Symptoms and Causes Many animals and insects can find a home in a compost heap, including mice, ants and other inescts, but the main problem is rats, which can carry diseases and cause damage Rats like a warm, dry, cosy place where they can build a nest They do not like to be disturbed They like cooked food

Possible Solutions Never put cooked food in the compost heap, and especially not any meat or fish, which would attract vermin "Rat-proof" the heap using fine metal mesh, especially on the soil underneath it Do not use a heap with a removabe front door or with a badly fitting lid - rats can get in these Frequently turn the heap to break up their nests and tunnels Frequntly bang the sides of the container and prod the heap - they will move to find sonewhere they are disturbed less often Do not put the compost heap near your boundary fence where vermin can easily colonise it from a neighbours garden or from waste land - put it in the middle of your garden Add human lots of human urine and compost activators - the rats will not liek the smell, and they do not like damp mouldy conditions Borrow a dog from a friend Sprinkle the compost area with cayenne pepper Remember to wash your hands if there are vermin there ! The problem may be more widespread than your garden, and may require investigation by the Council as to where the rat colonies are based, and where they get food, and concerted action by the community may be needed

Ants. Ants and other insects are always a sign that your compost heap is too dry.
Mice. The same applies as with rats, but the problem is usually not so severe.

Remember.
Making good compost needs a small amount of management effort to creat conditions which encourage moulds, fungi and worms - the same conditions that encourage these will discourage rats and other vermin.
Banging the side of the heap, prodding it, having dogs around and putting mesh underneath will help to drive out the rats.

And, read our general compost information pages