it wont be an it i doubt very muvh infact id bet theres a wole famaily there probably unless your lucky . id get the humane rat traps that kill them strate away . peanut butter is a verry good bait for rats and if you have rats you probably wont have mice bye nature .or you can get humane traps if your that way inclined . there will be a local pest killer know doubt if you cant handle it .

thanks noseypotter,i suspect you are right about there being more than one!! I will get some traps or poison tomorrow and hopefully sort it out .[OH can deal with disposal ] lol
i wondered if now we are in and out of shed daily if this might disturb them and they will leave anyway? or is that wishful thinking ?

That is definitely wishful thinking. They are not bothered by human activity.

I remember when we had a rat, (it took all the baby blackbirds out of a nest...the 5 dogs and 2 cats never bothered it!) We went scratching round the back of the shed, and found the nest....destroying this made it move on....it was preparing for the summer. Hope this helps! The traps are probably the best way though...it obviously has a good food supply somewhere! Good luck! x

your going to have to do the deed . you must take your hat of to the humble rat as they are amazing realy . true survivers . they are actualy drawn to activaty and are very inteligent omnivoure opertunistists lol like something else warm blooded that rules everywear strangly enough lol .

I had an infestation of rats in my compost heaps in the autumn and not wanting to use the wrong methods that might hurt other wild animals I called in my local council's rat catcher.
For a one off fee of £20 he visited me weekly for several weeks. Some rats become immune to certain poisons- as mine had-so he was able to establish the better poison for the job. He also checked out the rest of the locality to see if there were any signs of rat life there.
I would recommend professional help

I agree Janpled. We have had lots of sightings in the last few days and we are going to phone our local council tomorrow and if not then we will get Rentokil to help. Also going to empty the hut that they are under/in tomorrow . I have photos of them to show whoever comes to help and would be happy to pay as i hate them.

there are black rats and grey rats in this country the grey being slightly larger and more commen . i should think with moving the shed you will solve your own problem with some well placed traps to .

thanks. council coming tomorrow morning so will let you know what happens

i could hazzerd a guess . you mite get charged about £60 you know helen .

council pest control man just been and put down poison traps and will be back next week.
all free from our council so can,t complain :o)
have had to throw out garden seat cushions etc as rats have chewed them up!!
will need to repair shed and give good clean when job is all done yuk!!

im glad about that helen my faverite price lol .

hi helen ,the council will sort them out im sure ,but i allways keep a poisen station under a roof ridge tile all year round ,you can buy the blue bait from b&q stores or be nice to the council man & he may leave you some ,cheers pete

thanks pete, the council were brilliant [free as well !! ]and put 3 boxes of poison down for 6 weeks until there was no more signs of the poison being nibbled. When we cleaned up mess in the hut and put new floor down there were a few smelly remains and mess everywhere .they had chewed all my seat cushions and obviously been living in there for the winter !! good idea about a poison station though just in case they return !!!