Rattus norvegicus GRAPHIC PHOTOS WARNING!

[littleoak]

Don't want to alarm you but you might want to set a small live trap. We had rats twice and got rid of them like you are doing, the problem was that both times they were followed by a weasel. Weasels hunt the rats and use their passageways. After the rats are gone the weasel wants the chickens.

 

[littleflocker]

We dont have weasels up here but thanks for the heads up. I do have small size mouse traps also as well as sticky pads for the small blind scurriers. What I need is a good cat. We had our best ol cat pass away not too long ago so i think a new kitten is in order.

 

[dragonlair]

I've been getting some HUGE rats lately. They sure look fat and healthy......of course they do. They are eating the chicken, goat, horse and dog food....

 

[rufus]

That rat is almost as big as the ones in Viet Nam. They were so big, we didn't know whether to shoot them or hit them with a truck.

Rufus

 

[jbethmann]

That is a big rat... I think I've caught something similar, but in a humane trap set for a local raccoon who was prowling around. Now, what do I do with it?

I don't want to go near it. It has been in the humane trap for 24 hours (which I don't feel great about) and still alive (thanks to the 2 eggs that were the bait). Any advice?

 

[chickened]

Tie a rope to it and put it in a pond.
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[r4eboxer]

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[OldChurchEggery1]

That is a massive rat. Glad you caught it.

 

[Midwest Lizabeth]

Quote:

Advise (you asked):

#1) If it was going after your livestock, do away with it.

#2) If you don't want to destroy it, call your local animal control or county conservation agent to come remove it. Call a neighbor to help you. If you've got the funds, call a pest control company.

#3) If you can't get help, don't have funds, and you can't bring yourself to eliminate it, you should let it have some water/food (don't make it suffer) and haul it far away from your place. Put it somewhere that it would have access to water/other food in remote area without homes.

#4) #3--the worst option. Don't set trap again until you've got help/plan on what you'll do with with pests that take the bait.

. . .just my .$.02

 

[jbethmann]

Quote:

Advise (you asked):

#1) If it was going after your livestock, do away with it.

#2) If you don't want to destroy it, call your local animal control or county conservation agent to come remove it. Call a neighbor to help you. If you've got the funds, call a pest control company.

#3) If you can't get help, don't have funds, and you can't bring yourself to eliminate it, you should let it have some water/food (don't make it suffer) and haul it far away from your place. Put it somewhere that it would have access to water/other food in remote area without homes.

#4) #3--the worst option. Don't set trap again until you've got help/plan on what you'll do with with pests that take the bait.

. . .just my .$.02

Thanks for your input. I agree, we needed the right plan of attack and I have some rat traps now that will kill the rat... I didn't know the rat was my problem and not the raccoon (who I would have moved)! I guess I'll move this guy too...