Neighbor wont mow his field. Having problems with rats.

[mamabahre]

Quote:
It's not like he is actively breeding rats is he??
Why not just do what you can on your side of the fence and respect someone else's property? People rant on here constantly about people NOT respecting their property and then all of a sudden it's cool to do whatever you want to your neighbor's property just because rats are coming from somewhere, possibly or even probably the field next door? Still not a good enough reason to go onto his land and do whatever you want to it!

 

[Mac in Wisco]

I don't understand those that think that every patch of grass needs to be neatly cut. I'm surrounded by woods, hay fields, and brushy fence rows, critters are part of it. I don't think my neighbors would understand an argument to cut down their wooded areas because too many owls, foxes, and coyotes are coming on my property and disturbing my hens.

If you want to sneak over there, take a bag of wildflower seed and some native grass mixes with you.

 

[SIMPleChick]

Blow dart gun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's FUN!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
It's not like he is actively breeding rats is he??
Why not just do what you can on your side of the fence and respect someone else's property? People rant on here constantly about people NOT respecting their property and then all of a sudden it's cool to do whatever you want to your neighbor's property just because rats are coming from somewhere, possibly or even probably the field next door? Still not a good enough reason to go onto his land and do whatever you want to it!

X2! If there is a code violation, by all means feel free to report him to the city. But being as it is a FIELD, I presume that it is in the country, where there are no codes requiring grass be mowed. In which case he is well within his rights to let the grass grow if he so chooses. But you have not actually contacted him yet, so you really do not know his position on whether he wants his field mowed or not.

Rats are not coming onto your property because your neighbor has a field of tall grass. They are coming onto it because there is something on YOUR property that is attracting them. If there were not, they would stay in the field.

 

[Fool]

There are Federal Fish and Wildlife easements that require that the landowner and/or the tenants DO NOT mow until a specific date. These are in place in order to provide nesting cover for wildlife. Mowing your neighbors pasture without his consent could/would put him in violation if there is an easement in place on that property. If he's not a local, and he does not have an easement (or is using it for hay, or hunting), he would probably grant you permission to mow. Unless there is already some animosity between the two of you?

 

[Zonoma]

I'm a big believer in 'live and let live' but when it comes to health issues (because that's what rats are) the county takes issue with it and you should, too. If you are in a township, call animal control and report a rat infestation and then sit back and watch them track down the owner and serve papers.

EDIT: I say this because we had a big problem with the property behind us (an empty field- no livestock, simply waiting for the developer who bought it to build) and the vegetation loving mosquitoes (the kind that are prone to carry West Nile) that infested it. Simple mowing would have prevented many health issues with my son in the last few years. We approached the owner with a "more flies with honey" mindset but - well, that went south fast. He immediately bristled at the idea. We called the county and they gave us permission to mow it. Problem solved.

 

[mamabahre]

Quote:
if a rat infestation is reported won't they ask why exactly isn't the food being locked up/put away at night since the infestation appears to be at the chicken coop itself? I don't know how the town could find an infestation in a field when all the rats would have to do is run away...Would they count nests or something?

 

[LindsayB]

Have you tried contacting the owner of the property? You could tell them the problem you've been having with the rats and see if they mind if you mowed the field for them.

 

[chickened]

You pay taxes for vector control why not use the service? you already pay for it.

 

[Arcnadius]

Bubonic plague was carried by rats so please don't feel uneasy about calling the city/county. I know how you feel about it 'cause I'm the same way, but the health of you and your animals are at risk.

I help do controlled burns on prairies so my first thought when I read your post was, "Burn it!" However, that takes trained personnel in the right conditions so I can't suggest that you do it, but do call someone to abate your nuisance.