rat in a tree

[Sabine]

I was thinking of posting this in the general forum but decided that this is more about some strange rat behaviour than the bunnies (who only looked on in amazement)
We came home the other night at the onset of dark and saw a creature near the rabbit enclosure. When we looked closer it seemed to be some rather large rat climing up the fence tro get in to the rabbits. i let out a yell and the creature vanished. I kept watching through the window though and a short time after I see the rat getting into the enclosure stirring the rabbits, runibg out again and escaping into the tree. I have never seen the likes of it. I was beginning to wonder was it a rat at all as it climbed at least 6ft high into the tree.
Is that normal rat behaviour?

 

[jamesedwardwaller]

Sabine wrote:

I was thinking of posting this in the general forum but decided that this is more about some strange rat behaviour than the bunnies (who only looked on in amazement)
We came home the other night at the onset of dark and saw a creature near the rabbit enclosure. When we looked closer it seemed to be some rather large rat climing up the fence tro get in to the rabbits. i let out a yell and the creature vanished. I kept watching through the window though and a short time after I see the rat getting into the enclosure stirring the rabbits, runibg out again and escaping into the tree. I have never seen the likes of it. I was beginning to wonder was it a rat at all as it climbed at least 6ft high into the tree.
Is that normal rat behaviour?

sorry,,i had to laugh/with you,,rr...yes-they are very resource ful and pose a threat--if they have diseases,,they get hungry too/....when my neighbors moved/rats moved in./.i have not needed a cat for 20 years,,i operate my own rehab for exotics/homer-pigeons/rabbits/.and now cats--yes,rats can climb trees/roof tops.,etc,,even dig into earth making lots of tunnels,to and fro the nest,,the stray cats i took in are having a real time thinning out the herd//caught one rat inside the pigeon exersize pen/6 ft off the ground/right through the chicken wire--unbelievable,,,even the top predatory cats i have cannot entirely wipe out the problem,,but at least they can control the population....sincerely james waller:wave:

 

[Nancy McClelland]

when I was overseas 30 plus years ago, meeting new people and dropping bombs on them, we used to see rats up in the rafters of our hanger--40 plus feet up, so, I know rats can climb. Several years ago, some climbed up the outside of our drain pipe and got under the tile and through the roof. Took lots of traps and peanut butter to get rid of the problem. Recommend you use the same approach. I put the traps inside milk crates and put blocks on top so the dogs and cats could not get to the bait. There were seven of the vile things--don't like roof rats.

 

[undergunfire]

Honestly? If there is one, then there is a ton (rats live in colonies). If they aren't harming anything, then leave them be. They are probably taking food if there is any spilled out of the rabbit dishes. If you keep the bunnies areas clean, then you will have less of a problem.

I never recommend killing an animal because they are simply being themselves, so do whatever you need to do before resorting to killing. A good think to check out is making sure your rabbits wire is rat proof.