[Boomer]

Munc,

I hope your head is all better. Maybe when you are completely recovered from the unfortunate accident, you can practice up and get really good at dueling with rats.

You could track down that vermin varmint and get him and then make him into a trophy for your wall. The first of many.

Then you can see about teaching a course in rat-bashing and smashing at the Life Long Learning College. They would line up, Munc. I know it.

You know, I took fencing long ago as a PE requirement at Miami (the one that was a university before Florida was a state) and I learned all about how to lunge and how to plunge. I bet you could get a DVD and practice those moves in front of a mirror.

Oh Munc, just think, the launch of your new career, foiling rats to the north of 466 and rats to the south of 466.

And then, Munc, just think, your very own infomercial. An infomercial for your very own DVD. $19.95. Who will give you $19.95, Munc? EVERYBODY!!!

Oh Munc, I could make you a star. You'll show that rat- :edit:.

Boomer

(Sam, when I went to post this to Munc, I got the red letter thing so I looked down and saw your post about the "thick" snake. Do you think that snake was full of rats he had for dinner?)

[Muncle]

Originally Posted by Boomer BeBack

You know, I took fencing long ago as a PE requirement at Miami (the one that was a university before Florida was a state) and I learned all about how to lunge and how to plunge. I bet you could get a DVD and practice those moves in front of a mirror.

Now Boomer, you know darn good and well, since we discussed it at length in other threads, that fencing is not allowed in TV, except those villas and the few ranches in Hemingway when the builder has already installed them. Whether you were trained in Miami or at the Mass Institute of Fences or even one of them foreign schools, you can't be building a fence around your home in TV. Now the plunging might be a big help, especially if you try to flush one of those rat or Sam's big moccasin. (Be honest. When you started reading her post about coming across a big moccasin with a big thick body, you thought she was going to say if was a neighbor's bedroom slipper.)

[Boomer]

No fencing, Munc?

Rats! Foiled again!

Goodnight,
Boomer

[mfp509]

I have seen what someone told me is a "sand rat" - they are bigger than a mouse, almost look like chinchilla. Sometimes one will run across the golf cart path from the shrubbery. I also heard that they live in the bushes that are like big clumps of grass - someone mentioned that earlier, too. My dog caught one as I was walking her one morning. I thought she was after a lizard until she turned around with this thing squealing in her mouth and I guess she thought I would like it.

[graciegirl]

We HAVE RATS.

We HAVE SNAKES.

WE have the wittiest and funniest writers in the universe. :#1:

You know who you are.

Sigh, I took fencing in school too Boom. I wasn't any good at that either. I could shout En garde with the best of them however!

[TomW]

Thurst. Parry. Thrust. Parry. That's all I remember from fencing in college. Dig holes, stretch wire, nail boards. That's all I remember from fencing on the farm.

I would think any place there is garbage, there will be rats. They don't hang out where there is nothing to eat. So make sure your home isn't providing food (outdoor pet feeder, birdseed, fallen fruit, open trash container, etc.) for unwelcome guests. After all, I might move into your neighborhood and I prefer it to be rat free.

[jtdraig]

Reminds me of a great story....about 15 years ago, or so, I led a team who had to review a start-up at Shenzen PRC about two hours north of Hong Kong via hydrofoil. To make a long story short, we checked into our hotel and as we went to our rooms, we noticed an old woman with a bamboo stick sitting in the hall. I asked. We were told that she was the "ratchatcher". In the middle of the night, we heard a loud yell, sort of a scream. Turned out that one of my team had ordered "in" so when he fell asleep he had bits of food in his bed. I guess he woke up and screamed which brought the ratcatcher who caught the rat which was stainding on his chest when he woke up. Next day, we checked out and headed back to Hong Kong to stay there while we commuted.

[Rokinronda]

3 1/2 years here and haven't seen a rat yet. Maybe the racer snake I have seen takes care of that around this area.

[GatorFan]

Roof Rats
Roof rats thrive in attics, roof spaces, palm trees, and ornamental shrubbery. They are climbers and prefer to nest off the ground. Roof rats are destructive to citrus groves, since they live in citrus trees and gnaw on the fruit. They can be quite destructive in attics, gnawing on electrical wires and rafters.
Roof rats generally prefer vegetables, fruits and grain; but they consume ½ to 1 ounce per day of food from various sources. Because they must have water to survive, roof rats also consume an ounce per day and will range 100-150 feet from harborages in search of water or food.

Color ranges from black to grizzled gray to tan with a light belly. The tail is longer than the combined head and body. Adults weight from ½ to pound. Their droppings are up to 1/2 inch long and spindle-shaped. Roof rats live about 1 year and reach sexual maturity in 3-5 months. They have 6-8 young per litter and up to 6 litters per year.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by GatorFan

Roof Rats
Roof rats thrive in attics, roof spaces, palm trees, and ornamental shrubbery. They are climbers and prefer to nest off the ground. Roof rats are destructive to citrus groves, since they live in citrus trees and gnaw on the fruit. They can be quite destructive in attics, gnawing on electrical wires and rafters.
Roof rats generally prefer vegetables, fruits and grain; but they consume ½ to 1 ounce per day of food from various sources. Because they must have water to survive, roof rats also consume an ounce per day and will range 100-150 feet from harborages in search of water or food.

Color ranges from black to grizzled gray to tan with a light belly. The tail is longer than the combined head and body. Adults weight from ½ to pound. Their droppings are up to 1/2 inch long and spindle-shaped. Roof rats live about 1 year and reach sexual maturity in 3-5 months. They have 6-8 young per litter and up to 6 litters per year.

OH MY GAWD. >

[Sidney Lanier]

As was said already, if there are people, there are rats. But remember that 'rats' is a generic, and we may not necessarily be talking about river rats the size of beavers. There are little rats that anyone averse to using the word could describe them as 'large mice.' Truth is, if there's food around, there are scavengers as well. The woman who mows our lawn told us in abject horror the first time we met her that there's a snake living under a concrete pad behind our house that comes out on cool days to sun itself. We happen to like snakes and told her so (she shuddered); then we reminded her that the snakes will keep down the population of other creatures that we'd be less happy with. So, generically speaking, rats are inevitable; keep the areas around your home clear of food for them and you won't have them....

[Boomer]

I can't even stand mice, muchless rats. I would rather take my chances with a snake.

Before we moved to our geezer ranch, we had a barn. From time to time, Mr. Boomer would find a 6 feet long plus snakeskin there.

And every time he found one, Mr. Boomer would stride right back to the house, bearing that snakeskin, trying to make me run and scream fulfilling screams.

But I would just say, "Thank you, Mr. Blacksnake, Sir. You can change your clothes in my barn any ol' time. Just keep those :edit: mice away from me."

. . .although, every once in awhile, I would just run and scream fulfilling screams. Just for the heck of it.

Boomer

There is a hugh Rat running around the Ashland pool. I guess he/she has been there for a while. He is not shy. Everyone sees him. He trots around the pool and get pretty close to people. I wish someone would get him before he/she has a family and brings relatives. So if you want to take out a big rat...please be my guest.

[Sgt Mac]

Think about it
There is 60,000 + people that call The Villages home and it has been around for 40+ years

Now maybe 2 or 3 of them say that they have seen a Rat or Snake

So what
Sgt Mac

He watches me swim and I am afraid of him! ;D