Rat infestation
 

It seems there is a real problem with rats in The Villages. Our whole block in Bonnybrook has had a problem with them. If you have a pest company please call them and have rat traps put down. Also don't leave any fruit laying on the ground and birdseed can also draw them. Check your grill too as the smell of food draws them and keep your garage doors closed!!!! Ours isn't the only block that has this problem as I've heard from many others that they have the same issue. If you live near a mail station or water that seems to draw them.

Please don't feed the birds. Please don't feed the birds.

Don't leave animal food on the lanai. Do not feel bad about not feeding the birds, the birds have plenty to eat provided by Mother Nature, on duty 24/7.

They are palm rats. We chose not to have palm trees.

NO Rat's around here & we feed the birds. (no palms ether) To many squirrels around here that will eat the bird feed off the ground....

Good advice.

A neighbor does and she has a whole menagerie in her garden, including rats and raccoons. (She probably has them in her roof as well, but is so deaf she can't hear them.)

yet!

We heard this when we 1st moved here....don't have palm or fruit trees or you'll have rats!! So we didn't!!! Our neighbors grow veggies and have had who eat them before they can be picked!!

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I have lived in The Villages full time for 8 years. I have not seen any live rats. I have seen a few squashed rats on the MM trails. I have palm trees and citrus trees and my neighbor has a bird feeder. No rats! Maybe the rat sightings are squirrels?

I hope what you say is true , and I know people will not like hearing this . However, my pest control company has stated that "The Villages" has a serious rat problem and they can't keep homeowners rat stations ( black boxes) filled fast enough.

The District needs to take a proactive approach both in education and operation to eradicate this problem. Ignoring it is only going to make it worse.

Please don't shoot the messenger

With all respect to you, the messenger, it is my opinion that I have heard many exaggerations and downright incorrect summaries from the decent and hardworking people who work for many companies and restaurants and all kinds of businesses here. One stood on my front porch recently and told me that he had met Gary Morse a few months ago.

So...I try to do what my high school teacher said as far as credible sources. I think there are plenty of rats here, but we are not like some New York apartment building from the thirties. Our team of snakes and eagles and hawks are working hard here 24/7 and just to prove my point, everyone should set a mouse trap and report back. Good cheese please. Some of them have been fed by gourmets.

If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em.

Stand back....watch your shoes. oh barf.

I posted this previously but I will say again there is a palm rat problem. One got in our garage and chewed all the wiring and hoses in our new vehicle. It caused computer issues....ended up costing over $3000 (thank God for insurance). Our agent told us Marion and Sumter counties had a lot of problems. One of our neighbors the rats are chewing thru the screens on his lanai and getting in...maybe toward the pool. I have seen them running around the rec centers and mail stations while I walk at night. Have also watched them run up the palms in middle of our cul de sac. All neighbors have traps. We went to the vcdd and were sent to property mgt., they came and put traps in the middle of the cul de sacs in our area. We were told there was a problem and the first question asked was does any of your neighbors have bird feeders.
We were told by insurance and dealership that newer cars have some type of soy coating on the wires that attracts the rodents

When the El Santiago Executive golf course was being redone last summer the homes around the course experienced rat problems due to the rat's natural habitat being disturbed. When El Diablo golf course redo was stated this summer, I heard via the pool grapevine the folks surrounding this course experienced the same problem. Lastly, earlier this summer standing on the #6 tee at the Mangrove executive course, we saw SEVERAL rats running back and forth between houses. Do not know what village parallels this hole. Any rate, played a Mangrove again last week and did not see any rats around the #6 tee.

I wish to God I could say you are right in this but the unfortunate truth is that this is a problem and it has to be dealt with on a community level. it does no good for one homeowner to treat the problem if others homeowners ignore it. lack of a sighting does not equate with absent the problem

The continuing expansion in TV and the warm winters are resulting in an increase in this population.

Forewarned is forearmed

Rats!

There very well may be a palm rat problem but the word infestation brings other kinds of pictures to mind for most of us.

People who sell pest control aren't going to say there is no problem. I have seen no signs of rats in or near where we have lived in either Hadley or the location we live at now.

Infestation brings to mind this;

picture of rat infestation. - Bing

I still say don't feed birds and don't plant fruit trees or palms. The only critters messing with garbage I have seen or those big crows, Heckle and Jeckle.

You may never have seen a rat but trust me, there are plenty. There are MANY rats living in Live Oaks Park.

Where is that?

I have been told palm rats genetically expect to find food at the base of little white crosses. Apparently those little crosses look like small palm trees to them. Then like those from NIMH they go out to seek new food locations. They are smart little guys. Perhaps there is some correlation of the proliferation of rats and the proliferation of little white crosses. Not sure yet.

I looked it up. It is that small park adjacent to the cart path just west of Mission Hills off Morse, near 466. What would attract rats there? People picnicking and leaving left overs in the trash?

