Forum Topic

Rats in Local parks

Went on an early cycle ride today not long after first light.Amazed at how many Rats I saw in Gunnersbury Park near the former Golf Course and Kid Playground and along the houses backing on from Popes lane and Lionel Road. Saw quite a few in Walpole and Lammas Parks as well, Quite brazen when approached.I don't usually cycle about this early or through parks early in the day so is this the norm?Whom does one report this to?

Raymond Havelock ● 1673d11 Comments

Throwing bread on the grass for the ducks also causes problems.  I thought that peas and sweetcorn was supposed to be better for them.  Perhaps rats like those as well.

Philippa Bond ● 1665d

That's true - whenever builders move in to work on roads or buildings near you the rats and mice have their runs disrupted and move their attention.  They are always there but not as noticeable.I understand that a lot more people are keeping chickens now and they can be attracted by chicken food.  They prefer to be undisturbed so don't be too quiet and keep compost bins where you can give them a thump when you walk past.

Philippa Bond ● 1669d

You don’t have to look far for the reason why the rat  population seems to have boomed in the parks. A lot of these would have nested in derelict buildings in the neighbourhood. As these get demolished the rats move elsewhere. A lot will be moving into people’s sheds or under decking.

Simon Hayes ● 1670d

I used to wonder what Ealing's Park Keepers, the ones in the brown uniforms, were for. Walpole Park was beautifully kept and everyone behaved, and we took the special atmosphere for granted.Now they're gone, the flowers and nurseries and green-uniformed  gardeners have gone, and it's a short-cut through to somewhere or a business opportunity for events, but not a pretty and smart place to walk around and relax. Probably overrun with rats also. Apparently warm winters and climate change is to blame for their population explosionEek

Kala Mitty Jayne ● 1670d

For picnics in the countryside we were also taught to leave only footprints.  The same should apply in parks.  Especially at the moment we need to be more careful but we've seen large groups and when alcohol is involved people don't socially distance as they should for very long and they get noisier shouting across to each other and it's worse when there are a lot of people and there is music.  It is a lovely idea having a get together in the park as missing birthdays and special occasions is tough and outside is better but there is nowhere to clean your hands before eating and there are still risks. However why should our parks become dumping grounds?  The bigger the bins you put there the more people will leave behind - or bring!

Philippa Bond ● 1670d

One disapproves of eating in public, so uncouth, so unhealthy, so unhygienic, so bad for public health.One makes an exception for picnics in the countryside, but parks aren't really that.

Kala Mitty Jayne ● 1671d

Residents have been having a lot of parties in the parks.No problem but it would be good if they would take all their empty bottles and cans and WASTE FOOD home with them.The birds and animals can remove bags of food with its packaging out of the bins even if they are lidded.Too often nobody flattens any packaging either. It isn't difficult and there have been some good posters on flattening pizza boxes.  As you can imagine it only takes a few unflattened pizza boxes to fill a litter bin.You prepare before you go so please prepare for when you leave and take your waste with you.  Don't leave it lying around to spoil our parks, poison pets and cause damage and death to others.

Philippa Bond ● 1671d

They already know, there was an article about it in the Sun in June Basically the nation is currently enjoying a plague of ratsI believe Yorkshire Terriers were originally bred for the purpose of ratting, a plague of these adorable animals apparently being the least worst option

Kala Mitty Jayne ● 1671d

Perhaps Gunnersbury House or whatever it is called should be informed too, they might have more "pull" with the Councils?

Rosco White ● 1673d

Foxes certainly kill and eat rats in the country but Urban Foxes don't seem to have the same hunting habits. Tried to call both councils but to no avail. Will try tomorrow.Thanks

Raymond Havelock ● 1673d

Obvious to report to Pest Control at LBE/Hounslow I'd have thought?I am not knowledgeable on the subject so stand to be corrected, but AFAIK cats wil no longer go after rats as they are scared of them nowadays, and the foxes will eat rats but urban foxes may be in decline? I haven't seen foxes gambolling in my garden for over 6 months now.Do rats have other predators besides foxes, and rat poison?

Rosco White ● 1673d