DAYTIME RATTING
Rats are a constant cause of irritation on most farms. Attracted by an abundance of easy food and plenty of snug places to nest, populations quickly establish and can soon get out of hand.
Problems posed by rats are numerous, and the worst one is their potential to spread some very nasty infections, including Weil’s disease. Infection is usually passed on through contact with rats’ urine or faeces, and bacteria can survive out of their body for some time. Rats can be a danger to farm workers and livestock as their droppings inevitably find their way onto tools and machinery, and into animal feed and water troughs. They also pose a health risk to the wider food chain as most farms grow and store produce that’s destined for human consumption.
The mixed farm where I’m shooting today really suits rats. It’s used for the production of livestock including cattle, sheep and poultry, and their feed inevitably attracts opportunistic rodents. Add stored grain to the equation and it’s a ratty paradise.
Most of the shooting I do here is done with night vision kit on autumn and winter nights, because rat numbers tend to
