Rats Story

[Martysmom]

I have seen the rat invasion story all over the Orlando news and now this AM it's on CNN ! I drove past the street where these people live and they have news trucks out front. So, how come the Sun won't talk about it? All they talked about in this morning's issue was about how great they are and how many awards they have won.
This obviously is a big deal if it was picked up nationally. If you don't know about it, it broke on Villages (News) . Pretty nasty having squirrel sized rats eating your home! I feel bad for these people.

Shame on the Sun. I guess rats don't sell houses!

[Bogie Shooter]

The Sun didn't mention anything about the 6 month old girl that can waterski, I saw that on Good Morning America and on line.
When will the Sun start covering the news.................

[SouthOfTheBorder]

The Sun didn't mention anything about the 6 month old girl that can waterski, I saw that on Good Morning America and on line.
When will the Sun start covering the news.................

:BigApplause:

[Phanatic Luvr]

Honestly, I saw that story on the news the other evening. There are rats in TV's, mostly palm rats. I have never seen one the size of a squirrel, although the Florida squirrels are much smaller than those up north, and the one in the story, stuck on the trap, did not appear to be anywhere near the size of a squirrel. Rat poison placed outside will usually do the trick. People love to plant palm trees here in TV's. They also will chew through screens if they are attracted to something on the lanai they smell. I also noticed the man's lanai had a lot of plants on it. Rats may be attracted to some of them as well, I'm not sure what kind of plants they were, as it just showed it quickly. Also, I see people plant fruit trees which rats love citrus. Not sure if he or any of his neighbors have citrus trees. There is a lot of factors which were not told in this story and unfortunately, that's what reporters do on a slow day or because they have not researched in full what they are reporting.
I truly feel sorry for the gentleman who is having this problem but I am sure there has to be an underlying issue we are not aware of and hoping the next call he makes is to an exterminator who can educate him and not to a news channel. Hoping he gets someone out there that can guide and help him with his problem soon, he doesn't want them to get into his home.

[Chatbrat]

The Sun is a marketing tool--if you want news--go on line

[Taltarzac725]

I have seen the rat invasion story all over the Orlando news and now this AM it's on CNN ! I drove past the street where these people live and they have news trucks out front. So, how come the Sun won't talk about it? All they talked about in this morning's issue was about how great they are and how many awards they have won.
This obviously is a big deal if it was picked up nationally. If you don't know about it, it broke on Villages (News) . Pretty nasty having squirrel sized rats eating your home! I feel bad for these people.

Shame on the Sun. I guess rats don't sell houses!

Squirrel-sized rats invade homes in The Villages (http://www.clickorlando.com/news/homeowners-tackle-large-rodent-issue-in-the-villages)

Does not seem to be much of a story.

[graciegirl]

Honestly, I saw that story on the news the other evening. There are rats in TV's, mostly palm rats. I have never seen one the size of a squirrel, although the Florida squirrels are much smaller than those up north, and the one in the story, stuck on the trap, did not appear to be anywhere near the size of a squirrel. Rat poison placed outside will usually do the trick. People love to plant palm trees here in TV's. They also will chew through screens if they are attracted to something on the lanai they smell. I also noticed the man's lanai had a lot of plants on it. Rats may be attracted to some of them as well, I'm not sure what kind of plants they were as it just showed it quickly. Also, I see people plant fruit trees which rats love citrus. Not sure if he or any of his neighbors have citrus trees. There is a lot of factors which were not told in this story and unfortunately, that's what reporters do on a slow day or because they have not researched in full what they are reporting.
I truly feel sorry for the gentleman who is having this problem but I am sure there has to be an underlying issue we are not aware of and hoping the next call he makes is to an exterminator who can educate him and not to a news channel. Hoping he gets someone out there that can guide him and help him with his problem soon, he doesn't want them to get into his home.



I agree. Palm rats...For new folks, don't feed birds, plant palm trees, or leave an uncleaned greasy barbecue or tropical rodents will come calling. AND don't leave food out for feral kitties either.

[DonH57]

I don't think they'll have any luck interviewing the Palm Rats for their side of the story. They may talk for cheese!

[NYGUY]

I think when you have a problem like this, you hire someone to fix it or you do it yourself. It's like having weeds, you get rid of them or pay someone to do it for you. It's not a Villages problem.

[Martysmom]

From what I am understanding, the rats are coming from the tear up of El Santiago golf course.

[graciegirl]

From what I am understanding, the rats are coming from the tear up of El Santiago golf course.

