Well RATS!
 

Palm rats? Not a species. Like 'Pineapple Palm', this is a descriptive term based on a perception.

Restaurant rats? No again, but you can sure find plenty in the dumpsters behind almost every place serving food.

You would be hard put to find any place in Florida (Or any other state) where there is water and a place to hide a nest that there isn't some sort of population of rats. If you shave a squirrels tail, not much separating the 2 species in my opinion.

I have posted here before on the subject, but in my travels around TV, I have noticed a recent resurgence in palm misinformation.
I know we have a small population here in TV that are adverse to palm trees, we all have opinions and we are all entitled to have them. But the simple fact is: you could completely remove every single palm tree in TV (you know, like how things are further north) and you would make no change in the rat population.
If you wanted to make a real dent in rat populations, I would target their more natural habitat, and remove the dense plantings of pampas and muhley grass. Take it from someone who has trimmed LOTS of palms and these ornamental grasses in this area,WAY more rats to be found in the grasses.

Finally someone with some sense. We were out at golf course putting and pitching in the evening while the sun was going down. Large beds of grasses all around with a few palms interspersed. Look back at the better half standing in front of grasses and there were 5-8 rats coming out of the grass beds. They were not streaming down the palm trees. It is always interesting how stories and urban myths get passed on as facts.

Love the post. Get ready for the attacks from the citizenship.

:confused: Confused one more time(what's new)
Are you telling us that you use the golf courses as "practice facilities" in the evening? Sorry for being off subject but I don't really understand.... could you explain? Thank you. :ohdear:

Sorry to turn this around but I have a question.
Were you playing on the course with a documented tee time?
Steve

You sound like you have not had roof rats, palm rats in your attic. I have.

The species is Rattus rattus rattus or simply Rattus rattus it is technically a black rat. It eats fruits and seeds. Yes, they can live in trees. No those Latin names are not a joke, that is the species. No, I not making some blanket statement about where they can live or what they eat. See the link that is on the bottom of this post

I did not have them in FL but a neighboring state. They climbed a two story home to nest in the attic. I trapped them and poisoned them. The food source was bird feed. I removed the traps, I can give you 100% confirmation that these were rats and the only way they could access my home was via the roof.

No more bird feed and no more rats.

If you have any questions for someone that has actual experience and not just an opinion ask away.
Black rat - Wikipedia

If you question a native Floridian or a long time habitat of Florida about palm trees and whether they have had them placed in their landscape or not you may be surprised.

Also, talk to a resident who has bought new landscaping from a landscaper.

You will find that soon many people are having to pay to dig out bushes and trees and plants because they over grow.

The landscaping that comes with our homes will live with moderate watering though the heat and the cold spells. If it gets disease, than you are not feeding it right. It becomes quite lovely in about eighteen months. Beware of landscapers trying to sell you stuff. Many of us have seen them come and go.

Also. There is enough water. We are doing fine with water. The developer and his ponds is a huge plus.

Oh. Y'all were talking about rats. Rats like palm fruit. Hide in bearded palms. Keep them away from your roof.

Ho hum...yawn...this topic was beat to death last week.

oops! Beat me by two minutes. How'd I miss that?
Steve

No attack here, however, it is a FACT -- not a story or myth -- that certain species of rats love and/or live in various palm trees.

:popcorn:

We had more rats, mice and raccoons than normal last year, because a neighbor was "feeding the birds".

We all asked her to stop, which she did, and the critters went back to the occasional sighting.

I'm all for keeping as much native vegetation and wildlife as possible - it's when we change the environment too much that problems arise.

You mean like building too many houses?
Steve

Excellent post.

I don't think common names are based so much on perception. It's much easier to remember the common name than the botanical name.

And just as a point of information, I think snakes like the grasses even more so than the rats! :a040:

sigh

About a year and a half ago I was driving down a side street in the Lake Sumter area and a big rat with a long tail run right across the street and run right up a palm tree and disappear. This tree was right next to someones house.

Black rats should not be confused an Brown rats, i.e. Common rat. Brown rats (Norway rats) do not like living in trees, Brown rats prefer to live by humans. So yes you can easily have palm rats (black rats) and restaurant rats (Brown rats) in the same area.

You can Google the Latin name for Brown rats. There is such a species and no color of the rate is not the main source of identification, where they live is.

Black rats, the climbers, can live in the same location as Brown rats

How do you question a "long time habitat about palm trees" and what is the surprise?

What would a resident say if they bought new landscaping from a landscaper?

Very few people have to dig out trees, etc., because they "over grow."

Plants get diseases because of many different reasons but not "feeding them right" is not one of the causes.

"Beware of landscapers trying to sell you stuff?" That's their profession and that's how they earn a living.

Not all rats like or eat "palm fruit."

Oh Boy, on another thread.


:1rotfl:






Not questioning a LTH. The statement was "IF".


What would a resident say, I would say, "Cool".


Very few is relative. Not a relative of mine. Not even a second cousin.


Ohhhhhhhhhhh, don't feed, nasties will happen.


Selling stuff????........98.3% understand the statement. Will PM you and explain.


Palm Fruit: Not sure mom put that on my plate. Not sure I can speak for a ran.


:1rotfl:

Once again, I ask... how do these crazy rats get in your attic? Are they eating through the soffit material?

Many long term residents have told me they don't like palms in their landscaping because they attract rats.

Many people have had to have plants and bushes removed because they become too big and too dense. We removed a few this year, after eight years. It is amazing how big they get with lots of rain and sunshine.

Small plants and bushes quickly become way too big plants and bushes here in Florida. That is a fact anyone can see by watching their new foundation plantings grow for about two years.

Plants not well fertilized are indeed more vulnerable to disease.

Many opportunistic Landscapers can, will and do take advantage of the newbies and do charge them far more than they should. My advice is to wait and see for a year and talk to neighbors and friends before you change your landscaping.

There is a book you can get for free about native Florida plants. With photos. It was suggested probably 7 years ago by the guy who installs the Nova systems. I'm having a brain spasm and cannot remember his screen name. Anybody? I think the book was free. He had a link. I would search it if I could remember his screen name.

Just happened to see a post elsewhere which suggests the Nova guy is “jimbo2012”:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...mbo2012-30431/

Thanks. I contacted him, and he said it's the Native Florida Plants book, available at the UF extension on 466 behind the sheriff's office.


There are quite a few books with Native Florida in the title. This one was free.