I thought cats liked to eat rats (even rat ice-cream) - just checked and the neighbour's cat (who likes our garden for other purposes) is just sitting near the bird feeder - why doesn't he chase that rat?
What a lovely garden you have Hazel. I don't think I've seen it from this angle.Love the brick edging......I know that's not what I'm supposed to be looking at!!! We've had a rat in our garden lately stealing all the bird food and rummaging in the compost. Sadly Chris had to put down some stuff and he seems to have disappeared. :-( Enjoyed your banter with @tiedmark
I'll pass your comment to Ray, thank you. He designed the garden. The circle of brick-edged lawn was appropriated by Jinks for playing with tennis balls but since he escaped from the garden and spent the night over the fields Ray has constructed a wooden fence around the deck and patio and JInks is confined to that! I'm hoping next-door's cat will get the rat but not the robins!
Seriously I do think a gun is what you need! Nobody likes a rat in the garden even if only that it's not a good look ha ha ! You can't put poison down because of the risk to Jinks & wildlife & why would rats eat poison if there is lots of nicer bird food to eat. I would enquire around for a keen farmer shooter but warn the neighbours first! Good capture there though Hazel! !
Great pic. of you lovely garden. But the rat is n`t a welcome visitor. You need an other bird feeder method . And, what about Jinks ?
There are electric sound methods but they also chase away squirrels.
That is not a good sign I would think- as there's one now, but how soon will it be more?! We just relocated 11 feral cats! Too bad I couldn't have sent you the one that caught a mouse in the wood pile before we brought him to a new home.
Thanks for all of that. Will investigate suggestions apart from the question of Jinks who is not allowed in the because he escapes - and I don't really want him biting a dirty rat.
Rat and Raspberry Ripple Ice cream is a big fav in our house.
I think the alliteration would be the only good thing about that!!!
I thought cats liked to eat rats (even rat ice-cream) - just checked and the neighbour's cat (who likes our garden for other purposes) is just sitting near the bird feeder - why doesn't he chase that rat?
Very likely!
I'll pass your comment to Ray, thank you. He designed the garden. The circle of brick-edged lawn was appropriated by Jinks for playing with tennis balls but since he escaped from the garden and spent the night over the fields Ray has constructed a wooden fence around the deck and patio and JInks is confined to that! I'm hoping next-door's cat will get the rat but not the robins!
We have a stream in the garden and have had rat problems there several years ago.
We have squirrels who eat bulbs!
There are electric sound methods but they also chase away squirrels.
Thanks for all of that. Will investigate suggestions apart from the question of Jinks who is not allowed in the because he escapes - and I don't really want him biting a dirty rat.