Oh, Rats!

[Mistroma]

A friend had one on board and it chewed water pipes, wiring etc. He said the only thing that worked was a sticky pad of some sort. I remember that he had to get it from a pharmacy as they seemed to be the only stockists. I think it was sticky paper and he laid it in the bilges on clingfilm with some bait. Downside was that the rat isn't killed, just trussed in a sticky overcoat and you need to kill it. I think he called it a glue trap. Horrible to use but highly effective as far as he was concerned.

 

[LittleSister]

While you're waiting for your rat to take the bait, you could while away the time reading Libby Purves's "One Summer's Grace", which contains an absolutely hilarious tale of a friend who suspected he'd got mink living on his boat.

I won't spoil the story for those who haven't yet read it, except to say this gradually develops into something worthy of a grand stage farce, with the involvement of many characters, including numerous children.

'Harry was busy inventing 'a poisoning-machine for mink' (Just like his father, muttered [his mother]) while Rose fell wholeheartedly into the role of 'a dear little furry mink that's friendly.'​

 

[[3889]]

Humane trap. Then take it out and give it its freedom. Preferably a good distance away.

I'm afraid my normal affinity for our furry friends has been stretched too far by the mess and destruction.

Traditional wooden spring traps baited with Nutella worked well for me when looking after my parents’ unoccupied house. One rat’s head exploded a bit when hit, which was messy to clean up, but it was otherwise easy and straightforward.

Pete

Put two spring traps down last night. Bait has disappeared from one so I suppose Rowland's luck can only last so long.

 

[Yellow Ballad]

If your traps have the point on the bait bed, wedge a peanut on it (or put a pin through the nut and into the wood, they will give it a tug which will set the trap. I watched the one in our garden eat chunks of peanut butter off the trap without stepping on it a number of times till I went for the solid bait, first try I got him.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Far better than peanut butter or Nutella is a bit of streaky bacon, preferably slightly scorched over a small flame. Size is around that of an adult thumb-nail. Fix it firmly onto the 'trigger' so that it will resist pulling.
An alternative that also works are the 'glue traps' that have been mentioned but these are illegal in some countries, so might not be available in your area.
A warning that bears repeating: DON'T EVER CORNER A RAT. I made that mistake once and it came straight at my head. I was lucky to swerve aside and when it hit the garage door, which I had closed as a precaution, it made a sickening thud. Fortunately the force was so great that the rat was somewhat dazed I managed to hit it with a heavy iron rod.

 

[pvb]

I read somewhere that one way of getting rid of a rat in a boat is to put a lump of dry ice in the bilge. As it melts, it floods the boat with CO2, which will either send the rat scurrying out in search of fresh air, or kill it. Obviously ventilate the boat well before going back on board.

 

[Stemar]

I read somewhere that one way of getting rid of a rat in a boat is to put a lump of dry ice in the bilge. As it melts, it floods the boat with CO2, which will either send the rat scurrying out in search of fresh air, or kill it. Obviously ventilate the boat well before going back on board.

Trouble with that is, you've still got the issue of find the deceased before he stinks the boat out. I'd still go for a quick death trap of some sort.

I never had a rat, but I did come on board one dark evening to find a very pissed off grey squirrel under the cockpit cover - a serious wtf moment! I've no idea how he got there as my mooring was 200 yards off Quay Lane in Porstmouth harbour. My efforts to trap it to release it on land were unappreciated, as it jumped ship and was last seen swimming towards Portchester.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I've had problems with rodents in our house, and found one of these very effective for mice. There's an equivalent for rats, which I can't vouch for but if it's as effective as the mouse one, it'll do the job.

 

[[3889]]

If your traps have the point on the bait bed, wedge a peanut on it (or put a pin through the nut and into the wood, they will give it a tug which will set the trap. I watched the one in our garden eat chunks of peanut butter off the trap without stepping on it a number of times till I went for the solid bait, first try I got him.

