Rats in Garden

What are the alternatives for controling rats in garden/yard area?
How do these solutions affect small birds & doves?

The best method of eliminating rats in the garden is to eliminate the reason they come to your garden. There are three main reasons for them to come: food, water and shelter. When I first moved to my current home it appeared that I was "rat" free. Not long after moving in I began to hang up bird feeders so I could watch the birds, one of my favorite hobbies. Needless to say I was instantly successful and had hundreds of birds within a few weeks. It was delightful until one night I was sitting on my back porch long after the birds went to roost and found there was more activity after dark than in the daylight. There were rats everywhere, it was like a bad movie. They were all over the ground, in the trees and climbing down from the porch cover onto the metal rod holding the hanging feeder. The rat chatter made me want to grab the cat and run to the nearest hotel. I was truly in a panic but once I calmed down I began to remove all that attracted the rats and now I am happy to say, I am rat free.

I removed all the traditional bird feeders and cleaned up every single escaped seed. I began to keep my potted vegetable garden picked and clean. I kept all fallen fruit from the trees and plants picked up and generally became much cleaner about debri. Once all this was done there was not much for the rats to eat. I made sure there was no standing water in the garden. Before I was leaving water for the other wildlife including birds. I feel bad but I know the birds can fly to other water sources. I also cleared out any overgrown ground cover that made a nice place for the rats to live. I also cut back a couple of large junipers that gave passage from tree to house. It is a very long jump now.

I am happy to say the nightly rat parties have ended. I have not seen a rat nor seen signs of rats since I became a much better "garden" keeper. I do still feed birds in moderation. I bought a really good hanging feeder and basket below to catch the escaping seeds I splurged for a guard for the hanger to discourage the rats. The bird seed store fellow told me to allow the feeder to remain empty for a few days before refilling and this will force the birds to clean up around the feeder. At first I hated being so neat in the garden, I felt it was spoiling the fun but now I find I end up with more fruits and veggies and that's a nice trade. Keeping the surrounding groundcover cut back is a big job but eliminating the rats is the benefit.

I know I make it sound easy but it was not. It took time and lots of hard work but I would rather discourage the rats than take chances with poison besides that is never the solution. They will keep coming back.

As luck would have it, recently a barn owl has moved into my neighborhood. He is a great help with rats and other critters that damage the garden. I understand there are some great owl boxes that if installed properly may attracted owls and encourage them to be permanent neighbors. It would be worth a try.

Disclaimer: I am not now nor have I ever been a rat expert but I am very happy with my success. I hope lots of others will share their secrets. The world could do with a lot less rats.

Well Liliana is right, "sort of".
Yes IF you can get rid of the nesting areas and reduce the food the RAT population should diminish. BUT some can not do all of those things. Sometimes the problems are in the neighbors yard. This could even be a few hundred feet away in an area beyond your close nighbors.

There is a 'tool' called the RAT ZAPPER that does a great job killing rats. It works by shocking them to death. NO POISON - NO TRAPPING. It is very simple to use, you just put in a little dry dog food and put the device near where you have the rats in your yard. You push the 'on' switch and it is readay to go. When a rat enters the ZAPPER he is instantly electrocuted. Then a light flashes to tell you there is somthing in it. It is very easy to see from perhaps 50 feet away.

Then all you do is pick up the RAT ZAPPER and tip it over a trash can and the dead rat falls out. You never have to touch a dead rat. You don't have to mess with dirty, filthy traps. No blood no guts. This is very clean and simple.

You re-bait the trap and you are set for the next one. I have used it and it works like a charm. You need to be sure it is in an area where it will not get wet, water and electricity do not do well in the same place. So pick it up when you think maybe rain or if the sprinklers will go off. This RAT ZAPPER uses common 'D Cell' battries and they last for many kills, probably 15 to 20 - or more! When I have a rat problem I set it out in the evening and the next morning I usually have one.

It is a small sturdy plastic box about a foot long and about 4" x 4" open at one end. It is super easy to use, mine is going out by my Satsuma Tangerine tonight for more kills. As my Tangerines start to ripen, I think every RAT in the neighborhood tells their friends "Time to eat". Satsumas are near ripe and they have found my tree.

If you feel like it, you can bait it in the evening and go out about 9:00 or 10:00 you might have one, then re-bait and get another before morning. My tree is in kind of a dark seclueded place so I only get one a night in each trap. (I have two now)
They come in two models, one uses "AA batteries" the better one uses "D" size. Take it from me, get the bigger better one. The batteries last longer and it is just a better model.

You can get one at both of the Walter Andersen Nurseries and probably some hardware stores.
IF YOU HATE RATS, YOU WILL LOVE THE RAT ZAPPER!!!! GUARANTEED -- Kills MICE too!!! Use it indoors or out where ever you think they are.
Your pets and the birds won't pick up any poisoned rats. It is super safe for the environment.