Hey Rat Fans (and none rat fans)

I've never really considered rats before, they're not an animal thats very high on any ones agenda really.

They have a bad reputation and are seen by many as dirty, disease spreading vermin. They definitely didn't appear on my original target list of animals to photograph.

However I've recently changed my mind. Last week a couple appeared underneath the feeders I've put up hoovering up anything the birds dropped. My first reaction wasn't positive but then why not, they're wildlife and actually they turn out to be really photogenic.

Now I know a few people will shudder seeing these and may have problems with them in their gardens eating the bird seed so I offer a solution. Mix some chilli powder in to your bird seed before you fill your feeders. Birds can't taste it but rats really don't like it and will move on to easier pickings.