Are These Rat Droppings?

lucalux

Hiya, I've a feeling they are but could do with confirmation if anyone could help?!

These are beside my front door. Moved a couple of plant pots and there are loads of these droppings

There's a big gap between pavers and the wall going into the ground. Had definitely heard mouse-type noises last winter from that wall in the kitchen

Thanks

lucalux

The gap beside it

AmpMan

maybe, might be hedgehog

Calahonda52

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121250416#Comment_121250416

I would concur with this as rats unlightly to hang around that much in exposed area without serious food source, whereas the 'hog would feed on slugs etc that would emerge for under the slabs at night

lucalux

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121250452#Comment_121250452

OK thanks, there's no food source outside, no compost or bins or anything. just kitchen drain and sewer pipe covers

I thought hedgehog poo would be bigger tbh, but i'd be much happier if it were hedgehogs ofc. There are plenty of slugs around alright(north facing, so my plant pots tend to harbour loads of them underneath)

andyd12

Buy a large bait box, big enough for rats & mice. And start baiting them and make sure to keep topped up.

tphase

Looks like ratshit alright

lucalux

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121250524#Comment_121250524

Not going to use bait/poison as don't know if they're getting in somewhere, and i don't want them dying somewhere I can't get at them - so I'll just get traps and set a few up

plenty of bait boxes in the estate that i'm in, but this is new, so maybe they've just decided to set up house under my front path in the last couple of weeks.

It's not exactly a high traffic area even though it's the front door, but still surprising to me

ted1

Get a trial cam. Or similar

tphase

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121258640#Comment_121258640

You can use poisons that make the rats thirsty so they seek water rather than look for a cosy spot inside to curl up and die

SharkMX

Looks like rat droppings. Rats tend to gather them up in the one place like that.

intro

You cant. Those type of poisons have been banned for decades.

All poisons available to the general public in Ireland are anticoagulants. They die from internal bleeding hence going to warm places to die.

intro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121258760#Comment_121258760

You cant. Those type of poisons have been banned for decades.

All poisons available to the general public in Ireland are anticoagulants. They die from internal bleeding hence going to warm places to die.

andyd12

Not so sure about them going to warm places. I bait them and I find them out in the yard sometimes

Hungry Burger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121300245#Comment_121300245

They usually go outside to die with anticoagulants. They get badly dehydrated before the end and go out for water.

The Continental Op

OP, quick question. Whats above the poo? Any chance there is a small opening bats can get into? Just seemed strange to have these all around the base of a wall? Still think its rats but worth checking. If it bats I would suspect its one of the rare species (we have the common ones and the droppings are different) also don't forget bats are a protected species.

lucalux

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121300850#Comment_121300850

There's an roofed awning type thing above the door, about 3m x 1.5m of soffit, so it tends to be very dry generally (NE facing)

There's a light in the soffit where the screw-in globe fitting has come off, (so bare bulb)

might be space for them to get in but it's not directly over where the droppings are. They're right up at the wall

- hadn't considered bats at all, are there any that roost in the open?

I've seen a lot more droppings since, some were very wet-looking when new I think.

I'm not at all sure what to make of them, but haven't had a chance to deal with it since. Would be much happier if it were bats and not rats. Wouldn't bother them if it were, happy to have them around

Goodigal

They look too mushy to me but I don't know if that's down to them being rained on. Should be more pellet like. Solid as such.

Field east

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121301849#Comment_121301849

I assume that you prodded a few of them to see that they are solid and poo like and that they are not cysts of some insect - just a thought

eronayne

Could be shrew