Yes, mice are also attracted to live in compost for the same reasons that rats are. That one rat can easily become 140, in under 12 months! Could it be mice in my compost heap? Female rats can give birth to litters of up to 14 rats and potentially give birth up to 10 times a year. The gestation period of a rat is only around 3 weeks.
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A small amount of rat saliva or urine on your skin can be enough to pass disease – and if they’re in your compost, there’s plenty of opportunities to come into contact with them.Īdditionally, your pets can pick up parasites, or worse, if chasing them becomes their new favorite hobby.Īs if that wasn’t bad enough, rat populations can multiply fast. Rats carry all kinds of diseases, including Salmonella, Weil’s Disease, Listeria, Leptospirosis, rat-bite fevers, Cryptosporidium, and Tularaemia. You can find them almost anywhere, but they are particularly concentrated in urban areas where there is plenty of food and shelter. They’re adaptable, breed fast, and will eat almost anything humans do. In North America and Europe, you’re only likely to see the brown, or Norway rat (also known as the common rat). Check out the tips we’ve provided below for some strategies you can use to discourage rats. The good news is that with a little care, you can discourage and prevent rats from setting up home in your compost. And as we share our planet with billions of them, this isn’t an unusual problem. The warmth inside your compost, the easy access to food waste, and the fact that your heap gets drier in winter all contribute to making conditions perfect for any rat looking for a home. Rats in compost often become a problem in the winter months, where the colder weather forces them to seek shelter. Additionally, many compost piles are too dry, which means they make a cozy place to put a nest. The kitchen scraps and food waste you put in your compost bin are like an all-you-can-eat buffet for rodents, particularly if you’ve included meat in your food scraps. Like most animals, rats are looking for two main things: shelter and food – and your compost heap may be providing them with a plentiful supply of both Yes, compost can attract rats, but if you understand why, there are plenty of things you can do about it.
They can spread disease and terrorize your pets and family, making your outdoor space a no-go zone – oh, and they breed really fast. They will get through wires, cables, and even some lighter forms of concrete to get to where they want to be. They can start to gnaw their way into your house, your sheds, and outbuildings, and they can cause significant harm to your plants. If you’ve spotted rats in your compost piles (see below for signs to look out for) you need to act fast. You’ve taken the time to build your compost pile from scratch, creating beautiful, rich compost for your garden that you just can’t wait to use in the next sowing season, and now some rodents have taken over!
Rats in your compost bin? We feel your pain.