Serious Compost Issue

[lizzylemon]

Hi, I need to pick your experienced brains please as I am seeking some advice on my compost...

I've just demolished my compost heap and discovered 2 dead rats in the centre and a whole load of red (poisoned corn) in the mix as well.

So my questions are:

Would you use the compost knowing it had dead but not decomposed (surprisingly) rats in it (they carry serious germs I've heard) on the veggie patch

What about the corn - does the poison have a lifespan?

Should I scrap it and start again (2.5 years down the drain)?

Really appreciate your help.

[snakeshack]

don't scrap it at worst mix it through and leave it a couple of months for the rats to decompose when it warms up a bit.
at best take the rats out and use the compost,rat poison is usually an anticoagulant,which makes them bleed to death internally and will soon be diluted by any spring rain to the point where it is harmless.

[Eco-Chic]

I would remove the rats and as much of the red corn as you can scoop up to your dustbin or organic collection box. Then mix the compost and try to put out of your mind the undearly departed.

[snohare]

If you are really worried, why not try checking with your local council environmental health's ratcatcher ? He/she will know exactly what is in that stuff, how toxic it is, what problems may result from leaving the corn lying about. Or you could try phoning a poisons centre - I know it sounds a bit OTT, but I am sure they would consider a prophylactic phone call a welcome change from the usual frantic "Didn't think..." emergencies !

[jacob marley]

Are you close to the countryside if you are the corn could be corn that has been treated before it was sown .
If not it could be rat poison but that is usually blue it is round here any way hpoe this help's....jacob

[lizzylemon]

Are you close to the countryside if you are the corn could be corn that has been treated before it was sown .
If not it could be rat poison but that is usually blue it is round here any way hpoe this help's....jacob

I do indeed live on a farm which how I ended up with poison in my compost - it was deposited by the farms pest control man without my knowledge The stuff I've brought in the past was blue but the red stuff is definately killer corn too - I found 2 more bodies in the pile today