Unlike UK traps I've seen, Portuguese versions rely on the bait pin being tilted to operate the trap. There is no pressure sensitive platform. Sensitive enough to have made me jump a few times whilst trying to set it but obviously rats are delicate at table. I think my mistake was to to put the bait (hard cheese) on the tip of the pin. Now threaded through wax coating on cheese so should need a good tug to get it away.

 

[UK-WOOZY]

afaik rats and mice do not go for cheese, cheese come from the tom and jerry cartoons. im sure of it. when we have had mice that the cat brought in snickers or peanut butter works best. maybe rats like cheese. dont know. with mice i usually catch them by hand, well i did until one bit me for the first time in many years a few months ago, didnt puncture the skin though, wouldnt try that with rats of course lol

 

[dom]

I find Nutella with a peanut squashed in works great for mice.

 

[Sailingsaves]

Trap of some kind as most have said. If not a cage type, secure trap with string to something solid (If trap does not achieve a kill rats have been known to run off with trap and you end up with stink scenario).
Buy 4 of these also? To stop repeat visits. Or scare the newborn away? Google ultrasonic rat repellents. If you have an inverter on board.

 

[johnlilley]

Remove all water access including bottled drinks, remove ALL food including sugar, remove ALL open & sealed jars of peanut butter, Chocolate spread and anything that a rat thinks might be nourishing including medicines. Remove ALL plastic bags (very nice for a shredded rat nest.) It will then leave on the hunt for a better supply of food & drink. It might surprise many but they have chewed through the sealed & airtight lid of glass jar hazelnut/chocolate spread in the past. Must have extraordinary sense of smell.

 

[Greenheart]

I was just going to have a Cadbury's Cream Egg but somehow i just don't fancy it anymore.

Where did you get Cadbury's Creme Eggs from? I tried to get some for a friend overseas, but it was May, and I was told I'd have to wait till the following Easter. Are yours six months old?

 

[[3889]]

Google ultrasonic rat repellents.

There's an app for that:
https://download.cnet.com/Anti-Rat-Repeller/3000-20432_4-77363338.html

It has no effect. I deployed it at 6am today when I could hear rustling in the bilges but the beast continued unabated about its nefarious business.

afaik rats and mice do not go for cheese, cheese come from the tom and jerry cartoons. im sure of it. when we have had mice that the cat brought in snickers or peanut butter works best. maybe rats like cheese. dont know. with mice i usually catch them by hand, well i did until one bit me for the first time in many years a few months ago, didnt puncture the skin though, wouldnt try that with rats of course lol

Well, it took my cheese last night. Due to the design of trap I have I need mechanically robust bait for the trigger pin to be pulled. That's not going to happen with peanut butter. As for wasting a Snickers, things aren't that bad....yet.

 

[RupertW]

Please don’t use glue traps except in totally enclosed areas.

We have a cat that is a great mouser and occasional ratter who clears some of our neighbours’ gardens of vermin. One neighbour was having building work done which for the first couple of days meant we got presents on our front doorstep but then our cat was discovered dragging himself along with big gluetrap covering underside and almost preventing him breathing as he tried to lick it off. Almost a grand in vet bills late he was bald but recovering.

 

[Poignard]

Where did you get Cadbury's Creme Eggs from? I tried to get some for a friend overseas, but it was May, and I was told I'd have to wait till the following Easter. Are yours six months old?

I was clearing out a sideboard I was thinking of selling and found it at the back of a drawer. God knows how old it is.

 

[Greenheart]

Sounds like that would kill a rat (or any other creature) willing to have a bite.

 

[Wansworth]

Rats have stopped gnawing in the roof since I mentioned them on the forum....

 

[pcatterall]

+1 We had a rat which must have come along a mooring line ( stern to in Sardinia ) It ate through lots of wire outers in order to enlarge holes in bulk heads, ate the plastic tops off several bottles, ate the sink plugs and generally did lots of damage. We cleared the boat of all food stuffs and sealed all holes we could find in order to restrict movement. We dreaded the next visit but ratty had just gone elsewhere.