"Ray" wrote in message
...
Not much point in this tail really other than to vent my thoughts &
frustration. Perhaps a rant as I am tearing my hair out.
We all live close to rats. I don't like them but have to live with them, a
fact of life.
I live in an early 20C cottage in Berkshire. Have done for 27 years.
Semi-rural area with a stream flowing along the front. Quite idyllic on a
good day.
Built on a 12inch concrete raft with suspended floors on sleeper walls.
The old place has recently suffered a quite severe infestation of rats.
All feed, both animal & human, is kept secure.
From whence they came I know not but they certainly have made merry below
floors.
There are about 2 dozen airbricks around the perimeter just above ground
level, these are all sound. I can see no signs of burrowing but I don't
think rats burrow anyway.
Wife & I keep 3 cats, 2 dogs and 2 goats. Goaties are cleaned daily and
all is composted. Goats are a couple of hundred yards away.

If you have three cats and two dogs you shouldn't have rats.

We only had one cat and he saw to the rats when we came back from holiday to
find them.

Mary