This is a link from the University of Florida that contains a lot of good information about roof rats, their habits, how to control, etc. Apparently September - March is the season when they show up doing damage. SSWEC120/UW120: Control of Roof Rats in Fruit Trees

I friend of ours in the Village of Sanibel found a rat who got its head into her bird feeder. The rat had such a good time, he filled its mouth with so much food that it could not swallow or get its head out of the bird feeder. It must have suffocated and died in that position - head in the bird feeder and the rest hanging out. End of rat and end of bird feeder. A word of advice: If you have a bird feeder on a post of any kind, do not put it close to the shrubbery, even if you have a circular ring to keep the squirrels out of the bird feeder.

Rats in The Villages
 

Yes, I have seen rats in The Villages. One area I saw them was the outside of the pool wall at Lake Miona rec center Pool. Rats dwell in the dead palms of the palm trees, where they take shelter. The dead palms should be dealt with.

Looking for warm spots
 

Yes they are looking to get in out of the weather.

they also nest in the live palms. Should we deal with those too ?

Mulligan. Mulligan. Mulligan. You are a silver tongued devil.


Your fan,
Gracie.

Central Florida Rodent;




http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2...-mouse-659.jpg

They do make a sealed bait box for rats that pets cannot get into. You could put one at the base of the palm. Ther are also bait boxes that look like stones.

Goodwill by Walmart off 466 by the railroad tracks has them in the back brand new plastic looking thing with two holes and sealed bait middle you can put rat food in. You the kind when they check in but don't check out!

My favorite
 

My favorite next to chip and dale.

I just had my entire lanai screening replaced because of rats eating through the screens.
None have gotten in the house but in two days my neighbor and I have killed 4 in traps! The peppermint oil does work and now I will put pots of mint all around the lanai and hopefully it will do trick!

Eating Rat
Not my cup of tea.
Nat Geo video....

Been here about nine years now, lived in two villages and read this forum all of the time and this is the first time I have heard anything like this. Do you have fruit trees on your property? Palms? Do you feed birds? Do you have a compost area?


Oh and welcome to the forum.

Do you have palm trees in your yard. Cut em down. Thats part of the rat problen especially the one they refer to old man palm or bearded palm.

ah but yes they are rattus rattus!

Palm Rat | Control & Removal of Palm Rats | Catseye Pest Control