Rats?

[Stretch177 39]

Out with the terrier earlier and she marked what appears to be two rat holes. They were on the edge of a farmers field, that leads down to a beck. I could only see the two holes and they were about about 2 foot apart, as the vegetation is very thick I couldn't see anymore. Going to go back early in the morning with a spade and see if I can dig to it. What's the odds of these being the only holes? Having never gone after rats I don't have a clue what there burrows are like?

[bobby blackheart 1,209]

use a ferret bolt for the dogs

[the_stig 6,614]

if your going back with a spade check around and fill any other holes in otherwise you`ll be digging all day and any rats will be well gone..

[.WARREN. 288]

could be a fair few more holes,make a smoker if you can or like bobby said try the ferret,good luck atb

[b53hunt 15]

have your terriers ever worked rats because if not your going about it in the wrong way taking a spade into a random field with two holes but if they have worked rats then i bet theres not just the two holes rats like to dig under things so have a good luck around pal there will be more good luck

[Stretch177 39]

Yeah both me and the dogs have been after rats, but it was in farm barns with the rats running around freely, as apposed to flushing them out of their burrows with a smoker etc. I have a strimmer motor here that i was going to try and use as a smoker but haven't got round to sorting it out yet, so might get that up and running tomorrow and then go out later on the night.

[bobby blackheart 1,209]

Yeah both me and the dogs have been after rats, but it was in farm barns with the rats running around freely, as apposed to flushing them out of their burrows with a smoker etc. I have a strimmer motor here that i was going to try and use as a smoker but haven't got round to sorting it out yet, so might get that up and running tomorrow and then go out later on the night.

attach a little pipe from exhaust of strimmer-use exhaust putty to seal-length of hose pipe-few caps of 2 stoke and away

[Stretch177 39]

Cheers mate, will get it out tomorrow and have a see what pipe ill need. Guessing a metal pipe from the exhaust then attach the hose pipe to that

[stripes 401]

Yes stretch, we use the hydraulic pipe that they use on diggers,, comes with a collar nut that you can weld on direct to the exhaust, try a scrappy.

[mick81 275]

I wouldn't bother with the smoker on a few holes , if the diggs going fecking crackers at the hole , biting it , digging at it , would tell me theses rats at home , I would get in front of the terrier and start channeling the rat runs , watching the dogs body language , tail wagging as u get nearer , then BANG , there's ya rat ,

[Stretch177 39]

Stripes

 

Mick, thats the thing, i don't know if these are the only 2 holes or if there is more on the beck side of the bank. Thinking back, when we went past and she showed an interest, she showed the signs she does when marking rabbits, nose right down the hole, tail wagging and after a while she starts a low crying if i don't do anything. After i had investigated we walked on, when we came back she sniffed again but showed no interest, which to me indicates either the rat had came out the holes we seen once we had gone or it had slipped out of the other side. Going to pop down first thing in the morning, put my wellies on and check the beck side for any holes, if there is i will block them up so there is only the 2 holes in the field that are easily accessible and then either use the smoker or dig along the tunnels...or thats the plan

[paulus 26]

Ensure there rats and not water voles

[Stretch177 39]

Went this morning, unfortunately we had ALOT of rain last night and everywhere is flooded, beck is 3ft up etc, dog had a sniff nothing there so came home lol. Will go back down next week and see what the craic is.

 

Paulus, I did think about that as I came across water voles when searching the Internet for the innards of a rat burrow etc, definitely think its a rat, as these 2 holes are out in the open, are quite jagged looking and not neat like a water voles are supposed to be, I will definitely look closer next time I'm out, don't want to be digging up a voles habitat if that's what it is. 95% sure it isn't a vole likes

[chelsea 125]

hi lads will one of ye tell what I need to make up a smoker plenty of rat holes where I go out with dogs..

[bobby blackheart 1,209]

hi lads will one of ye tell what I need to make up a smoker plenty of rat holes where I go out with dogs..

old strimmer/chainsaw cut of pole/head or take off bar if chainsaw so you left with just the motor attach a small length of pipe and seal for exhaust-few foot of hosepipe and load it up with a load of 2 stoke oil and let it rip lots of fun