Rats swimming in our pond!

We have had a few rats around here on and off over the years, they probably
come from the railway that is only two gardens away, and us feeding the
birds probably encourages them with all the seed thrown about.
But today I saw one swimming around our pond, 3,000gals, collecting/eating
the fish food that was caught in the lily leaves, indeed beating the large
fish to it. Later I saw one take a short cut by swimming fast across the
pond instead of running around it.
Is this "normal" for a rat? In all my years fishing I had never seen a rat
swimming deliberately.

(I am not talking of Water Voles I do know what they look like and have, in
my youth, spend a great deal of time watching them up close when I should
have been fishing)

--
Regards
Bob
"Never get so busy making a living
that you forget to make a life" Anon.

Bob Hobden wrote:

> Is this "normal" for a rat? In all my years fishing I had never seen a rat
> swimming deliberately.

A few years ago I had a rat swimming and even diving under water in the
little pond I have. Every 30secs or so he came out munching a tadpole.

Hugh

--

Hugh Newbury

Running Linux Suse 10.1 in deepest Dorset

"Hugh Newbury" wrote after Bob Hobden asked:
>
>> Is this "normal" for a rat? In all my years fishing I had never seen a
>> rat
>> swimming deliberately.
>
> A few years ago I had a rat swimming and even diving under water in the
> little pond I have. Every 30secs or so he came out munching a tadpole.
>

Thank you Hugh and Paul...
Yes, saw one today swim across the pond underwater,10ft+, when I obviously
frightened it whilst it was collecting bird seed.
I never realised they were so expert at swimming, could have been a Water
Vole it swam so quick.

--
Regards
Bob
"Never get so busy making a living
that you forget to make a life" Anon.

"Paul {Hamilton Rooney}" wrote
>>Is this "normal" for a rat? In all my years fishing I had never seen a rat
>>swimming deliberately.
>>
> It's common, Bob. They are perfectly at home in water.
>
Thanks for the reply.
I expected them to be able to swim but not so expertly, the way this one
collected fish food caught on the leaves. I'll have to invest in a Rat Trap
methinks. I know a couple of lakes away from any houses. :-)

--
Regards
Bob
"Never get so busy making a living
that you forget to make a life" Anon.

In article <4m6a2iF4lojjU1@individual.net>, Bob Hobden wrote:
> Later I saw one take a short cut by swimming fast across the
> pond instead of running around it.

If you or you family do any work in or around that pond, beware Leptospirosis
(which include Weil's disease). Wearing waterproof gloves is the normal
precaution.

Rats are common carriers of the bacteria. Perhaps this one was polite enough
not to pee in the pool. 8-)

Roger

"Roger Whitehead" wrote
>in reply to Bob Hobden :
>> Later I saw one take a short cut by swimming fast across the
>> pond instead of running around it.
>
> If you or you family do any work in or around that pond, beware
> Leptospirosis
> (which include Weil's disease). Wearing waterproof gloves is the normal
> precaution.
>
> Rats are common carriers of the bacteria. Perhaps this one was polite
> enough
> not to pee in the pool. 8-)
>
Quite, as a past fisherman I am well aware of the possibilities regarding
Rat pee but always though the danger was during dry spells as rain washed it
away. I didn't realise the bacterium could remain live in water for any time
as I'm constantly getting my hand wet in the pond.
Does it pose any danger to my fish?
Would my UV filter not kill it?

--
Regards
Bob H
17mls W. of London.UK

In article <4mbiafF5f36lU1@individual.net>, Bob Hobden wrote:
> Quite, as a past fisherman I am well aware of the possibilities regarding
> Rat pee but always though the danger was during dry spells as rain washed it
> away. I didn't realise the bacterium could remain live in water for any time
> as I'm constantly getting my hand wet in the pond.
> Does it pose any danger to my fish?
> Would my UV filter not kill it?

I can't answer the last two questions, Bob, but googling will probably lead you
to some information.

Here are some informative sites about its effects on people and other mammals:
- http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/disea...spirosis_g.htm
- http://www.leptospirosis.org/veterinary/overview.php
- http://www.iphe.org.uk/health/weils_disease.html

It is now normal practice here in Britain to issue people with rubber gloves if
they're going to be working or sampling in lakes and ponds (and sometimes
rivers). It appears to be a low likehood but serious consequences sort of risk.

