Rats, rats EVERYWHERE! ☹️

[Bridget B]

Has anyone tried Terriers? There are a few Videos on You Tube showing how they take care of obscene rat infestations. As a terrier owner, I can guarantee that not much will survive the little buggers. They kill everything that has the misfortune of stepping into the yard. If you don't want to own a terrier you can possibly interest some terrier owners into a rat roundup in your yard. AKC has a new program that shows the terriers skill in ratting. Of course they do it humanely with no rats actually harmed, but reality is, Terriers were bred to go to earth and kill rats. Own a terrier and your rat problem will be solved. No they wont kill full grown chickens. I wouldn't trust them with chicks.

 

[Geena]

I have never seen those tunnels. They look open on the top are they?

Yes, and it seems like a lot of work for nothing when the grass is mowed like that. But out in the fields where the grass is taller I would imagine it helps hide their movements from hawks and such.

 

[aart]

The ones we have here are about 5 to 6 inches long.

Including tail?

They make underground tunnels and also above ground tunnels that look like this -

I see this during/after winter snow melt.

 

[Geena]

Including tail?


I see this during/after winter snow melt.

They don't have much of a tail, maybe an inch long. I'm just estimating length, I don't get to see them for long before the dogs snatch them up, crunch and swallow them, lol.
I've never caught one in a trap despite having mouse traps set up year round.
Yes, that's voles, they tunnel right under the snow.

 

[Geena]

@aart these are the ones we have here
meadow vole
it says they are 5.9 to 7.9 inches with tail.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Has anyone tried Terriers? There are a few Videos on You Tube showing how they take care of obscene rat infestations. As a terrier owner, I can guarantee that not much will survive the little buggers. They kill everything that has the misfortune of stepping into the yard. If you don't want to own a terrier you can possibly interest some terrier owners into a rat roundup in your yard. AKC has a new program that shows the terriers skill in ratting. Of course they do it humanely with no rats actually harmed, but reality is, Terriers were bred to go to earth and kill rats. Own a terrier and your rat problem will be solved. No they wont kill full grown chickens. I wouldn't trust them with chicks.

I don’t know anyone with a pack of trained terriers (or terriers at all), and I’d rather not pay thousands for a pack of dogs

 

[MomJones]

While I haven't read thru this entire thread yet, but I have to say, I am also having a rat problem thanks to crappy neighbors. My neighbors poorly run a mini-farm - they don't properly store feed/grain, no composting of manure, etc. so it has attracted rats to the area.

I don't have an infestation (yet) and thankfully, they're under my porch, and not in my coop.

I caught one in a snap trap, and none since, but they're there because I see them on the game cams I have setup. My cat caught one, but it's winter now so she doesn't really go out. I've tried RATX with no success and while I don't like the idea of poison, I am trying to get ahead of this so I may resort of poison.

I don't know if this has been suggested, but I've been told drowning them in a barrel is effective. Fill a barrel half way with water, bait it with some enticing food, and they should fall in and not be able to get out.

Filling a bucket or plastic bin with approximately 6 inches of water and sprinkling a layer of sunflower seeds worked twice for us, then they got smart and we weren't able to kill anymore. I poured the contents into our compost pile.

 

[MomJones]

I don’t know anyone with a pack of trained terriers (or terriers at all), and I’d rather not pay thousands for a pack of dogs

We had three terriers. They were worthless as rat catchers, could have cared less. Come to think of it, our cats are no better.

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

Filling a bucket or plastic bin with approximately 6 inches of water and sprinkling a layer of sunflower seeds worked twice for us, then they got smart and we weren't able to kill anymore. I poured the contents into our compost pile.

I swear every time I find one of their entry/exit holes and I place traps around it, they dig a new hole to avoid the trap. I never realized how smart they were.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I swear every time I find one of their entry/exit holes and I place traps around it, they dig a new hole to avoid the trap. I never realized how smart they were.

We tried the bucket thing and the rats avoided it!!!!!