Lizw
Well-known member
Re: A reminder and expensive warning to check and rotate preps
I have never seen the Norway rats here, what are locally called "wharf" rats. We do have several varieties od smaller rats, but I've never seen one inside, thanks to the cats. The livestock guardian dogs will kill them too. What has worked best for me in regard to rodents is black snakes. I saw one in the barn last year, and have found shed skins a couple of times. No more mice in the barn. A few weeks ago, I got back late at night from an out of town weekend, and found a black snake stealing a dead mouse out of a snap trap. It was quite a shock, and I still don't know how it got inside. But there have been no more mice in the house since then, so I assume it has taken up residence underneath, where it is welcome to live. The mice did a huge amount ot damage here, not so much to stored food, because that is all inside plastic totes. But they have destroyed books, family pictures, clothing, and the soundboard of my piano. Among other things.
Bucket traps work well for mice (look on youtube if you need directions). They have the advantage of needing bait, and will catch numerous mice in one trap. Rats are too big for traps made of 5-gallon buckets. I suspect it would be possible to use a larger container, though.Yeah, it was a bit of a decision, but we have woods across the road and had noticed rats coming & going from our coops, and aren't in a position to attempt rat-proofing the outbuildings.
We use the plastic bait housings tucked into a square cat litter bucket on its side. The buckets are placed with open side a couple inches from whatever wall looks to be under attack, and a flat cement 16 x 16" paving stone set on top. So far no wanted critters have gotten into the bait, and we also noticed the **** english sparrows have figured out how to fly in and help themselves
All the bait stations are checked every other week and topped up as needed. Hate to use such a heavy hand, but we need the food and peace of mind.
I have never seen the Norway rats here, what are locally called "wharf" rats. We do have several varieties od smaller rats, but I've never seen one inside, thanks to the cats. The livestock guardian dogs will kill them too. What has worked best for me in regard to rodents is black snakes. I saw one in the barn last year, and have found shed skins a couple of times. No more mice in the barn. A few weeks ago, I got back late at night from an out of town weekend, and found a black snake stealing a dead mouse out of a snap trap. It was quite a shock, and I still don't know how it got inside. But there have been no more mice in the house since then, so I assume it has taken up residence underneath, where it is welcome to live. The mice did a huge amount ot damage here, not so much to stored food, because that is all inside plastic totes. But they have destroyed books, family pictures, clothing, and the soundboard of my piano. Among other things.