Hi Nic
Thank you for your reply to my post.
As you could see from my post my main concern is the hedgehogs.
We have had them visiting for 30 years or more in between a spell of not seeing them at all. Thankfully they reappeared several years ago
We have had large ones small ones and provided housing for them with hedgehog boxes but that was not a success!!. We have a empty field adjacent to all our gardens so they may be nesting there.
The rat problem come to light over this winter during Covid even we were surprised by the little ratties as they were never seen before.
My method of getting rid of the rats has been take down at night all hanging bird feeders as they were climbing on bushes to get to them. Then I have sprayed a concoction of vinegar – bleach – lemon and sprayed around sheds and stone walls where they were seen also putting cotton wool balls with peppermint oil on underneath sheds. Plus onion with baking powder over it. It seems heartless but we too use our garden for family gatherings with our grandchildren as neighbours do with their grandchildren. Of late they seem to have dispersed – found one large rat dead then another small one dead also.
My other concern is that is the rats are baited boxed not just hedgehogs can be killed if contact with the bait but also other neighbours cats who come into our gardens hunting mice and rats!!
Thank you again for the advice and hopefully with us all aware of the rat problem we can unite and get them to move on!!
