clickchicks
Songster
I'm no stranger to rats. Roof rats are everywhere here and I go through cycles of eliminating them from the run area (the coop is rat proof). All the chicken food and water is stored in metal trash bins at night so its rare to see more than a stray individual here and there, and we trap (victor snap traps) aggressively to prevent problems.
But THIS fat little pig is coming out in broad daylight and pilfering food right out from under the chicken's noses!!
Is this a brown rat? I've honestly never seen one, but he's massive compared to the roof rats and has a very short, skinny tail. I've been baiting (not setting) traps for the last couple nights to acclimate but set them last night after seeing this. Peanut butter + sunflower seeds has never failed me. Got 1 roof rat, no other traps were touched so I don't think he came (or if he did he ignored them, which is a bigger issue). What sort of rat only shows its face during the day and ignores peanut butter?!
Ugg so disgusted right now. I've tried to run out and kill him with a shovel when I see him but, of course, I will never be faster than a rat.
EDIT- got him. Can anyone ID this species? Its definitely not a roof rat, but I'm not so sure its a brown rat either. I'm in central Texas. Dr. google makes a strong case for a cotton rat.
Links are to images of a dead rat. They aren't bloody or anything, but the rat is in a trap.
Image 1
Image 2
But THIS fat little pig is coming out in broad daylight and pilfering food right out from under the chicken's noses!!
Is this a brown rat? I've honestly never seen one, but he's massive compared to the roof rats and has a very short, skinny tail. I've been baiting (not setting) traps for the last couple nights to acclimate but set them last night after seeing this. Peanut butter + sunflower seeds has never failed me. Got 1 roof rat, no other traps were touched so I don't think he came (or if he did he ignored them, which is a bigger issue). What sort of rat only shows its face during the day and ignores peanut butter?!
Ugg so disgusted right now. I've tried to run out and kill him with a shovel when I see him but, of course, I will never be faster than a rat.
EDIT- got him. Can anyone ID this species? Its definitely not a roof rat, but I'm not so sure its a brown rat either. I'm in central Texas. Dr. google makes a strong case for a cotton rat.
Links are to images of a dead rat. They aren't bloody or anything, but the rat is in a trap.
Image 1
Image 2
Last edited: