Quote:
Originally Posted by graciegirl
Senior, Have you made that first trip here yet to see how this place looks and works? It is so much fun, if you haven't done it, you will love it, and it is an eye opener for sure. There isn't any place to my way of thinking that even comes close to how great it is, and how well maintained. It is the CDD form of government, where the people who live here do not have a direct vote in affecting change, but so far to me at least, I like everything the way it is.
I think that there is no rat problem. There are probably wild ones here and there and maybe they are trotting around colony parking lot because all their natural habitat just across the street has recently been stirred up and really destroyed making the way for new homes. Kathie saw some there and that may be the reason....or they may have hitched a ride on a truck from some highly poplulated urban area up north, but I sincerely doubt it. We DO have a lot of sandhill cranes, mourning doves, geckos, fire ants, blue herons, and alligators hanging around, not to mention the sweet furry dogs who lead their owners up and down the streets.
I can't remember reading Senior that you had made a visit yet, but I may have missed it. I am sure you will love it here.
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Thank you Gracie.......and believe it or not, we are finally on our way at the end of this year.
The "sighted rats" are no doubt stirred up and "relocated" when the new neighborhoods go in. 50 years ago, the land TV sits on now, surely must have been horse farms, general farming lands and just rural Florida. I'm certain the critters were here long before any of us........(I mean their ancestors).
Our daughter in law was raised on a horse / cattle farm in Oregon and relates how she would shoot rattlesnakes with a shot gun. Critters were in the barns and such.
Where ever there are animals, farms, "feed", etc. there will be "critters".
I'm not using that other word anymore, since it seems to evoke such disdain.
If The Villages did not appear to be such a lovely place with such great folks, we never would be researching it in the first place. Thanks again.
Believe it or not, Vermont has "farm" rats as well......much bigger than those citrus rats.......oops, critters......but as one other poster said, they are nocturnal, and definitely not seen running around, which would give anyone the creeps. No one would be ostracized for calling a "critter" to someone's attention up here. Everyone would want them exterminated pronto.
Up until 16 years ago, "critters" never once entered my thought pattern.
But the experience made us "think" that they are indeed around.
They are all over, in every state, city, and rural area.
Not to worry. Hubby is a good hunter. Three years ago he caught at least two dozen (or more) huge groundhogs / woodchucks, which are much bigger, much more ornery, etc. in our have a heart trap and "relocated" them to the forest.
We had a literal groundhog invasion for several summers , until we tore up their habitat, their underground tunnels and "rooms" right off our back patio........had it all excavated, put on a deck and new low evergreens that they could not hide within..............didn't see a single one until this spring......he transported "it" away also.........and we put in sonar? thingies and mothballs which seem to repel these critters...............but still see the red fox walking up and down the road.
We are used to all types of wildlife........just don't want them running around on our property....or getting into our home. A family of deer cross through our backyard all the time........looking for apples. This area used to be apple orchards. Nuff said. I do believe the posters who saw the critters.