IMHO, sticky traps are unnecessarily cruel and inhumane.

we used sticky traps........they are so horribly..... the dead rats are stuck and I used to get the landscaper guys to remove them for me. I couldn't even look at them....

We trapped snakes on the glue traps as well.....just as horribly.

but then the neighbors got a outdoor cat, and somehow the rats were no longer stuck on the traps..... just a new issue....cat spray on our front door...

happy daze....

Once I caught an entire family of mice on one sticky trap. Mom, Dad & 4 kids. They were still moving around when I found it. That was the first and last time I used them.

The pest guy didn't ask. I initiated it because I live on a golf course because every golf course I played I saw rodents in plain sight.

And I don't care that rats are part of nature, I am a no critter guy no dogs, no cats, no anole's , no rats in my view of nature As I wrote a few years back If God had made us all vegans we would not be having this discussion right now:D.

Beside the bait trap. I wash all movable parts of my grille in the laundry room sink after every use. and I toss a grille out after 4 years for the same purpose

I periodically use binoculars and view the entire perimeter of the roof and gutters. I had my garage re-done with the intent of reducing any hiding places. One guy told me "You could live in your garage", rubicon.

I was grumpy yesterday also, and I don't know why? I told my wife I was going to bed early and hope to wake up a better person in the morning. She gave me a hug.

its now morning I am a better person.

Personal Best Regards:

OK...my idea on the rat "problem". I lived in southwest Florida, Cape Coral, for 23 years. I lived on a saltwater canal. I can tell you for a fact, the neighbors on either side of me had rats in their home. 1 property kept big bags of dog food in the garage and the rats got in to that on a regular basis, the other was a "snowbird" home, with lots of trees up by the roof line and little activity for months. The rats took up residence in their attic. I immediately called my pest control when I learned of the rats in the attic and subsequently the living area of the home next door. They refused to come out and trap! 2 reasons...1-the traps would draw the rats from the home next door to MY home and 2-I had a cat in residence (they know this because I was adamant about NOT spraying inside the pool cage from the outside). Also...very important...I had NO trees or plants up against my house. The few palms I had were far enough away and were trimmed regularly. I have never seen cabbage palms NOT trimmed in populated areas until I moved here. Rats and roaches live in those dead frond bases. They need to be trimmed and striped off. But that's another story. And most of those are far enough away from the homes. I decided to not plant palms when we came here for that reason, and for lack of good space, nor do I have anything up against the house. Yes, any food you leave outside will draw critters...that includes bird seed (snakes and rats), grill "stuff" and kitty food. Oh, I had a grill outside on the lanai for most of those 23 years and never had anything eat their way in. I will say, I have seen 2 (!) roaches since I've been here. By rec centers! That is amazing... Anyway, I guess we just all need to be vigilant and keep our eyes (and ears...for the attics) open, but I would NOT trap, if you don't have a problem. Make sure your neighbors are taking care of the problem, but do not draw the problem to you.

You couldn't be better. You are a wonderful man and I admire you as we all do. I can tell you are well ordered and very clean. I have never doubted that everything you say is honest and well thought out. I don't want you to have rats. I don't want any of us to have rats.

Helene just now reported that one of our cats, Bootsie, is watching a bunny having breakfast through the screen. She has reported several times on an increasingly bigger snake who now appears to have children. We have a squirrel that she points a hose at when it runs over the bird cage. It taunts the kitties.

OMG! Now THAT was uncalled for.

LOL.:1rotfl:

No, it was extremely funny.

:eclipsee_gold_cup:

Sweet smokey barb or Sweet thai chili ?

barf

The secret to feeding the birds is going to the Wild Bird Center and buying Safflower seeds. They're in the Crossroads Shopping Center down from Best Buy next to Fantastic Sams Hair. I don't believe anyone else sells it locally, I think Amazon might have it. The seed is not liked by squirrels, black birds and we have never seen a rat in over 5 months of feeding the birds. This morning we saw a rabbit eating the seed on the ground. As far as I know, rabbits and rats are enemies, so to me that's another good sign. If you want song birds and none of the pests, then get Safflower seeds, don't confuse it with Sunflower seeds.

The freakin palm trees attract them

I didn't know that - thanks for posting.

Safflower seeds
 

Petsmart sells the safflower bird seed.....

Petsmart sells the safflower bird seed also......

I didn't think I did either until a rat trap was put down and the bait was taken!!!

In the last week we've killed at least three rats using rat traps and bait. One in our Lanai.

Could someone let the cats out?

Never had any until neighbor moved in and was sloppy with her bird feeders and seed on the ground. Have had bait stations for months and the bait is being taken. They will find ways into your attic. Not seeing them does not mean you don't have them.

