Rats Come in From the Cold

As we speak, a wild rat is hanging from the bird peanut dispenser in my garden. These relatively ubiquitous and innovative animals have been in the news recently (with a BBC claim that the current cold spell in the UK has led to a great increase in call outs to rodent pest controllers). The cold snap increases the need for both shelter and food, making rats likely to invade human habitations and places like chicken runs where there are luxurious conditions for colonies of these commensal beasts (they tend to get more noticed than mice). The rats has no concept of ownership, so my peanuts are fair game so far has he is concerned.