Roger

"Roger Whitehead" wrote after bob H asked
>> Does it pose any danger to my fish?
>> Would my UV filter not kill it?
>
> I can't answer the last two questions, Bob, but googling will probably
> lead you
> to some information.
>
> Here are some informative sites about its effects on people and other
> mammals:
> - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/disea...spirosis_g.htm
> - http://www.leptospirosis.org/veterinary/overview.php
> - http://www.iphe.org.uk/health/weils_disease.html
>
> It is now normal practice here in Britain to issue people with rubber
> gloves if
> they're going to be working or sampling in lakes and ponds (and sometimes
> rivers). It appears to be a low likehood but serious consequences sort of
> risk.
>

Well those link do partly answer my fears, the bacterium can stay alive in
water for up to a month. A good UV filter should kill it but it's not worth
the risk so, yes, I will be a lot more careful in future.
Looking in my "Fish" books it looks like it's not infectious to fish though,
at least I can find no mention of that family of bacteria.

--
Regards
Bob H
17mls W. of London.UK

	#1
Bob Hobden	Rats swimming in our pond! We have had a few rats around here on and off over the years, they probably come from the railway that is only two gardens away, and us feeding the birds probably encourages them with all the seed thrown about. But today I saw one swimming around our pond, 3,000gals, collecting/eating the fish food that was caught in the lily leaves, indeed beating the large fish to it. Later I saw one take a short cut by swimming fast across the pond instead of running around it. Is this "normal" for a rat? In all my years fishing I had never seen a rat swimming deliberately. (I am not talking of Water Voles I do know what they look like and have, in my youth, spend a great deal of time watching them up close when I should have been fishing) -- Regards Bob "Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life" Anon.

	#2
Hugh Newbury	Re: Rats swimming in our pond! Bob Hobden wrote: > Is this "normal" for a rat? In all my years fishing I had never seen a rat > swimming deliberately. A few years ago I had a rat swimming and even diving under water in the little pond I have. Every 30secs or so he came out munching a tadpole. Hugh -- Hugh Newbury Running Linux Suse 10.1 in deepest Dorset

	#3
Bob Hobden	Re: Rats swimming in our pond! "Hugh Newbury" wrote after Bob Hobden asked: > >> Is this "normal" for a rat? In all my years fishing I had never seen a >> rat >> swimming deliberately. > > A few years ago I had a rat swimming and even diving under water in the > little pond I have. Every 30secs or so he came out munching a tadpole. > Thank you Hugh and Paul... Yes, saw one today swim across the pond underwater,10ft+, when I obviously frightened it whilst it was collecting bird seed. I never realised they were so expert at swimming, could have been a Water Vole it swam so quick. -- Regards Bob "Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life" Anon.

	#4
Bob Hobden	Re: Rats swimming in our pond! "Paul {Hamilton Rooney}" wrote >>Is this "normal" for a rat? In all my years fishing I had never seen a rat >>swimming deliberately. >> > It's common, Bob. They are perfectly at home in water. > Thanks for the reply. I expected them to be able to swim but not so expertly, the way this one collected fish food caught on the leaves. I'll have to invest in a Rat Trap methinks. I know a couple of lakes away from any houses. :-) -- Regards Bob "Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life" Anon.

	#5
Roger Whitehead	Re: Rats swimming in our pond! In article <4m6a2iF4lojjU1@individual.net>, Bob Hobden wrote: > Later I saw one take a short cut by swimming fast across the > pond instead of running around it. If you or you family do any work in or around that pond, beware Leptospirosis (which include Weil's disease). Wearing waterproof gloves is the normal precaution. Rats are common carriers of the bacteria. Perhaps this one was polite enough not to pee in the pool. 8-) Roger

	#6
Bob Hobden	Re: Rats swimming in our pond! "Roger Whitehead" wrote >in reply to Bob Hobden : >> Later I saw one take a short cut by swimming fast across the >> pond instead of running around it. > > If you or you family do any work in or around that pond, beware > Leptospirosis > (which include Weil's disease). Wearing waterproof gloves is the normal > precaution. > > Rats are common carriers of the bacteria. Perhaps this one was polite > enough > not to pee in the pool. 8-) > Quite, as a past fisherman I am well aware of the possibilities regarding Rat pee but always though the danger was during dry spells as rain washed it away. I didn't realise the bacterium could remain live in water for any time as I'm constantly getting my hand wet in the pond. Does it pose any danger to my fish? Would my UV filter not kill it? -- Regards Bob H 17mls W. of London.UK