Problem with neighbours feeding wildlife

I should say nowt - you are moving; and who knows the new person might not be as worried about the odd rat as you are.

I wouldn’t say anything at all.It could come back at you regards having words with a neighbour when you are selling your house.You could be asked if you had known there was a vermin problem!
You also don’t want to upset your neighbour just before you leave there.
Good luck in your new house.

If feeding these animals gives her comfort and you are moving then I might be tempted to say nothing.

There are rats all round whether people feed wildlife or not. Say nothing.It would be very upsetting for her if you did.

sazz1, I'd say nothing. Although you think it's unwise to feed them (and I agree) she has every right to do so!

I'd keep quiet too. If I were staying I might just chat one day and ask if she'd seen any rats in her garden, so a bit of a hint but I wouldn't challenge her at this point. As you're moving then say nothing, her new neighbours will work out for themselves what is right for them to do. Good luck with the move, hope all goes well.

This is tricky, I agree it may be best to say nothing, but it maybe better if you had a word, as you obviously know her quite well, rather than for her to be on bad terms with her new neighbors from the off, let’s face it, it’s unlikely they’re going to be rat lovers.

Thanks for the replies I shall say nothing and hope she realises what the food is attracting.

Let her feed her hedgehogs.

I totally agree with greenfinch

And I have a hedgehog that comes regularly to my garden I have built a feeding station for it, hedgehogs are in real danger of becoming extinct in the next few years so if anybody has them they should feel blessed and encouraged them .....

Good for you Shinamae.They are beautiful creatures and deserve to be fed and protected.

I read somewhere that you are never more than 12 feet away from a rat, if you live in a city, town or village.

I really wouldn't say anything to your neighbour about feeding the wildlife, but perhaps suggest that she buys proper hedgehog food.
My grandchildren feed hedgehogs in their garden. They buy the food from the local pet shop.

I also feed animals in my garden - foxes, hedgehogs and squirrels. Rats are around and other animals (foxes) will kill them. Let your neighbour enjoy doing that. You're moving anyway - hopefully you won't have an animal for miles around.

Oh I would love to have a badger or hedgehog to feed
Rats will eat anything so are there whether you put food out of not
Lucky lucky lady to have these little friends in her garden don’t say anything just hope they pop over to come to visit you, you lucky lady

I would put down some rat poison (safely where the dogs cannot get at it) so that at least you may get rid of some before you move.
As you are on good terms I would tell her that you have seen rats taking the food she is putting out, the new people probably wouldn't be happy seeing vermin encouraged and may report her to Environmental health or local Council.

BlueBelle Be careful what you wish for. DD had two hedgehogs in her garden which she had been feeding and helping for several years. One night recently she was woken by an unearthly screaming in her garden, she leapt out of bed and rushed to the window and saw the badger who also comes to her garden on occasion.

the next morning she found 'her' hedgehogs dead, eaten and eviscerated by the badger.

She then had to bury the remains.

Unfortunately nature is cruel but I still wish I could have a hedgehog or badger or fox or squirrel or any wildlife in my garden but all I get are marauding pooing cats slugs and snails my friend has a hedgehog visit for his evening meal every night but she lives away from the main road

Obviously very sad and traumatic for the lady Monica but i’m afraid that is nature.......

Bluebelle,One of the main reason hedgehogs are in decline is because our gardens are now fenced and walled in, hedgehogs can travel up to 2 miles a night and need to be able to access Gardens I cut holes in all my fences to allow the hedgehogs into my garden if you have a reasonable garden with a bit of a wild patch ( they love to route around looking for insects and contrary to popular belief they are not over fond of slugs!)in it and the hedgehogs are able to access it they will come....

Absolutely agree that we need to make holes in our fences for the hedgehogs to pass through. They cannot forage unless they can move about.

I hope no-one will put rat poison down because who else might consume it or be affected? Poison or pesticide of any kind should be discouraged unless you have rats or mice in your house. Even then you can get humane mouse traps. Please keep things as natural as possible.

My garden is actually a wild garden, I have a pond in it that is for frogs and toads and an escape route in case the hedgehog happens to fall in!!I have no weed killer slug pellets or anything like that in my garden and I love it......?

I have read that badgers do kill hedgehogs so would explain why she hasn't seen them lately. Glad we're moving as rats worry me. My friend's dog died from leptosporosis after an outside water bowl was contaminated by rats. Her neighbours were putting bread on the garage roof for the birds. Appreciated she is very lonely and has a cat now for company as well as the wildlife so best to leave it and say nothing. Don't want to upset her.

Say nothing - it’s not really your business as you’re moving out - the new owner may not have dogs who are excited by this wildlife and the rat problem will sort itself out - I live in London where the intelligence has it that you are never more than 12 feet away from a rat and I’ve only ever seen two in all the years I have lived here so the eco system obviously sorts this out - leave your neighbour to her life and focus on your own