Rats

Dear Spurtle,

Someone is putting bird food out on the cyclepath near Wariston allotments which is attracting rats in broad daylight.

While it is not uncommon to see a rat from time to time, leaving out bird seed is attractive them in droves. There is absolutely no need to feed the birds at this time of the year.

For people like me who have a rat phobia, it is making walking on the cyclepath very difficult.

Are there any suggestions about how this could be discouraged? 

Marion Wood