Rats!!
 

eeeewwww! i had a horrible experience this morning...last night luckily i was at home when a God-awful noise emanated from my air handler out back...i shut off my air and called Chuck Farrell's AC....this morning, two nice gentlemen came and had to clean a cut up rat out of my handler!!! i have seen a rat cross morse blvd and heard talk of rats here and there, but this was very unpleasantly close to home... has anyone heard any buzz about a rodent problem increasing in our little paradise? if i had not heard the noise, it would not have harmed my AC but would probably have started to stink in very short order!! maybe everyone should go out and check theirs? :)

We have an excess of snakes in our neighborhood. Perhaps we could loan a few of them out?

Rats - rats - & more rats
 

Yes, of course we have rats here in paradise. Some are called Florida roof rats, and try their best to set up house in your attic. Others you may see scurrying on the golf courses. Because we are a "city" plunked in the middle of rural Florida, we have all kinds of "things" that city-folk may not be used to. The hawks and eagles wouldn't be here without a food source. Also, there are "rat snakes" around, which of course, are nothing but beneficial, even though some people may be terrified of snakes. So, I have learned to be okay with what's here, and let it be. I have, however, stopped putting seed out for the birds (my pest guy called it a "rat feeder"), and make sure I make plenty of noise while working in the garden so I don't get any surprises! Hope you are able to relax and enjoy the rest of paradise !

We have our own snakes, thanks. We have a family of snakes living under our air conditioner. I don't mind them at all, and they keep the rats away!

The rat was cut up ....... and you think you had a horrible experience?

they are rattus rattus.......google them. they are quite common and they are nocturnal. i used to set a trap for squirrels and every morning i'd have a rat! so i gave it up.....

Look at it this way: they are both rodents so you were somewhat successful! :laugh:

And to think I argued with Bestmom about rats being here.

As you get older you find out how many ways you can be wrong.

I am sorry Chacha. What a downer!!!!

Wow! From the title of your posting, I thought I had fallen asleep and woke up AFTER the Presidential election and the result was not favorable to your candidate. And then I read about a poor relative of Mickey Mouse buying the farm or the cheese or whatever.:mornincoffee:

Rats
 

Four of us going to dinner at Cane Garden saw one crossing (running) right in front of the main door. The wives let out screams. We had to tell everybody why they screamed. Then we heard every body's stories of their sightings.

Yep, that's an unpleasant experience. Sending you a hug.

I don't care who you are, that's just funny right there.

Spotted two smashed ones on the cart path south of LSL just this week

Yuck! Just plain Yuck!

We see a lot of dead ones on the cart path between Largo and Colony, especially around the tunnel at Havana.

OMG. I'm seriously going to change my mind about T.V. ! Allegators, snakes, rats! If I ever saw a rat, I wouldn't be able to eat for a week.

Don't forget the Florida Palmetto Bugs (huge flying roaches) that will get in your hair when you are outdoors.

You don,t think there are rats where you are now??

No,no rats. Maybe a mouse or two but never a rat.:22yikes::22yikes::22yikes::22yikes:

No mice and no rats here for sure!

You have to be kidding. Rats, mice and roachs are everywhere. Just because you don't see them, don't mean they are not around. Just keeping looking and sooner or later you will see them.

Donna, betcha you do have mice and rats, as Figmo says, just look around. Chipmunks are awfully cute but they're just rodents with cute hair.

Don't forget squirrels.....rodents with a good P.R. man....:D

Alas, there are rodents and insects in every state!

Rats are all over The Villages I see them everywhere. Some dead but more running around alive. I figured they would have gotten rid of them by now.

I respectfully disagree . I hate to have people think that it is common to see them. I have lived here for five years and saw one under a tree on a golf course. I think that is what it was. Something was rustling about in the foliage.

I live in a rural area in Ohio, with two rat terriers. They know, that there aren't any around here. However, I grew up in the city, and have never seen a rat, or heard of any around. Oh, I thought those were dogs. (Kidding) LOL. Really, it'd take more to keep me from T.V. anyway.

It could be worse...
 

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my.

Chacha,

Things have been going badly for you and now a rat in your air conditioner. It was smart to get somone out asap. So sorry you have more aggravation.

For those saying that rats are everywhere, I'm telling you that I lived in a very big city and only saw a rat once along a road by the Delaware River. I pray that I never see one around here. Snakes could make me consider selling my beautiful new patio villa. For those considering a purchase don't let some of the comments frighten you; it sounds like some major exaggeration.

Rats are everywhere that there are people. Makes no difference what socio-economic area; there are rats living close by. The Florida climate also makes it perfect for snakes. Fortunately, most of the snakes around The Villages are harmless to people but there are some rattlesnakes, moccasins, and coral snakes in the brushy and weedy areas. Just stay out of those areas and you probably never will see one.

There have been sightings in nearby areas by Ocala of Nile Monitor Lizards (up to 3' long) which are very dangerous to small animals and will bite humans. Hopefully, those will not get introduced to The Villages area where they could be a disaster.

Of course there are rats here. We live in the Tropics. And I suppose how many of them one sees is a function of how observant people are, how often you get out of your home, if you're walking, in a golf cart, on a bicycle etc. as opposed to being in a car. It doesn't make The Villages a bad place. It's Florida - there are rats...period. No need for people to get defensive.

Forget the rats... what about the two hogs that are running around on Bonita & canal ?? :confused: