[autumnspring]

Originally Posted by vj1213

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.

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.

[vintageogauge]

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.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

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.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by perrjojo

I'm with Rubicon. I know the difference between a rat and a squirrel. Jeesh!

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.

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

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. 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.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Sandtrap328

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!

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.

[autumnspring]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

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.

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.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I wonder why you have rats in your yard and we don't see any here..

Does someone nearby put out food for birds? Do you have a grill that may have leftover grease in it? Do you or your neighbors have fruit trees or palms that have food/and or habitat for them? Do your neighbors compost? What is used in the bait trap?

We have snakes. Our caution lights come on for raccoons and other usual night stalkers, but no rats. However, we have two feline companions who patrol the lanai and pool area inside the screen during the day only.. We don't feed them outside. We don't grill very often. I don't like cleaning the grill.

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

[graciegirl]

///

[doran]

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.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by doran

Sticky traps are better if you like to see and hear them plead for their lives.

IMHO, sticky traps are unnecessarily cruel and inhumane.

[kstew43]

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....

[Wiotte]

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.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

sigh. Do pest guys ever say...You don't need traps. You have no rats.

Do insurance guys ever say...You don't need further coverage.

Does Gracie ever say...........I wish we'd chosen Phoenix or Miami.

I have been grumpy all day. My family wants me to move out.

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.

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:

[Lovey2]

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.