///

Safflower seeds are one of the recommended foods if you have a pet rat

I have come in after dark many a night and have seen these critters scurrying across the streets. In Bonnybrook there is a dog walker whose dog has killed a few and whose attic had to be treated as the well known pest control company found the beedy eyed critters there. To those who have not seen and desire to ignore simple helpful ways to decrease the rats that's your choice. The birds are well fed by Mother Nature and the hawks help keep the vermin population down. It is humans who leave food out that set the balance off. Wildlife is precious and common sense is sometimes in short supply. The black box is only part of the solution and it does help.As my parents taught " You have a choice ,be part of the solution. Or be part of the problem.

Is it illegal to have bird feeders in Florida??
 

I've heard this and then read this.."State law reads: “Except as otherwise authorized in these regulations or in the Fish and Game Code, no person shall harass, herd or drive any game or nongame bird or mammal or fur-bearing mammal. For the purposes of this section, harass is defined as an intentional act that disrupts an animal’s normal behavior patterns, which includes but is not limited to, breeding, feeding or sheltering. This section does not apply to a landowner or tenant who drives or herds birds or mammals for the purpose of preventing damage to private or public property, including aquaculture and agriculture crops.”
So does this mean it's actually illegal to have a bird feeder???

[///

Are the wild birds around TV starving to death?? I used to be one that had bird feeders but my desire to not have rats outweighed my desire to feed wild birds. I don’t understand the stubbornness of some here on this forum. If the community has a rat problem, regardless of whether the rat problem affects YOU, stop the bird feeding. Put the feeders away for your neighbor’s sake. There are times in our lives when we must put others first, that includes total strangers. As for the safflower seeds, at least one website lists it as food you can give your pet rat.

Re: Birdseed
 

We do not have a bird feeder but, I recall reading that birds cannot taste hot pepper but squirrels can. The suggestion was to mix cyanne pepper with your bird seed.

I'm sure to get yelled at anyway. The article CLAIMS the pepper does not hurt the birds. A squirrel, is, well a RAT with a fuzzy tail.

Good to know, thanks.

We have never had a bird feeder and never had a rat issue. While living in The Villages the last 10 years, never saw a rat. Perhaps this means something or perhaps not.

We've been here 13 years and never saw one either BUT we saw their droppings in our grill on the drip pan when we went to clean it. Then when we started looking for droppings, lo and behold we saw more on our porch. That's when we got the black plastic boxes from our pest control company. As I mentioned before, between traps, our dog and the poison, we got at least 7 rats within 1-2 years. Imagine what that number would be if everyone got 7 rats? We're just one little house on one tiny lot. They're here.

Since rats are purported to live in Palms, I wonder how many would live in those bearded palms that are planted all up and down the "Highways and byways" of The Villages. Just a thought.....

I think it would helpful ( more attractive too) if TV would trim all of the dead fronds from the Cabbage Palms. I doubt that will ever happen though.

OOoo Rat's, so that's where they come from....:22yikes:

Too expensive. And just because you've never seen one, it doesn't mean they're not there. We had one of those deck boxes on our patio one year. In it, we had stored half a bag of potting soil. Nothing else. We came back after being away for the summer. When I lifted the lid, guess what "flew" out?! You guessed it! It had apparently thought the potting soil was a cozy place for a nest.

I screamed loud enough for neighbors to come running. Needless to say, we now buy our potting soil in very small bags and never store it.

BTW snakes are everywhere, too. Don't kill them. We need them to check rats and other pests.

Hey, this is Florida. If they're not in your house, you don't need to worry about them.

FWIW, they love citrus as much as palms.

You may not see the rats around your feeder but chances are good that they know where to find a free meal. I saw them around my back yard feeder got rid of the feeder and fed the rats some poison and end of problem. The birds now eat bugs and seem happier.

Same as justjim; lived in TV for ten years. We've never seen a rat, and never had a bird feeder.
However we have two dogs which may have something to do with it.

I think it would be helpful if those who have seen or caught the rats, identify which village or area of the villages you are located in. I wonder if it is a localized problem or wide spread?

IDENTIFY,,,,,,Geeesss, Rat's can go anywhere they want too........

If one traps rats one might not want to throw them away. Apparently, in Bordeaux, alcoholic rats caught in wine cellars are treasured for their flavor. They are eviscerated, skinned and coated with olive oil and crushed shallots, then grilled over a fire of broken wine barrels. Yum!

Some recipes from around the world Cooking Rats and Mice

I wonder if the birds feel any burn from the hot pepper when they excrete it...