Holes under my shed: is it rats?

It might be. Rats like the dry, sheltered space under sheds, decking and compost bins, especially near food. But foxes, rabbits, badgers and other animals dig too. Spend a few days checking before you decide, and start on the food today, because that helps whatever it turns out to be.

Signs that point to rats

• Holes with smooth, worn edges, often along the base of a shed, wall or decking, sometimes with loose soil fanned out in front.
• Runs: narrow, flattened paths through grass or along a fence, used again and again.
• Droppings near the holes. Rat droppings are much larger than mouse droppings.
• Gnaw marks on the shed door, bins or feeders.
• A food source nearby: bird feeder spill, chicken feed, pet food, a compost heap with cooked food in it.

A much larger hole, a strong musky smell or a well-used track leading off the garden may mean a fox or badger instead. Badgers are protected in some countries, the UK among them, so do not block a hole you think a badger uses: ask your national wildlife body first. If it is a fox family, see foxes under the shed. The garden visitors guide covers the other diggers.

Check in a few days

1. Loosely block each hole with a little soil or scrunched-up newspaper in the evening.
2. Look the next morning. A hole that is open again is in use. One that stays closed for several days probably is not.
3. Look for droppings along the shed base and runs. Use gloves, and do not touch them with bare hands.
4. If you have a camera that records at night, point it at the holes for a couple of evenings. It settles what you are dealing with.

Take away what they came for

• Bird feeders: use a tray to catch spill, clear it daily, or stop feeding for a while if rats are active.
• Pet and chicken food: store it in metal bins with lids and take bowls in at night.
• Compost: no cooked food, meat or bread in an open heap. Use a closed bin.
• Clutter: clear wood piles and rubbish stacked against the shed, where rats find cover.

Block underneath, once it is empty

When the holes have stayed closed for several days and you see no fresh signs, block the space under the shed or decking with fine, strong metal mesh. Fix it to the base and bury the bottom edge, bent outwards in an L shape, so anything digging hits mesh. Then fill the old holes. Never block a hole while an animal may be inside: it will either dig out somewhere else or die there. Our guide to sealing gaps covers the materials.

Dogs and children: keep them away from burrows, runs and droppings. If your dog catches or plays with a rat, wash its mouth area and ask your vet whether it needs checking. Wear gloves for any clean-up, and wet droppings with disinfectant before you lift them.

Call someone now, or wait?

Waiting a few days to check is fine. Call a pest controller who does proofing if holes keep reopening after you have taken the food away, if you see rats in daylight, if signs appear close to the house or inside it, or if neighbours see them too. Some councils run a rat service, so it is worth asking yours. Tell whoever comes that you want proofing and no poison, especially with pets around. The mice and rats guide has the full humane plan.

Feeding hedgehogs or birds and worried about rats? Our answer on helping hedgehogs without attracting rats covers how to feed without leaving a buffet.