In which villages did the rats most recently appear? I am thinking about putting out some tomato plants and perhaps a little garden. I'm now reconsidering because I don't want to attract the rodents.

Since we bought our place, my SIL has been telling me not to plant orange trees because they attract rodents which in turn attract snakes (he knows my buttons.) For you folks who have been bothered with rats and mice, have you also had snakes? Will tomatoes be a problem too?

:grumpy: The second thing I love after my grandchildren is fresh tomatoes off my own vine.

Even if they come with creepy crawly slithery things?

rats and tomatoes
 

I think our experience with the rat was really unusual. We think we picked him up in the parking lot at a golf course. We also had had a rat and mouse problem in California -- took care of a ranch in the middle of 1500 acres with nobody around -- and we had a rat and mice invade the same car there. My husband washed the engine out after we got rid of the rodents, but there might have been a residual scent that attracted our Florida rat. We're buying a power washer today to wash out the engine!

I don't think there would be any problems with tomatoes. But citrus rats are really common (see the link provided in the previous pages -- all about rats in Florida, very good).

new fabulous posting about rats.
 

IMSTP.gif cheese.wmv

Watch out!