Froudy 40 Posted February 20, 2014 Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 Hi lads, My question is will you ever control rats 100% on a outside contract? I have a childrens nursery contract which I do, which has a rat problem I took the job on about 4 months ago on an ongoing contract, I have placed poison wherever possible theres around 14 bait boxes which I checked on a regular bases and top up when required, the poison has been going steady but not loads but just occasionally,I had a phone call about 3 weeks ago to say that the workers are seeing rats around so I go that day and check the bait points again a little from each one but nothing major again has been taken, I have called 3 x nights over the last few weeks to see if I can see any activity and have seen 1 rat in this time, Ive switch bait but still have little to no takes, there is grass fields around and a army base one side and and a hotel the other. I have told the client that the rats will be on the move all the time so you kill one and then another one is not far behind and they come for a reason for example the bin which they keep leaving open! But she couldnt see this and said that she wants to block one hole up to stop them coming into a playground I explained that you wouldnt keep them out again she acted like she was stupid. My friend works at the nursery and hasnt seen a rat at all, she call me this morning to say that a pest controller had be out and looked round and opened all my bait boxes went through my report folder and so on. I have a good mind to ring them and tell them to stick it but I dont want to get my friend in trouble. Am I in the right? What would you lads do? Atb Quote Link to post
Froudy 40 Posted February 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 To add the nursery is only a tiny little place the size of under 2 tennis courts Quote Link to post
StephenWalsh 73 Posted February 20, 2014 Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 (edited) What are they feeding on in the local area? Have you looked for burrows? If they are not going in the boxes then you could just be putting them in the wrong places, or there is so much other food around they aren't interested in the boxes. Obviously the rats are there for food and/or harbourage, but if you find either and can change them, the problem will become minimal. Granted you will get immigration and rats can reappear but look for why they are there... Edited February 20, 2014 by StephenWalsh Quote Link to post
Matt 160 Posted February 20, 2014 Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 Keeping bait boxes down and baited may just be attracting more rats to the site. Find the source, and sort them out there. Bear in mind that the law no longer allows you to keep bait down all the time. Read the new label texts. Quote Link to post
Froudy 40 Posted February 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 No harbourage around site, theres a car park one side which is not own by them with rat burrows which im not allowed to bait, a hotel which doesn't want anything done and a pub which has pest control so they will move about if I cant get on any of the other ground im stuck because I'm only controlling a postage stamp place. there's no food source on the site apart from when they leave the bins open so they are just moving from ground which is not own by them to there place because they know they can get food, ive explained this to the client but they cant see it!you clear the infestation and then a month later they are back it is just how it is, if people could control rats 100% there would be any! Atb Quote Link to post
Froudy 40 Posted February 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 Yep ive try that matt, leave it down for 35 days get it under control and then swap to monitoring bait and then they are back a month later. I know where they are living but the owners of the ground dont want to pay you to go on there ground because its not effecting them Atb Quote Link to post
Matt 160 Posted February 20, 2014 Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 Yep ive try that matt, leave it down for 35 days get it under control and then swap to monitoring bait and then they are back a month later. I know where they are living but the owners of the ground dont want to pay you to go on there ground because its not effecting them Atb Report it to the local authority and kick up a stink then.... don't forget that local authorities have the power to force landowners to control rats, especially if it's impacting on neighbouring properties Speak to the local EHO and explain the situation. Often a 'push' from them gets some action It's also worth considering fitting some break back traps in the boxes rather than non-toxic bait. Quote Link to post
Froudy 40 Posted February 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 Yes thats true matt, ive done that before when I was doing a terrance house and 2 doors up someone's garden was full of rats they use to feed them rabbit food and cat food Lol and there garden was overgrown to say the least the amount of rats attracted to the neighbourhood was crazy everyone was kicking up. I am just unsure if I want to try and sort the problem out now as I was going for free at night to help them out by doing the night visits to see What I could do and I feel abit annoyed that they have to ring another pest controller behind my back to search through all my stuff for a 2nd opinion. Quote Link to post
Froudy 40 Posted February 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 Yep and agree matt I normally have about 6-7 traps in place as well when the poison is up Quote Link to post
socks 32,253 Posted February 20, 2014 Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 Yep ive try that matt, leave it down for 35 days get it under control and then swap to monitoring bait and then they are back a month later. I know where they are living but the owners of the ground dont want to pay you to go on there ground because its not effecting them Atb Report it to the local authority and kick up a stink then.... don't forget that local authorities have the power to force landowners to control rats, especially if it's impacting on neighbouring properties Speak to the local EHO and explain the situation. Often a 'push' from them gets some action It's also worth considering fitting some break back traps in the boxes rather than non-toxic bait. Spot on advice ... I am about to do a massive rat clearance job from the back of 4 businesses ... They all wanted the job done but none of them would take ownership of the job ... We all sat down with a council official and the EHO and within an hour they were told what was going to happen and who was paying for what ........ 1 Quote Link to post
Deker 3,491 Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 This is a common situation in my experience, I am often called to sites with a Rat issue, which is actually coming from another site. Difficult and delicate normally as the other site will never accept it or pay for treatment, so diplomacy is required. However, in some cases if progress with adjoining sites cannot be made a call to report the issue and ongoing H&S risks must be made to the Council for action. Quote Link to post
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