That has been typed and published but I doubt that is the overall reason. They are here. All of the time. They are not the Norway Rat that hangs out in big cities tall buildings that are in movies. They are palm rats or roof rats....Still rodents but they eat Palm tree (nuts?), they eat oranges and lemons that some folks grow in their yards. They eat seeds that people put out for birds, but they LOVE grease. Some people have hidden compost heaps, not good. Some people feed wild kitties, not good.

We also have gigundous Palmetto bugs who hang out in palm trees. We were told by people who had grown up in Florida, not to feed birds, plant fruit trees and think twice about palms.


Citrus Rats, Tree Rats, Palm Rats and Black Rats Are All Common Names for Roof Rats. | Alford Wildlife (http://alfordwildlife.com/blog/citrus-rats-tree-rats-palm-rats-and-black-rats-are-all-common-names-for-roof-rats)

[Martysmom]

That has been typed and published but I doubt that is the overall reason. They are here. All of the time. They are not the Norway Rat that hangs out in big cities tall buildings that are in movies. They are palm rats or roof rats....Still rodents but they eat Palm tree (nuts?), they eat oranges and lemons that some folks grow in their yards. They eat seeds that people put out for birds, but they LOVE grease. Some people have hidden compost heaps, not good. Some people feed wild kitties, not good.

We also have gigundous Palmetto bugs who hang out in palm trees. We were told by people who had grown up in Florida, not to feed birds, plant fruit trees and think twice about palms.


Citrus Rats, Tree Rats, Palm Rats and Black Rats Are All Common Names for Roof Rats. | Alford Wildlife (http://alfordwildlife.com/blog/citrus-rats-tree-rats-palm-rats-and-black-rats-are-all-common-names-for-roof-rats)

Thanks for the explanation. I know we have roaches in the house every once in awhile that need saddles!! This truly is Jurassic Park down here! LOL

[Carla B]

Squirrel-sized rats invade homes in The Villages (http://www.clickorlando.com/news/homeowners-tackle-large-rodent-issue-in-the-villages)

Does not seem to be much of a story.

And does Village Santiago have a Property Manager?

[graciegirl]

And does Village Santiago have a Property Manager?

Hmmm, I wonder about that and also wonder if everyone involved will participate in stopping whatever is attracting these critters. THAT is going to be the problem. People think feeding birds is harmless. It is the snakes that come for the rats that bother me. We will hear that next. I feel for all of the innocent folks who live there who are not doing anything to attract rats.

And I know they are harmless rat snakes but me and snakes don't like each other.

I suppose we will read THAT in the Orlando Sentinel next... They are all jealous of us down there. ;)

[Boomer]

I hope concerned readers will take note of the general advice previously given here in this thread -- even though the rat problem getting the attention is in a specific area where earth is being moved.

I thought I had learned everything I could about queen palms when we bought a house that had them. I took very good care of them.....for a while. The maintenance of queen palms gets old........Then I read about palm rats........They got bigger and bigger (the queen palms not rats) and those palm fronds began to graze our roof.........and it looked to me like if rats could be in those palms, though unseen, well, it would not be much of a leap. (shudder) And so..........

We had our queen palms taken out.

I do not want a grill on our lanai. Mr. Boomer want(ed) a grill. We do not have a grill. We can get our cheeseburger fix somewhere else, like the Ramshackle Cafe in Leesburg. (If we were here all the time, I would be OK with a grill.....maybe. But I could imagine returning after being gone for a few weeks and finding Chuck E. Cheese and Templeton running a resort on our lanai.)

We do not provide cafeteria service for creatures outside.

Proactive Boomer

[Jima64]

I hope concerned readers will take note of the general advice previously given here in this thread -- even though the rat problem getting the attention is in a specific area where earth is being moved.

I thought I had learned everything I could about queen palms when we bought a house that had them. I took very good care of them.....for a while. The maintenance of queen palms gets old........Then I read about palm rats........They got bigger and bigger (the queen palms not rats) and those palm fronds began to graze our roof.........and it looked to me like if rats could be in those palms, though unseen, well, it would not be much of a leap. (shudder) And so..........

We had our queen palms taken out.

I do not want a grill on our lanai. Mr. Boomer want(ed) a grill. We do not have a grill. We can get our cheeseburger fix somewhere else, like the Ramshackle Cafe in Leesburg. (If we were here all the time, I would be OK with a grill.....maybe. But I could imagine returning after being gone for a few weeks and finding Chuck E. Cheese and Templeton running a resort on our lanai.)

