INSIDE THE RATS’ LAIR
Most farmyards hold a resident population of rats, and it is common for numbers to increase significantly through the winter months. Now that farmers have brought in their harvests and the autumn abundance of natural food has long passed, rats start to find life in the open countryside very difficult. The sudden decline in food combined with the arrival of cold, wet weather forces scavenging rodents onto farmyards in their droves.
The farm I am targeting tonight is on an area of high ground surrounded by fields that are prone to flooding. A prolonged spell of cold weather followed by a week of heavy rainfall has pushed rats away from the low ground and onto the farm. The mixed holding is home to poultry and cattle, and also has a large grain store and several barns full of hay bales. The result is a haven for rats, where the rodents can always find lots of food and a cosy place to nest.
Any number of rats on a farm is bad news, and a large infestation is a major problem. Apart from the obvious financial impact caused by them stealing animal feed and
