General Chat

The year we first came to Leeds the rats came out of the canal during the night and crossed the road at the Dark Arches the road was closed to traffic and they could be seen crossing in droves I believe this was an annual thing though not heard of it in recent years Yuk!!!! Norah

I am not keen on wild rats.......my husband has shot them in the garden too. I'm also not happy about the fact that for a while now we've heard scampering between the living room ceiling and the bedroom floorboards sometimes! We've not seen them but I think they are coming through from the other half of our semi. We've no holes for them to get into any rooms so it's a bit unnerving. But that house is up for sale and I hope whoever buys it seals up any gaps. Despite all that we used to have a really nice pet rat called Monty. I was very fond of him (much to my own surprise) and he used to sit on my shoulder while I was on my computer. He was very clean and gentle. He never bit and he was very intelligent and friendly. They do make excellent pets. Sue

We live quite near the railway embankment where rats seem to abound...fortunately they make a good meal for the local fox population! If any dare to stray into my garden, my feisty JR terrier would make short work of them ( hope!!!) Dee x

Colin id never seen one in my life till this year, i was horrified but they were down at my flotment not at home thank god

Hi Jacqui, Linda, Romany Star, Sylvia, Shirley, Clive, Jenny Caz, Sheila, Theresa & Jenny :):):) Sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you all, Thank you all for your input. I have enjoyed reading through the thread. I was quite taken back by the amount of us that have seen Rats around the different parts of the country really, It suggest that rats although more common in some parts are on the increase possibly caused through the recent weather conditions and environmental conditions that we are forced to live in. There has been a humour also in the thread. which upon reading has made me smile today, Thank You :) Although rats are a subject that most of us do not think of very often and I can understand why because I am not a lover of them myself either : It pays to be cautious when going into areas, like outhouses, sheds bins etc at the moment just in case they might be there. I hope that the rain stops soon wherever you may be and the rats return to their own dwellings once again. Thank you again everyone for your input :):) Im off out for the evening a Tai Chi lesson tonight but will look in again soon :):) Take Care Everyone :) Colin :):)

Hi, I am absolutley petrified of Rats and Mice. Had them at the back of a pub I once had. Mind you, we did have four geese and two goats that came with the pub. Because my kitchen was a commercial one also, the washing machine was outside under a 'lean to' Went out the once to find two massive rats sitting on the dustbin. Then we got them in the attic. Son had been complaining of a scratching noise in his bedroom for days. His bedroom was in the gable end. When we investigated, we found a Red Squirrel fur coat that once belonged to my Grandmother and a pair of old trainers, half eaten away. At an 'Off Licence' I once had, I found mice in my nightie and dressing gown that I had put at the bottom of the stairs, ready to take up next time I went up. Then found baby mice had been put in the bath. I would imagine the Mam had climbed up the towel drapped on the side. I can honestly say if ever I found one in the house now, I would have to go out until someone had caught it. Jenny.

Yes we have lots round here :( A couple of weeks ago I looked out of my window and saw about 6 sparrows surrounding one that was after a baby sparrow. I rushed out (armed with a broom) and chased it off and had to put the baby in a hamster cage to keep it safe. The mum kept feeding him and after a couple of days I let him go. Now my sisters dog comes round every day and I havent seen one in a few weeks.

Yuk, yuk yuk Colin, I hate em!!! We had a nest in an empty garage behind us, one got in through floorboards, I was terrified, such dirty creatures, Caz xxx

As you say ! its the scampering and those LONG RUBBERY TAILS that I cant stand

I even had to say NOOOOO to daughter when she asked to house the class rodents,whatever they were, over the summer hols. AND felt really bad to refuse next door neighbour(who ALWAYS fed our tortie and fish) when they went on hollie and wanted the guinea pigs fed and watered!!

Hi Colin We have had two rats die under the floor in our conservatory this year and we phoned the pest control but they wouldn't come out and said we would just have to let them rot and buy some Neutradol air freshners but the smell was awful, it was coming up through the air vents and where the radiator pipes went down through the floor, luckily though they decomposed in about three weeks but I was terrified in case we had visitors call. Jenny

Sylvia But its petrified me of all long tailed rodents forever.!! I.m such a wimp now even tho I.m long in the tooth. I could NEVER even look at em even if its only a picture. ITS terrifying. Sad aint it. Shirley

Come thrashing time as a rick of corn got low we gathered around, if possible with a hockey stick, waiting for the last sheaves to be moved. The dogs were there with us too. The knew what to expect! Then as the sheaves went to the threshing machine the fun started with wild whoops. To the best of my memory the highest number of rats killed from one rick was 19. The fund was enjoyed by all and I do not remember a dog being hit instead of a rat. Doesn't happen with these combines!! Clive

OH MY GOD!!! I HATE em. I remember in the 1950,s in our terrace house in Charlton SE London me and sis shared a bedroom and cowered every night under the covers cos we could hear scampering over our heads. There was an open Victorian fireplace in the room and our imaginations went overboard thnking RATS were coming done the chimney OR dropping on us. Seems there was a break in the sewer pipes ,And on openig up each garden its was ours that had the break. At night when the pressure was down the Sewer rats were able to come up stream/ the only house that had a dodgy downpipe was next door and the RATS were litterly climbing up to the roof and doing a fandango accross the tiles. Its marked me forever cos I,m petrified of em. I had to tell grandkids 'NO WAY' when they wanted to bring the classroom pets home for the summer. Shirley(wimp!!)

Never seen them in Coventry, saw plenty on the tube lines in London!! My cousin had them in her loft once, she heard them scuttling around at night!

Hi Colin. As if people coping with floods need anymore problems. I live in a Park Home and a rat decided to set up home underneath. He/she would still probably be there but it was stupid enough to visit the bird table during the day when I was out in the garden. Wondered where all the peanuts went to early in the morning. Sadly the rat has passed on to a better place, dispatched with an air rifle. And before anyone says that was cruel, my OH is dead eye dan. One clean shot straight to the brain. I also took out some skirting bricks to let the local cats in for a mooch around. Now that is cruel!! Linda

Funny you should mention it Colin - we had one at work on Tuesday - when it was raining hard. The bloody thing came up to the front doors, looking through the glass!!! Unfortunately we also had clients coming in and out at the same time - our Receptionist grabbed hold of one of the clients as she was scared witless (fortunately he didnt mind - lol!). Everybody is on full alert now at work - keep your eyes peeled everyone! It appears to be the wet that is driving them for cover! Jac

Hi Janet LOL :):) I have just looked at the size of the room I am in :):) Its very hard to type now that I am sitting up on my desk with my feet off the floor :):):):):) Colin :):)

According to the statisticians, NONE of us are ever more than 9 feet away from a rat. When you think of the average room size, that IS a very sobering thought. When I heard that, I was awake all night listening for one!!! LOL Jay

pmsl Colin