We do not provide cafeteria service for creatures outside.

Proactive Boomer
Agree with you about the palms. I do keep a small gas weber and keep it very clean. Rats I really do hate.

[rubicon]

I hope concerned readers will take note of the general advice previously given here in this thread -- even though the rat problem getting the attention is in a specific area where earth is being moved.

I thought I had learned everything I could about queen palms when we bought a house that had them. I took very good care of them.....for a while. The maintenance of queen palms gets old........Then I read about palm rats........They got bigger and bigger (the queen palms not rats) and those palm fronds began to graze our roof.........and it looked to me like if rats could be in those palms, though unseen, well, it would not be much of a leap. (shudder) And so..........

We had our queen palms taken out.

I do not want a grill on our lanai. Mr. Boomer want(ed) a grill. We do not have a grill. We can get our cheeseburger fix somewhere else, like the Ramshackle Cafe in Leesburg. (If we were here all the time, I would be OK with a grill.....maybe. But I could imagine returning after being gone for a few weeks and finding Chuck E. Cheese and Templeton running a resort on our lanai.)

We do not provide cafeteria service for creatures outside.

Proactive Boomer

What did you replace the Queens with?

[2BNTV]

I had a rat problem in my attic, as they ate through the telephone wires, twice!!!!! I called Massey and they sent a new person who was inexperienced. They did stuff the corners with metal meshing that rats can't eat through but the problem was not solved, as they caught nothing in the attic.

The second time someone came, they resolved the problem. Believe it or not, beef jerky works the best as bait. Caught two in the attic and one in a trap on the outside if the house. Usually, the bait on the outside traps is eaten but the offending rat, goes somewhere else to die.

Be sure the end caps are on your roof and they are secure. Rats can clime up the side of your home with no problem, palm trees or not.

If your phone line goes dead, you may have a rat problem. My friend thought I was crazy, when I suggested, this could be the problem. Telephone company verified dial tone into the house but lost the dial tone, at the jack.

The person from Massey informed me, there are a few homes, that have this problem. I wasn't the only one. YUCK!!!

Whew, I'm glad that's resolved!!! :smiley:

BTW - Rats are everywhere. Some are the two legged kind. :D

[gomoho]

Be careful of putting out bait. If a rat eats it and still has an entry point into your home, that is likely the place he will go to die.

[Railcruiser]

we have been in Duval more than 8 years. The 1st 5 were rat free. Tried several companies. Traps just seem to attract more rats. Stopped wasting money. Seeing less rats

[Go Dawgs]

I would give Deans (352-787-5300) a call rather than trying to mess with these monsters yourself.

[aninjamom]

We took out most of our palms because we didn't like them. Nothing wrong with feeding the birds! Use good quality seed and the birds get it before any rats do. The joy we get out of seeing the birds outweighs any fear of rats. We had one hanging around, and a trap took care of that fast. If you didn't want to interact with "nature", you shouldn't have moved to Florida!

[graciegirl]

we took out most of our palms because we didn't like them. Nothing wrong with feeding the birds! Use good quality seed and the birds get it before any rats do. the joy we get out of seeing the birds outweighs any fear of rats. we had one hanging around, and a trap took care of that fast. If you didn't want to interact with "nature", you shouldn't have moved to florida!

oic

[lamplighter]

Rats are all over Florida not just The Villalges and not just because you planted a palm tree or didn't feed a starving kitty in the morning only. New areas are especially prone but not enough to get paranoid. If they are around your place, call a pro, fix the problem and relax. Don't go out of your way to attract them just be attentive. They mainly are looking to eat so that is a big hint. It seems if a rodent, reptile or insect can live anywhere it can live in Florida but not just here in The Villages. For the truly paranoid, it's a good thing you are here and not in one of the more wild areas .... The nature lovers love.

[Kitty Litter]

Please do not leave poison outside to kill rats. If another animal eats the poison intended for the rat (or eats the dead rat) they too will die an excruciating death. All of you who feed and care for feral cats, please continue to do so. Feral cats keep rats AWAY simply by their predator pheromones. (Goggle using feral cats to control the rodent population.) I care for two ferals. They are neutered and vaccinated. They are fed twice a day, have fresh water and shelter. They earn their keep - WE HAVE NO RATS.

[Retiring]

I was truly looking forward to one day having lots of palm trees. Is that a bad idea? I had no idea there was a downside to palms. I did know they shouldn’t be close to the house where they can be used as a rodent ladder to your roof. I didn’t know they attract rats?

