The saga continues

 

I've mentioned previously that we have issues with rats. We've known for a while, but we were told nobody would come to sort out until we'd seen one or had found droppings. It took a while for this to happen then I saw one and then stepped on droppings in bare feet. I rang to book somebody and the soonest they could come was three weeks later.

That's a long time in the rodent world!

The rat man came  a few weeks ago and then I was filled with confidence we'd got rid of them. Then I saw one. Then a few days later - this week - there was a dead rat on the patio. Horror.

I was torn between disgust and feeling horrifically guilty. Husband and I were having a stand-off about who would remove it - then husband won because he went to the office to work for the day.

I tried to leave the rat, but it was covered in flies. I had images of a seagull coming down and pecking at it, then getting sick and dying as well. So I'd end up with 2 problems instead of one. Or even worse - a local cat or fox!

I went online to look at how to remove a rat. Put gloves on and double bag it was the advice. Sounds simple!

We were told because our garden was overgrown it was a haven for rats. So last weekend I went around the garden (not the bits near the rats) and pulled up all the weeds - not a small job. I piled them up against the back gate (literally a 2 foot high pile of weeds). The idea being that as they withered they'd be easier to dispose of. However, this meant that once picked up the only way to get rid of the rat was through the house.

I wasn't up for that, so I took the dog for a walk then came back and got one of our big weed buckets. I carried this through the house and went out the back to the back gate. Once I'd piled in all the weeds I was able to open the gate and dispose of them in the garden waste bin.

Then I was back to the rat....

Not knowing what would happen I decided to put wellies on - as much protection as possible. I've also bulk bought marigolds ready for the big clear up once the rats are all gone. I put on a pair of these set up a double layer of bin bags and headed for the garden.

I was literally horrified at the concept of picking up the rat. I decided to do it a bit like a dog poo. Pick up the rat inside the bag and then turn the bag inside out. I bent down to get the rat and froze. My body wouldn't let me do it. I was terrified it was just faking death and would freak out and bite me.

I went into the kitchen and found a mangy Kitchen cloth that probably should have been binned weeks ago. Folding this up I put it over the rats head and then taking a big breath in one fell swoop I picked up the rat and bagged it.

Still repulsed keeping it at arms length I tried to tie a knot in the top of the bag. But I was being so pathetic I messed up. Next thing with a splat the dead rat fell at my feet. I let out a very high pitched shriek.

Now clearly if the poison hadn't killed it - falling from 5 foot onto a hard patio would have. And to be fair it didn't flinch. But I wasn't taking chances. So I went through the whole palaver again. I folded the kitchen cloth up and put it over the head. I took a deep breath and picked up the rat. This time with more success.

Then continuing to keep the bag at arms length I took the rat to the bin. Activity over.

I then washed my hands for about 20 minutes and then used hand sanitiser (thank you COVID - I've still got plenty). 

I was hoping that this meant the whole rat thing was over, but as I went back to my office I saw another rat running across the patio. It had obviously been hiding whilst I was doing my disposal job.

Horrible!