Can I Shoot Rats in My Garden?
WouterIn the UK, it is legal to shoot pest animals, including pigeons and rats. However, there are strict regulations about when you can use a firearm. Rats are especially dangerous because they carry a variety of diseases, chew up electrical wires, and cause significant damage to property. In order to get rid of rats, it is best to seek professional help.
The best way to control rats is by addressing their habitat and food supply. You can buy rat-repelling products from garden centres and sporting goods shops. Alternatively, you can use predator-derived urine on cotton balls, which will deter the rodents from entering your garden.
Rats need animal fat, carbohydrates, and proteins to survive. Although they will not eat vegetables, they will eat the plants and crops you grow. Their preferred foods are swollen stems, seeds, and ripe fruit. You can also try using glue traps, but these can damage your limbs and cause eye irritation.
You can also use non-lethal traps, using pet food as bait. But be careful – rats can easily escape the trap and return to your garden. Aside from being unfriendly to people and animals, rats may also cause harm to your plants and garden. Professional pest controllers recommend that you do not try to kill rats yourself because they can be dangerous and can carry diseases. Additionally, contact with dead rodents may cause respiratory problems.