[graciegirl]

I was truly looking forward to one day having lots of palm trees. Is that a bad idea? I had no idea there was a downside to palms. I did know they shouldn’t be close to the house where they can be used as a rodent ladder to your roof. I didn’t know they attract rats?

As you can see, lots of people have palms, and The Villages plants palms. You can just call them Palm squirrels and continue with your plan.

[Chi-Town]

Please do not leave poison outside to kill rats. If another animal eats the poison intended for the rat (or eats the dead rat) they too will die an excruciating death. All of you who feed and care for feral cats, please continue to do so. Feral cats keep rats AWAY simply by their predator pheromones. (Goggle using feral cats to control the rodent population.) I care for two ferals. They are neutered and vaccinated. They are fed twice a day, have fresh water and shelter. They earn their keep - WE HAVE NO RATS.
A well fed feral cat still enjoys killing rats. It's what they do.

[Retiring]

Oh brother, there’s always something.

I’m not a cat fan but I know they hunt rats. What is the downside to feeding feral cats? Is the problem overpopulation? If putting out some kitty chow and water keeps the rats away, isn’t that a good thing? When you put out cat food how do you keep the rodents from getting to it first?

I’ve not had good experience with bird feeders. The squirrels, or rats, seem to find a way to the food. The last feeder I tried was a “squirrel proof” feeder. Any more than an ounce of weight on the perch and the food is blocked. It actually worked as advertised. A squirrel, or rat, could not get to the food but it still tried. Still had rodents on the feeder, just not eating.

[Jima64]

Please do not leave poison outside to kill rats. If another animal eats the poison intended for the rat (or eats the dead rat) they too will die an excruciating death. All of you who feed and care for feral cats, please continue to do so. Feral cats keep rats AWAY simply by their predator pheromones. (Goggle using feral cats to control the rodent population.) I care for two ferals. They are neutered and vaccinated. They are fed twice a day, have fresh water and shelter. They earn their keep - WE HAVE NO RATS.

Rat poison placed outside should always be put in the heavy plastic bait boxes. It is illegal for pest control techs to do otherwise. Homeowners should be required also. Some rat bait blocks are apple and also peanut butter flavored so you can see that other animals will get to it if left out in the open.

[justjim]

I was truly looking forward to one day having lots of palm trees. Is that a bad idea? I had no idea there was a downside to palms. I did know they shouldn’t be close to the house where they can be used as a rodent ladder to your roof. I didn’t know they attract rats?

We always include one or two Palms in our landscape. Never had a rat issue. It just doesn't seem Florida without a Palm tree. We stayed away from the queens--plant Sylvesters and or small fan palms.

[Boomer]

I was truly looking forward to one day having lots of palm trees. Is that a bad idea? I had no idea there was a downside to palms. I did know they shouldn’t be close to the house where they can be used as a rodent ladder to your roof. I didn’t know they attract rats?

I did not give up on palms completely. I kept the short ones. One has an interesting triple trunk. I see to it that those are fertilized and trimmed from the bottom. I do not know what kind of palms the ones that got to stay are, but I do know they are manageable, at least for now.

When we first bought our house, I went to the meetings offered by the extension office. They really do try to watch out for us gardeners new to Florida. That is where I learned that the queen palms here are about a hundred miles north of their comfort zone, although many do quite well. Our houses here are so close together that maybe we have micro-climates or some such thing. I don't know. But queen palms do seem to work in lots of places throughout TV.

Our queens had grown really tall. Keeping up with removing their big seed pods, and trimming the bottom fronds when they yellowed, got to be more maintenance than I had realized. I can be a little persnickety about plants in my yard. I want them to look their best, but those giant seed pods and big, yellow drooping fronds were trying to get ahead of me. (Also, queen palm maintenance can be a bigger problem for those of us who are here and there.)

And then I heard about palm rats.......EEK! I was done!

I will secretly admit though that I really like seeing the big palms..........in other people's yards. But in our yard, I will stick to the shorter, less demanding palms.

Please don't give up on having the palms of your dreams. You might even like taking good care of the big ones. And you might not worry about having those palm tenants show up.....or not show. I just write sometimes about how I got over having queen palms in our yard. But that does not mean I can't admire them.........from a distance.

Boomer

[Retiring]

It just doesn't seem Florida without a Palm tree.

Exactly.

[Retiring]

I did not give up on palms completely. I kept the short ones. One has an interesting triple trunk. I see to it that those are fertilized and trimmed from the bottom. I do not know what kind of palms the ones that got to stay are, but I do know they are manageable, at least for now.

