Identify these gnaw marks

[rockweasel]

Something has been finding its way into our barn and helping itself to horse feed for the past 3 weeks or so. We've never had a problem with vermin before. I put down a couple of mouse traps and covered up all the feed, but the traps were never sprung. A small burrow in the horse's bedding suggested that something was finding its way in through a hole in the back of the barn, so we blocked that up. This morning my wife finds these gnaw marks on the barn door. Coffee cup for scale. It seems a lot of work for a little mouse to do. Rat?

 

[rockweasel]

Also: we have an ultrasonic mouse/rate device that's supposed to scare them off. I'm sure our culprit thinks it's dance music and throws a rave.

 

[GW8IZR]

Its certainly not a lot of work for mice, they do an enormous amount of damage in a very short time.

Those however are not mouse marks, you need a terrier for a few days and an 'outdoor' cat.

 

[rockweasel]

Its certainly not a lot of work for mice, they do an enormous amount of damage in a very short time.

Those however are not mouse marks, you need a terrier for a few days and an 'outdoor' cat.

No chance of an outdoor cat around here: everyone has dogs and there isn't a cat for miles. Rat trap?

 

[Rig Pig]

Rat trap or a length of pipe with some poison in it.

I use non lethal traps as my neighbour has a cat!

 

[GW8IZR]

I don't like to poison to avoid collateral damage but they are incestuous breeders and multiply so quickly you cant always avoid it. Act quickly as soon as you see signs and get on top of it asap.

Not a nice subject but often when they are new you can deal with them with a flat board leant against the wall, they hide behind it and a good kick is an instant ending.

Snap traps hidden along walls work well but you need to keep them baited and empty them often, a few days and they can get a hold and overun a place.

Our outdoor cats are given a healthy distance by the dogs ;-)

HTH

 

[gordon stephenson]

I solved my mouse/rat problem with a couple of small dishes of anti-freeze. They seem to love the sweet taste, But make sure it is situated where other non pest animals can not get at it, Inside a pipe etc,

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

 

[8ob]

Something has been finding its way into our barn and helping itself to horse feed for the past 3 weeks or so. We've never had a problem with vermin before. I put down a couple of mouse traps and covered up all the feed, but the traps were never sprung. A small burrow in the horse's bedding suggested that something was finding its way in through a hole in the back of the barn, so we blocked that up. This morning my wife finds these gnaw marks on the barn door. Coffee cup for scale. It seems a lot of work for a little mouse to do. Rat?

View attachment 94952

I have produced similar marks on the girfriends ankles when she has chinned me . Looks like a rat has had a go at getting in , has got in at some point then tried to gnaw its way out.

Bob

 

[brightspark]

mk4 fen trap with chocolate melted on it never fails . but they wont touch it till its been there a few days and get used to it . there not stupid

 

[pedrobedro]

Bolt a couple of bits of plate to the bottom of the door. Down the allotments my uncle used to make a trap from a metal cooking oil can. Lay it on its side and cut a cross in the bottom, push the points in so they flex and then put something nice in through the hole or the filler. They pushed past the points going in then they were faced with the sharp end when trying to get out. Not very humane but ..<Snip>

Mod edit....Complaints...

 

[JEZGUZ]

I'd chuck those ultrasonic devices in the bin, useless junk. There's more than enough room for a mouse to go under that door, so you're probably right thinking it's a rat. I agree with brightspark, Mk4 behind a plank or slate angled against a wall, don't set it for a few days so they get used to it and then bait and set.

 

[arther dailey]

act quick or you will be over run with the pests, we have a "neighbour" animal lover(?) ten horses stabled in her garden, four dogs numerous cats, they think our gaff is the toilet block, and rats galore, I spend £50 to £80 every autumn as she doesnt want to deal with them, cost me over £250 so far, her love of animals is expensive for everybody else around here thats for sure. act fast or you will be overun...........

 

[brightspark]

here https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=mk4+fenn+trap+tunnelsthey catch tree rats and rabbits as well

 

[rockweasel]

Thanks, I'll take a trip to our local agricultural shop for a trap/sledgehammer.

 

[doubleboost]

We had rats at work
The council rat man sorted them out with poison
We removed there food source
He was saying some rats are becoming immune to the current poisons
Like he pointed out they will never become immune
To a "Jack Russell & a Shovel"

 

[daleyd]

Was having a chat with a couple of guys in work a few years ago over a brew, the topic of conversation turned to "what would you like to do if you weren't doing this job".

One guy mentioned he'd like to be a pest exterminator saying "he'd like to pit his wits against a rodent...". The other guy replied, quick as a flash and without even a hint of a smile "much like working for Xxxx then..." (insert the name of the manager we were working for at the time )

I spat my coffee everywhere, still chuckle to this day about it, the timing and manner it came out was just comedy gold!

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

My vet friend has advised against poison, as hedgehogs are looking for warm, dry dark places to sleep.

The thinks it is rats, she did suggest were they are gnawing but some graphite or copper grease. If you see run or a hole, smear it with grease. Mice and rats do not like getting dirty.

@arther dailey
Get the council pest officer in. He will check to see were the pest are coming from and too. If it is your neighbour causing an issue. Through the pest control officer you can claim your expensive back, she may be billed for the work to control them.
We had it with an ex neighbour. They left the rabbit and guinnee pig food out. The rats soon found it.
We called the Pest Officer in and they had to pay to have the area cleaned up and the work to control the rats.

 

[500e]

Looks like Squirrel damage they tried to eat there way into our conservatory same sort of marks, to big a gap for mice to bother breaking & entering never had rat problems other than getting into big Ws with so meany entry points, Even poison had a hard time removing them, they had a thing for wiring insulation, that how we found them

 

[arther dailey]

Y.ardvark, thankyou and 500e has a point, rats mostly gnaw at ground level and sqirrells a little higher so could be a tree rat or ground rat, either way needs sorting.
Really good point y.Ardvark makes about nesting hedgepigs, certainly dont want to poison those little fellas by accident.Arther