Rat in the garden. Advice wanted

Rats do a lot of tunnelling and when we had the mass outbreak, we found tunnels under fencing so the rats were moving from garden to garden, like a network. We get sparrow hawks flying in sometimes and there are more buzzards about theses days, but sadly the sparrow hawks have hit the song thrush and collared dove population.

We get long tailed field mice which nest under my sheds but we tolerate them and the local owls like them,

 

It's not rat it Siberian hamster

 

Yes I feed the birds every day from a feeder which hangs from a branch and only the sparrows can use it. However the birds drop some of the seeds and that is where I often see the rat.
From what people on here are saying I can't just ignore it and hope it will go away. Think I will clear out the shed (where I keep wood for the woodburner) and get some rat traps.
Thanks @Fish for the offer of a rifle. I went on the internet and read that shooting is best if inside as they will sit still so long as you don't chase them so you can take a good shot. But will try the traps first - as far as I know it does not come inside. Starting to get a bit uncomfortable now as I learn more about it.

 

We have rat poison en France....

 

The best episode of all

 

Do you use this outside? Or just when they come inside? Is there a danger the dog or other animals will eat it?

 

you can't blame the rat, its winter and you are supplying quality food and shelter and even a nice plastic platform to stand on. that rat looks very healthy and a nice coat.

 

come in little plastic pounches and you dig it under the shed (in the tunnels),then chichen wire if you think the dogs is going to dig it up..

 

Have a look around your shed and find out where they're nesting. Deal with that: poison or big rat traps. Once they start breeding, you've had it. About 10 years ago we went through all this - they got into the loft in the house - and the whole thing became a six-month nightmare.

 

My sentiments too. If it wants to stay out the house I have no issue with it but I don't want it to start a family. It does look healthy and not that sinister. At first I thought it was just a squirrel until I saw its tail.

 

Thanks for all the advice - will definitely get on with this.

 

What actor bloke?

 

A lot of rats in Britain have now developed an immunity to most poisons.
I've found trapping them and then dispatching them with an air rifle works well
Or if there's a large infestation smoking them out with a chainsaw and letting the dog on them.
Bird tables and feeders are well known for attracting them and they often move on when the food source is removed

 

Decking and bits of dropped barbie-food also popular with the rat population.

 

Good job you ain't got moles...

 

Set up some speakers in the shed
With Coldplay cd on repeat
That'll rid you of um