When we first bought our house, I went to the meetings offered by the extension office. They really do try to watch out for us gardeners new to Florida. That is where I learned that the queen palms here are about a hundred miles north of their comfort zone, although many do quite well. Our houses here are so close together that maybe we have micro-climates or some such thing. I don't know. But queen palms do seem to work in lots of places throughout TV.

Our queens had grown really tall. Keeping up with removing their big seed pods, and trimming the bottom fronds when they yellowed, got to be more maintenance than I had realized. I can be a little persnickety about plants in my yard. I want them to look their best, but those giant seed pods and big, yellow drooping fronds were trying to get ahead of me. (Also, queen palm maintenance can be a bigger problem for those of us who are here and there.)

And then I heard about palm rats.......EEK! I was done!

I will secretly admit though that I really like seeing the big palms..........in other people's yards. But in our yard, I will stick to the shorter, less demanding palms.

Please don't give up on having the palms of your dreams. You might even like taking good care of the big ones. And you might not worry about having those palm tenants show up.....or not show. I just write sometimes about how I got over having queen palms in our yard. But that does not mean I can't admire them.........from a distance.

Boomer

I love the big palms. Is there a service that specializes in palm maintenance? I know some landscapers like to stick to the lawn and not much else.

If Queen Palms are a problem with upkeep or attracting rodents, then no queen palms for me. There are many palm varieties, I hope one will suit my taste and not become “a problem.”

[Bogie Shooter]

In the news article, Massey stated they interviewed everyone on the street. There were two homeowners that had the problem.
Hardly warrants TV news coverage........................

[graciegirl]

In the news article, Massey stated they interviewed everyone on the street. There were two homeowners that had the problem.
Hardly warrants TV news coverage........................

yes.

[Bjeanj]

Slow news day.

[joldnol]

Stop planting palms....problem solved and contrary to what some one said, Most of Florida is fine without palms. The majority of palms planted here are non-native species.

[2BNTV]

Be careful of putting out bait. If a rat eats it and still has an entry point into your home, that is likely the place he will go to die.

All entrance points were sealed.

Rat poison placed outside should always be put in the heavy plastic bait boxes. It is illegal for pest control techs to do otherwise. Homeowners should be required also. Some rat bait blocks are apple and also peanut butter flavored so you can see that other animals will get to it if left out in the open.

Was performed by Massey. The heavy boxes contained what the tech said was like a granola type bar that only rats could, access through small opening.
Problem solved so I am a happy camper.

[CFrance]

I wish a certain landscaper (writes his own kudos on here) hadn't planted my neighbor's queen so close to our house that the fronds scrape our roof. Since neighbor is a snowbird and doesn't contract with a palm maintenance company, the job of grabbing the offending fronds and sawing them off falls to us. Not what I signed up for. If we ever become incapacitated, I will have to have to talk to them. But not worth possibly engendering bad feelings yet.

[larcha]

Here is an excellent fact sheet on Roof (Palm) Rats, SSWEC120/UW120: Control of Roof Rats in Fruit Trees (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw120#IMAGE%20UW:UW120F4). It was excerpted from: "Pests in and around the Southern Home", which is available from the UF/IFAS Extension Bookstore. IFASBooks - Pests In and Around the Southern Home (http://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/p-1222-pests-in-and-aroundthe-southern-home.aspx).

[rosie 136]

Martysmom, if that it true then I believe the golf course should do something .......

[Jima64]

Be careful of putting out bait. If a rat eats it and still has an entry point into your home, that is likely the place he will go to die.

The above was pasted from a previous poster. Rats will try to find water because of how the poison affects them internallly.

[autumnspring]

I don't think they'll have any luck interviewing the Palm Rats for their side of the story. They may talk for cheese!

That is only in cartoons. I don't know about Florida rats but in NY peanut butter and bacon worked great. Rat traps are indiscriminate. They will close on kids, pets etc. For the have a heart traps. From experience a squirrel looks far bigger and gets pretty nasty whne you need to open the door to let it go.

[autumnspring]

Be careful of putting out bait. If a rat eats it and still has an entry point into your home, that is likely the place he will go to die.

The above was pasted from a previous poster. Rats will try to find water because of how the poison affects them internallly.

Interesting to me. Rat poison is warfaren same blood thinner
used by doctors for people with heart conditions. The reason it kills rats is they do not have ability to throw up.
So the poison causes them to bleed to death.