How to discourage rodents without poison

[CabritaChicks]

I wish St Patrick hadn't rid Ireland of snakes sometimes We have zero snakes so have to rely on alternatives!

Snakes? Oh, they’re everywhere around here—but the real problem is the mongooses! They were originally brought in to deal with the rats and mice, and now I’m the one setting traps for them. Honestly, they freak me out way more than the snakes.

I’ve even started experimenting with different animal urines and set up a night camera to see if there’s any drop in rodent activity.

 

[LaurasNew]

I had to Google mongoose! They look like the dreaded stoat/mink we have but we are very lucky to be fair and have relatively few predators compared to other countries!

 

[CabritaChicks]

I had to Google mongoose! They look like the dreaded stoat/mink we have but we are very lucky to be fair and have relatively few predators compared to other countries!

They’re vicious—they’ll go after entire flocks of chickens without hesitation. Around here, it’s open season on them—no questions asked, and no method considered too extreme. The government here provides free traps.

I run a sanctuary, rescue and veterinary services for birds. So if I catch those mongrels anywhere near- it is trap time, and as the pirates say they go for a swim.

Fun (and slightly terrifying) fact: mongooses are the only animals here known to carry rabies.

But we joke here that everything can attempt to kill you, from tarantula wasps (who actually kill tarantulas) to venomous snakes. Or the other day my husband got attacked by an iguana.

 

[LaurasNew]

Oh my God! I didn't think iguanas attacked people and wasps that kill tarantulas! Feel silly getting upset about a few rats! Hope you don't mind me asking but where are you?

 

[CabritaChicks]

Oh my God! I didn't think iguanas attacked people and wasps that kill tarantulas! Feel silly getting upset about a few rats! Hope you don't mind me asking but where are you?

I'm in the Caribbean, Virgin Islands—and let me tell you, the wild iguanas here do not play. They bite, they whip, and they definitely don’t come in peace. I grew up with a pet iguana and even vacationed at places where resort iguanas lounged around like sunbathing guests. But here? Whole different beast. Yikes!

(I would post a video, but I’d need my husband’s approval first—it might chip away at his manly pride a bit since I had to step in when he got stuck trying to get past one on the stairs. )

And this is a tarantula wasp- we had the unfortunate time where a friends 17yr old thought it was a butterfly- she screamed for hours.

 

[SanK]

They’re vicious—they’ll go after entire flocks of chickens without hesitation. Around here, it’s open season on them—no questions asked, and no method considered too extreme. The government here provides free traps.

I run a sanctuary, rescue and veterinary services for birds. So if I catch those mongrels anywhere near- it is trap time, and as the pirates say they go for a swim.

Fun (and slightly terrifying) fact: mongooses are the only animals here known to carry rabies.

But we joke here that everything can attempt to kill you, from tarantula wasps (who actually kill tarantulas) to venomous snakes. Or the other day my husband got attacked by an iguana.

 

[SanK]

I'm in the Caribbean, Virgin Islands—and let me tell you, the wild iguanas here do not play. They bite, they whip, and they definitely don’t come in peace. I grew up with a pet iguana and even vacationed at places where resort iguanas lounged around like sunbathing guests. But here? Whole different beast. Yikes!

(I would post a video, but I’d need my husband’s approval first—it might chip away at his manly pride a bit since I had to step in when he got stuck trying to get past one on the stairs. )

And this is a tarantula wasp- we had the unfortunate time where a friends 17yr old thought it was a butterfly- she screamed for hours.
View attachment 4100898

This wasp name is already unfriendly

 

[LaurasNew]

That is scary! Your poor husband! That wasp does look a little like a butterfly! I will absolutely not be visiting the Virgin Islands The weather might not be great here (awful if I'm honest) but it def does keep away alot of nasty stuff!

 

[CabritaChicks]

Yeah, those wasps are massive! (think of a monarch butterfly). I watched one take down a huge tarantula from a hole in the ground—and another one go after a tiny scorpion in the rescue ward. It was like watching a live episode of National Geographic. Brutal, but in a strange way... kind of beautiful with those delicate wings. People say It feels like being electrocuted when stung. I don't mess with them, that's for sure!

 

[LaurasNew]

Yeah, those wasps are massive! (think of a monarch butterfly). I watched one take down a huge tarantula from a hole in the ground—and another one go after a tiny scorpion in the rescue ward. It was like watching a live episode of National Geographic. Brutal, but in a strange way... kind of beautiful with those delicate wings. People say It feels like being electrocuted when stung. I don't mess with them, that's for sure!

I got permission for the video:

Ill leave the link up for an hour and then delete it.

Oh my God! Thanks for the video! That thing looks vicious, def an angry elf! Your place is stunning!