Rats in the Villages

[bbbbbb]

OK there are rats and please let me assure you, they are there. So what to do?
This is what I know.
I personally know two local families that have seen them and who have had rats chew their way into the Lanai. this is not a joke, it is not funny and this is to make you aware.
Here is what I know for sure:
If there is any source of food around, ANY, they will smell it and try to chew their way in to get it.
They are very quick, very industrious and so be aware.
If you are leaving dog food or whatever out, they will be visiting you.
You must be sure all possible holes, access or gaps in your house/villa are closed tightly, if they gain access to the walls, they will go into the attic, they know cooler weather is coming. If they do get into your attic, well, that is very expensive and problematical to deal with. They do get hungry. So, they can chew on your wiring in the attic, they can chew on anything they think may be digestible.
They will set up housekeeping in your shrubbery. If you have plants that have a lot of low small edible branches and clumps of heavy grass, they will eat the new tender shoots and they will have babies, and you can have some big headaches and some expensive and frustrating items to deal with. So be aware, they are nearby, they have plenty of water in creeks and lakes, they need food. They will find it if it is available. They will chew holes in about anything.

bbbbbb :spoken:

[NotGolfer]

I've also heard they love fruit trees. Some rats live in palm trees.

[Villager Joyce]

Please remove bird feeders.

[rubicon]

We have a rat problem here and far too many residents are dismissing it out of hand.

Rats are omnivorous and so thought should be given to what is on your property that will attract them.

My pest control guy stopped by for routine maintenance and again I had him walk my property for suggestions.

I also called the Florida Extension Service and they are going to send me information pertaining to this topic.

Everyone understands that dog/cat food and bird seeds attract rats. Well much to my surprise the pest guy told me my wife's herb garden was a delicacy, especially the parsley. the Extension Service told me that rats will eat any sort of green leaf.

I have been asking around and discovered a number of homes who have had penetrations in their garages, attics, etc.

my pest guy re-filled my two bait boxes. I live on a golf course and the pest guy said that is the likely source. these critters may visit but only once

do your part and starve a snake:)

[Topspinmo]

How about rat traps? I don't think there is spot on earth where rats aren't, except north/South Pole, and desert. Problem is when they over populate and you see them due to the numbers, normally you won't see them especially during day light hours, unless they are desperate for food. Several types of rats, some say some have long furry tails And live in trees

I also think areas of the villages are worst than others, close to nature area or squares where dumpster with food in them.

[Topspinmo]

We have a rat problem here and far too many residents are dismissing it out of hand.

Rats are omnivorous and so thought should be given to what is on your property that will attract them.

My pest control guy stopped by for routine maintenance and again I had him walk my property for suggestions.

I also called the Florida Extension Service and they are going to send me information pertaining to this topic.

Everyone understands that dog/cat food and bird seeds attract rats. Well much to my surprise the pest guy told me my wife's herb garden was a delicacy, especially the parsley. the Extension Service told me that rats will eat any sort of green leaf.

I have been asking around and discovered a number of homes who have had penetrations in their garages, attics, etc.

my pest guy re-filled my two bait boxes. I live on a golf course and the pest guy said that is the likely source. these critters may visit but only once

do your part and starve a snake:)


The little black snakes I see around the villages probably not catching the rats? Mice/moles maybe? IMO only hope would be great horned owl?

[gap2415]

People complain about stray cats....that eat the rats. The no kill centers have a system where they clip the ear of a return to community cat that they have vaccinated, fixed and so forth. These kitties will help keep the community free of vermin but need support and the kitties need a helping hand now and then. They are healthy and belong to everyone. Perhaps it's time to take a good look at this. Coyotes may get a few but they can climb trees etc. if the rat population diminishes the coyotes may move away to areas with a better food supply.

[zmarkp]

research says leaving predator pee around works. has anyone tried that

[DonH57]

research says leaving predator pee around works. has anyone tried that

Not a problem. Works great if you drink plenty of beer!

[manaboutown]

Irma passing through parts of Florida no doubt stirred things up so that the rats migrated into new turf, such as TV.

[Two Bills]

Feral cats are best.

[graciegirl]

We live in a village of only 53 homes. 466 on one side and golf course or swamp on the others. Have not seen a rat here in six years. Had snakes last year for the first time. I don't think anyone feeds birds.

I have seen two rats in almost ten years. One in the foundation planting at the cart park at Truman Golf course about five years ago and one in the foundation planting in the parking lot at Laurel Manor recreation center. about two months ago.

I have been told by native Floridians that palm trees produce fruit that feeds them and a place for them to nest. We have opted not to plant palm trees, but others have in our village.

[dewilson58]

Oh rats!

[manaboutown]

Rats are surely around. This will be evident from droppings and chewed vegetation if one looks closely enough. Some people will notice them; others may not or possibly choose not to.

I used to go hunting with a man who had an unbelievable eye for wild game. I remember on a deer hunt challenging him when he said "There's one." which I could not see. We went over where he said it had been and there was the steaming evidence.

[Wiotte]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171106/d2ab9422c23c15330e4d6de56557649c.jpg


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[judynlee]

Yes!!!

[vintageogauge]

What does rat poop look like?

[manaboutown]

What does rat poop look like?

Photographs of Rat Poop - Images of Feces and Droppings (http://www.wildlife-removal.com/ratpoop.html)

[vintageogauge]

Photographs of Rat Poop - Images of Feces and Droppings (http://www.wildlife-removal.com/ratpoop.html)

thank you, thought I might have had some but the ones on my driveway are much larger, maybe a cat or something.

[manaboutown]

This one shows several types. Identifying animal and wildlife droppings, scat, and feces by photos (http://icwdm.org/inspection/scat1.asp)

[ronandjoyceo]

Rat traps work well, baited with block cheese coated with peanut butter. So far I am up to 11 kills. I like to stake down the trap. The rats run along walls giving them some cover, so I position my traps up against or close to the house. I had 4 holes chewed in my screen and I have no food source in the lanai. I used rat poison in the lanai, but do not use it outside for fear of killing animals other than rodents. I have also bagged two mice. Big traps do not work well for smaller rodents. I put out three traps at a time which will increase your kill rate.

[8notes]

A number of our neighbors had them as well - some had rats up in the attic, others had rats trying to chew their way onto the lanai. We all got the rat bait boxes, the black boxes you'll see at the local pools and mail centers. The bait is being eaten and has to be replaced on a regular basis, and we are seeing some dead rats around, so we know its working. There is no question about the presence of rats. If you see evidence of rat populations, best to act quickly before it gets out of hand.

[graciegirl]

Don't put your grill on your lanai. It has grease on it and will attract palm rats. Don't plant palm trees as they provide fruit and a nesting area for palm rats. Don't plant citrus trees, palm rats love citrus.. Native Floridians told me that. Don't feed birds, they have plenty from the green areas all around us. Don't put pet food on your lanai.

If your neighbors do these things, there will be more palm rats in the area than you might think. And unless they stop, your trapping them is .....well..........like pouring sand down a rathole. Futile.

[OpusX1]

A palm rat ate my tomatoes in December. We saw him at night but could not put a trap out for fear our old dog would get in it. Tomatoes gone and I think the rat is gone too. No food here now.