief, rats are found everywhere, not just in inner city alleyways. When they find their way into your garden they can set up home beneath decking, in sheds or greenhouses, and compost heaps. Once rats become settled, they are often tricky to shift with a bad rat problem taking up to three months to clear - this could also be pricey as the average cost for rat removal was up to £260 in 2023 according to Checkatrade.com.

As with everything, prevention is better than cure, so taking steps to rat-proof your garden is key to keeping these critters at bay.

According to garden and wildlife expert James Ewens, from Green Feathers Wildlife Store, one of the most common reasons why rats find their way into your garden is due to bird feeders. Rats are scavengers and opportunistic feeders and are always looking for their next meal. Even if your bird feeder is off the ground, birds are messy eaters so seeds can frequently drop to the floor providing rats with a snack.

James suggests swapping out your regular bird feeders for one that is squirrel and rat-proof. You should also make sure the feeder has a tray fitted underneath to catch any seeds that fall.

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As rats will feed on just about anything they can get their little mitts on, James says we need to stop leaving them plentiful food outside. This means not putting cooked or raw food in your compost bin. If you store your food in an outbuilding, make sure it is stored securely and for an extra layer of protection, use chicken wiring or metal plates to ensure that they can't get in.

Finally, if you like to put food out for other animals including hedgehogs, badgers, or foxes, make sure you put it out in the open. Rats like to stay hidden when feeding, so move your feeding station to the middle of the garden. Alongside this, if you keep an open space of lawn at the centre of your garden, rats might find it too open for their liking. This could be enough to make them leave your garden and move on

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Ruby Flanagan