In the last 2 years between our dog, traps and poison put out by our pest control, we have eliminated 7 rats in Ashland. They're still eating the poison so it's far from over.

Ashland Pool was where the thread on Rats was about several years ago. What is the attraction? I can't find my glasses, but my memory on other things is still good..

Have a look;

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...s+Ashland+pool

Just wondering if the region language thing may be in gear here. Are the Extremely small Squirrel looking animals actually the things that are being called Palm or Tree Rats? If they are indeed called Rats in Florida then they would be called a Squirrel where I'm from in NJ. We had many Squirrels in NJ and many two legged Rats. I'm with Sandtrap, I think its an identification problem and you can't stop rats or squirrel but you don't have to give them a easy food source. What a terrible problem. I'd be the first one up on a chair. LOL.

The big problem is with certain Palm tree variations

Have had rats in Duval for years. One got chopped up in our air conditioner. Had traps set by a company laced with peanut butter not poison. Dogs would die eating a poison rat. We had to have the traps emptied so frequently that my husband was doing it. They smell horrible pretty quickly.We decided we had more rats with the traps. Our company agreed. The poison or the PB attracts the rats. No traps. Less rats.

We Are Not Discussing UFO's
 

Railcrusier: Up to now I have been respectful and polite, and have held back details, to those posters who view this subject matter as if we were discussing UFO's .

About 7 years ago, I had my pest company place a black bait box in my yard as a precautionary measure because I live on a golf course. To my delight never had a problem. then about 2 years ago my landscaping people came upon a rat exiting this box.
to my delight the box was serving its purpose if a rat happened by.

Then about six months ago the results turned horrifying so much so that I have to patrol the perimeter of my property before my wife will go out and fuss with her plants, etc.

The horrifying results caused me to contact my pest control company. The worker answering the phone told me TV has a problem. I insisted on speaking with the pest control manager . My question was , "Is the black bait box the solution or the problem? He said the bait box is not drawing them. he explained that these rodents live within 100 square yards of that bait box.

The other day another horrifying experience and I called the pest control people again asking the same questions and asking for advice. A second Pest Control manager again stated that the bait station was not the problem.
Again, for the third time I was told there is a rat problem in TV and this manager added they could not keep the bait boxes filled fast enough.

A side bar" Pest control people gauge rat activity by the amount of poison consumed at each bait station . Up until 6 months ago they reported only little nibbles

I may not be the smartest bloke in the world but I do know the difference between a rat and a squirrel...and I do have a squirrel problem owing to pine trees located on the championship course in my back yard.

You will not hear this information from the Developer, the District, the Daily Sun, The POA, the VHA because they peddle the Disneyworld analogy of The Villages and the only rodent there is Mickey Mouse. Indeed we have posters on here whose head spin at the thought that TV is less than perfect.

The truth is the continuing expansion of TV for various reasons and the continuing mild winters have concocted a perfect storm for this problem. It needs to be dealt with and it needs to be dealt with on a community level.

so if we can keep residents minds off the dangers of a cart going 1-5 miles faster than they should we might get this problem addressed.

Personal Best Regards:

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I'm with Rubicon. I know the difference between a rat and a squirrel. Jeesh! The rats in Live Oak Park live in the marshy area of he lake and come out on Sunny mornings to bask inthe sun. There was an infestation ( yes, I also know what infestation means too). We reported it to TV and soon after started seeing many dead rats in the park. Rats are still there, just not so many. Why are they there? Because they are just a part of Mother Natures brood.

First, let me also say I know the difference between a small squirrel and a rat. The one that caused the damage in my garage was trapped. Secondly, I am not insinuating that we are over run with rats, but I for one experienced the damage that can be caused. These are not your big ugly NY city rats, they are palm rats, they are smaller. I have had a pest contol contract with Massey since I moved here, so no one swindled me by saying we had a problem. My opinion is even though you may not have seen a rat doesn't mean they aren't around...it's not like I see hoards of rats running around at any given time. There are fruit trees here, palm trees with berries and other vegetation and bird feeders which attracts these pests. It's not as though you need some to leave food or trash around. These are native rats so they are all around. I see them primarily at night when walking. I was told at property management there was a problem, I don't think they would have brought the bait boxes here if there weren't. If you look closely you will see the black bait boxes in the landscaping around rec centers and golf courses. They are here and can cause problems. I'm not a Village basher, not trying to discourage anyone from moving here, not saying we have an infestation...all I'm doing is sharing my personal experiences and saying I would recommend bait boxes around homes and don't feed the birds.

Nature
 

It is interesting that NATURE will always adapt to changes.
There are rats here. There have always been rats here.
WE all mioved in. Food is more plentiful so the number of rats has grown. NATURE will quickly establish a new balance.

