Are rats attracted to garden ponds? This may seem like an odd question, but it is one that has been asked by many gardeners over the years. Most of the time, people believe that they would never have a problem with a garden pond, and this assumption is generally not correct. In order to understand why garden ponds can be such a problem, it is first necessary to understand how rats are able to survive and even thrive in such a confined environment.
The first thing that needs to be understood about the way rats will utilize a garden pond is their diet. Unlike most animals, rodents will actually prefer plants. It is because plants contain certain nutrients that are extremely important for their survival, and also because plants are usually smaller than their roots. Plants, as well as insects, provide what the rat needs in order to survive: food.
Rats do enjoy eating certain types of plants. However, this particular interest is generally directed towards the larger types of plants. However, there are some smaller types of plants that may be eaten as well. However, the majority of plants will turn up uneaten, simply because rats do not actually need these foods to survive. They are not capable of eating the smaller plant parts and will not actually come back for more.
One area that gardeners are often most concerned with is the fact that the plants in the garden pond are going to be consumed by the rats. While it may seem like a good idea to go after larger prey items, such as rats, it is not in the best of interests to go after small animals. This is because small animals are often times easier to catch. On top of this, there are a number of things that make it possible for smaller animals to get into a garden pond and begin living inside of them.
Rats are able to climb, so they are attracted to gardens where there is a lot of vertical movement. They also enjoy digging tunnels into the ground, which may leave an opening big enough for them to get in. If you are putting up a garden pond, you may find that there are rats in the soil that are just waiting for the right environment to invade. While some gardeners think it is okay to let this happen, it is not a good thing for you to do. The worst thing that can happen is that a rodent causes an infestation in your garden pond and then begins eating the plants in your garden pond.
Garden ponds are attractive places to spend time in the garden. However, they are not all fun and games. You will spend hours having to clean up rats that have gotten into your garden pond, as well as dealing with their excrement. Rats are capable of creating a huge amount of mess and will eat small critters as if they were their own food. They are clever enough to evade traps, digger tubes, and dig underneath the water.
Another way to avoid a rat problem is to make certain that there are no rats in the area. Rats like gardens that contain wood, and they will find a way into your garden pond. They may choose to build their nest right next to the garden pond or in the root system. If the rats have made a nest under the water, it will be visible to everyone even when it is raining. Rats may have hundreds of babies that are born every year, and their young will be attracted to the garden pond to nurse. Without you knowing it, the rats may be creating a food source for the hundreds of hungry baby rats that will come to the garden pond seeking nourishment.
If you choose to use wood in your garden ponds, then you may need to inspect it frequently to ensure that it is not being eaten by the rats. Wood is beautiful, but if it is being consumed by the rats, they could have a negative effect on the ecosystem. Once the wood has been harvested, you can contact a pest control company and ask them to take the wood away for you. You will have to discard any boards or sticks that were used to make the garden pond.