I've got one of those black plastic compost bin (looks a bit like a Dalek -
well, kin of!). I've just put some kitchen waste in and "something" was in
there! I'm sure I saw a tail slither away. Could it be a rat? There is a gap
at the base which a rat could easily get through. If it is a rat is this
"normal"?

In article ,
says...
I've got one of those black plastic compost bin (looks a bit like a Dalek -
well, kin of!). I've just put some kitchen waste in and "something" was in
there! I'm sure I saw a tail slither away. Could it be a rat? There is a gap
at the base which a rat could easily get through. If it is a rat is this
"normal"?



Rats will go in, they like the worms but it is also quite possible that
it was a grass snake or slow worm who like to lay eggs in them because of
the heat
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
T...
In article ,
says...
I've got one of those black plastic compost bin (looks a bit like a
Dalek -
well, kin of!). I've just put some kitchen waste in and "something" was
in
there! I'm sure I saw a tail slither away. Could it be a rat? There is a
gap
at the base which a rat could easily get through. If it is a rat is this
"normal"?



Rats will go in, they like the worms but it is also quite possible that
it was a grass snake or slow worm who like to lay eggs in them because of
the heat

So whatever it was I don't need to take any action? Sorry for such basic
questions!

"gavin" wrote in message
m...
I've got one of those black plastic compost bin (looks a bit like a
Dalek - well, kin of!). I've just put some kitchen waste in and
"something" was in there! I'm sure I saw a tail slither away. Could it be
a rat? There is a gap at the base which a rat could easily get through. If
it is a rat is this "normal"?

Rats or mice. And I'd describe it as normal but to some people it's highly
undesirable but I'm not one of them.

I've just turned over my compost bin that was the same sort of set up and
found at least 2 mice in there. The dogs got those and then I went inside
for a coffee and one of the dogs stayed outside. By the time I got back the
little brute had dug a huge hole down below where the original base of the
bin was sitting so there could have been many more mice in there.

I don't object to having mice in my bin (except for the time we had a snake
head in there and we had to despatch him). I find that mice do a good job
of turning and aerating the bin and given how soggy the contents of that
type of bin can become, I find them useful. I'd have more problems with
seeing rats there but I suspect is not particularly rational given that I
don't object to the mice. I live on a farm and rats and mice are common on
farms (as are rats in cities).

On Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:00:08 GMT, "gavin"
wrote:


"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
ET...
In article ,
says...
I've got one of those black plastic compost bin (looks a bit like a
Dalek -
well, kin of!). I've just put some kitchen waste in and "something" was
in
there! I'm sure I saw a tail slither away. Could it be a rat? There is a
gap
at the base which a rat could easily get through. If it is a rat is this
"normal"?



Rats will go in, they like the worms but it is also quite possible that
it was a grass snake or slow worm who like to lay eggs in them because of
the heat

So whatever it was I don't need to take any action? Sorry for such basic
questions!



Don't pick it up if it's a ratty!

If you see a lot of rats or get them in the house then you need to
call the pest control, otherwise not. The odd one is fairly normal.

Don't put cooked food in the bin - you need a different sort of
composter for cooked food and bones.
--
http://www.freedeliveryuk.co.uk
http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk

Rats are most likely they will go anywhere there is a food source which your compost bin readily supplies them with especially if putting in kitchen waste. Obviously rat poison is not the answer and a trap would be difficult. You may be best to move the compost bin and refill with the contents this disturbance is usually enough to put your furry friends off.

kathryn

www.carreglefn-nurseries.co.uk

gavin wrote:
I've got one of those black plastic compost bin (looks a bit like a Dalek -
well, kin of!). I've just put some kitchen waste in and "something" was in
there! I'm sure I saw a tail slither away. Could it be a rat? There is a gap
at the base which a rat could easily get through. If it is a rat is this
"normal"?


I think you should report this to your local authority.They will send round
a pest control officer who is an expert in these matters.He can recognize
traces of rats without actually seeing one and take whatever measures
he thinks are necessary.
Do not leave any of your doors open until he gives the all clear.Rats will
be attracted by the smell of food and enter the house. Maybe they will
run
out again when you approach but they carry fleas which may jump off
in your house.Rats live in sewers and whatever the rat may suffer from
one bite from its flea and you've got it too.it is not a matter to be
complacent about (not that I'm saying you are) but I hope this alerts
you to the risk.The pest control service is completely free.
You should also have a think about the contents of your compost bin:
no cooked foods,nothing of animal origin whether cooked or raw,just
plain raw vegetable off-cuts,haulms from the garden,these should not be
so attractive to a rat.
I've got one of those bins,the big one,and earlier this year there was a
rat in mine.It did not come from my sewer because I had not opened it,
but he was round the neighborhood in other gardens too.I got the pest
control officer round; he actually saw the rat in my bin so he put down
bait.
When he returned the bait was gone. Nobody's seen the rat since
but I suspect there is a corpse under someone's shed,or in some dark corner.
Well there's plenty of other little creatures who will dispose of that.
It's just a rare "displeasure" of gardening,Gavin,but if you attend
to it as I have suggested you will probably never have the same trouble
again,
so please don't throw the bin out.
Yours in gardening,
Sam.

On Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:07:51 GMT, "gavin"
wrote:

I've got one of those black plastic compost bin (looks a bit like a Dalek -
well, kin of!). I've just put some kitchen waste in and "something" was in
there! I'm sure I saw a tail slither away. Could it be a rat? There is a gap
at the base which a rat could easily get through. If it is a rat is this
"normal"?

Friends of mine had a rat in their bin. They called the council pest
control man. He said it was rats because they burrow in under the
bottom and dig out a lot of earth. If you have that evidence you can
guess it is rats. Mice would leave a smaller hole and I would not
bother with them, but rats you need to eliminate.



Pam in Bristol

In article ,
says...
I've got one of those black plastic compost bin (looks a bit like a Dalek -
well, kin of!). I've just put some kitchen waste in and "something" was in
there! I'm sure I saw a tail slither away. Could it be a rat? There is a gap
at the base which a rat could easily get through. If it is a rat is this
"normal"?


I see the occasional mouse skittering away, when I am dumping
stuff in. Sometimes inside the bin itself, running down a little
gap or tunnel in the compost that the mouse apparently dug.

I don't worry about it.


--
Get Credit Where Credit Is Due
http://www.cardreport.com/
Credit Tools, Reference, and Forum

If you see a lot of rats or get them in the house then you need to
call the pest control, otherwise not. The odd one is fairly normal.

Don't put cooked food in the bin - you need a different sort of
composter for cooked food and bones.


I've got a compost bin called a "Joanna" it's abit more expensive but
impenetrable to rats as it has a solid base with tiny holes in, big
enough for worms but definitely not For rats!
It's got a tight cover and so far so good!

Janet
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

In article ,
"gavin" writes:
| "Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
| T...
|
| Rats will go in, they like the worms but it is also quite possible that
| it was a grass snake or slow worm who like to lay eggs in them because of
| the heat
|
| So whatever it was I don't need to take any action? Sorry for such basic
| questions!

Not quite. The first step is to decide if a rat has taken up close
residence - if not, do nothing - if so, get the rat man in (council
or private).

Rats will produce round holes c. 2" in diameter. Ignore claims
that they eat X and not Y - they like worms, and do NOT particularly
like cooked food or meat, but will eat anything when hungry. They
will also eat potatoes and other root vegetables, from the ground.
So you can't avoid attracting them.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.