I've not seen and rats on my property but I have seen them on the nature trail just a few blocks away so surely we have them or they will be moving in shortly. The black colored snakes that WE have are rat snakes-they keep the rats under control. The hawks, we have, also feed on the rats among other things. I believe, the hawks are the reason we do not have any pigeons-sometimes called flying rats.

RAT POISON? The commonly used rat poison is warferrin. It is actually a blood thinner. A mouse or a rat cannot throw up. The blood thinner causes internal bleeding. Since they can't throw up it kills them It is the chosen poison because if your dog or ????? eats it they will likely simply throw it up. Aside-if the poison sounds familiar from some drug ad. It is the same thing prescribed as a blood thinner for many heart patients.
SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH RAT POISON-the rodent after eating the poison seeks water. They can and do chew through pipes to get it. Also, they likely will not die out in the open and you will have the smell from a dead rat for a long time.

THE OLD SPRING SNAP TRAPS-I've not seen them for sale in a long time. I assume you can still get them. I assume they have gotten more expensive-????? about $1.00 each but, they work. You know when you have gotten one and far less costly then calling an exterminator.

RE: NYC RATS
TRUTH-they are actually called Norway Rats oh and you can, someone probably already has, IMPORT THEM. They will surely kick the butts of the sissy palm rats we currently have.

I once set one of those large spring loaded rat traps, got up in the morning and caught a dove. haven't used one since but they do work. I'm also always afraid of getting my finger smashed in one if them.

We used one and caught a beautiful female cardinal and worse yet, the male would not leave her, and even after we cleaned up the mess he kept hanging around and hopping all over the area. I suppose I should have said "well it's just a bird", but we were broken hearted.

Now, however, we have a big ginger tom feral cat that I see from time to time. Nothing seems to survive that monster - I am a bit nervous around it and when it gives me the evil eye I just stand still and wait for it to stalk away.

Yes, it's a bit rich for someone who hasn't seen a rat to assume that, therefore, it must be a squirrel and the rest of us are blind, stupid or both.

Massey put a spring-trap in our roof and it killed a rat. No bushy tail, and far from the point of entry along a well-worn run through the insulation (squirrels don't stray far from where they get in).

I personally think these rats are quite cute - they're not nasty sewer rats - but they can cause damage if they get into your roof.

They also eat thru lanai screens and pond liners. They do also eat slugs and snails as well as other vegetation. They are just a part of Mother Natures plan and we have invaded their space just as with the alligators and just like gators, I don't want them in my yard. :laugh: having these rats does not mean this is a filthy community. It just means we need to try to incourage these guys to move on.

We've backed on a golf course for ten years, and we have palm trees.
We've never seen a rat, but perhaps that's because we have two dogs.
Also, we had a family of garter snakes living under our air conditioner.
I'm not afraid of snakes and they act as a good rat deterrent. I hope they're still living there when we return.

If, you are going on a rat safari-you need a guide
 

First of all you will NOT catch a rat in a mouse trap-simply too small. YOU NEED THE BIG GUNS-A RAT TRAP. It looks about the same as the mouse trap only about 4 times larger.

CHEESE-that is from cartoons. Peanut butter works good.

RE: NY apartments in the 30's
We lived in QUEENS in the late 70's. Due to the EPA they outlawed the small incinerators commonly in all apartment buildings and the mouse population exploded. TRUTH I had never seen a mouse before that. They are interesting IN SOMEONE ELSES HOME. A mouse first of all is far smaller than MICKEY seems. They are quick. All you see is a, did I see that. They can squeeze though a 1/4 inch hole and they can have like 14 babies every 2-3 weeks.

Like everything else I viewed it as a game. Set three traps and get three mice on a good, or a bad night. Out of frustration and calling both the manager and the owner usually about 3 AM. One night I set 12 traps and got 11 mice. I had been deducting the cost of the traps from my rent and still not reaction. I loaded the 12 traps onto a shovel and dropped them in front of the supers door.

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE-cheese-they will nibble it off and not trip the trap. bacon-they will pull it off and not trip the trap. PEANUT BUTTER-they will try to clean their plate. MY SCORE- 11 OUT OF 12. Cheese runs about 1 out of three.

BOUNTY ON RATS? BIGGEST ONE? MOST CAUGHT IN A NIGHT? CATS? THE MALE MAY BE BIGGER BUT THE FEMALE IS THE HUNTER.

I naively believed I could do a sharing and an informational dialogue here on a problem that has been expressed by a number of other residents and supported with a validation from a prominent Pest control company but here we are again. so I say "never mine"

This issue is the same as any medical malady and it lays undetected until its too late

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I do not believe that rat tastes like chicken. To get rid of them in palm trees you need to form smooth metal around the trunk of the tree before the fronds. It should be 2' wide They can not climb over this as they slide off. I am surprised the folks in Florida do not do this, well, they do not trim the fronds either, which is not the right way to do it to get the best result from the palm . Sticky traps are better if you like to see and hear them plead for their lives.