What attracts rats to gardens
- Bird feeders and spilt seed
- Compost heaps, especially with cooked food
- Pet food left outside and chicken or rabbit runs
- Fallen fruit from trees
- Rubbish, wood piles and overgrown corners for shelter
- Decking, sheds and greenhouses to nest under
Passing through or living there?
Seeing one rat once may mean it was passing through. Burrows, droppings, runs through the grass and repeated sightings mean rats are living in or next to your garden.
Keeping children and pets safe
Rats can carry diseases including leptospirosis, which is spread through urine. Make sure children wash their hands after playing outside, keep sandpits covered and clean up pet food. Never use loose poison or bait that pets or wildlife could reach. Professionals use secured, tamper-resistant bait stations.
Professional treatment
We survey the garden and the boundaries, find burrows and runs, and place bait stations or traps where rats travel. Once activity stops, we fill burrows and proof the base of sheds and decking. If rats are coming from a neighbour's garden or a railway embankment, we explain the options.
Prevention tips
- Use a seed tray under bird feeders or switch to feeders that catch spilt seed
- Keep compost in a closed bin on a mesh base
- Pick up fallen fruit
- Store pet food indoors in sealed containers
- Keep lids on wheelie bins and food caddies
Questions and answers
Will rats in the garden come into my house?
They might, especially in autumn and winter, if they find gaps around pipes, air bricks or doors.
Is it safe to keep chickens if there are rats?
Yes, but keep feed in rat-proof containers, remove uneaten food at night and make sure the run has a solid or meshed floor.
Can the council help with rats in the garden?
Some councils offer pest control services, sometimes for a fee. See our guide to council and private pest control.
Related pages
This page is general information, last reviewed on 19 October 2026. It is not a substitute for an on-site inspection.