The Old Folks Home

[wolftracks]

I have had some major rat issues around here since last fall. I cornered and bludgeoned a rat to death in mid fall last year because it wouldn't get caught in the regular rat spring traps. Obviously I can't (and won't) put poison down. So I took matters into my own hands. Two days after I took care of that problem a new rat moved in. This one has been even more difficult to catch. I have put multiple spring traps out with all kinds of bait. I've put out chipmunk traps and small animal Have-A-Heart traps.

I've even caught the thing on my game cam to try and track it and figure out its movements.



... and no luck. I finally decided to try glue traps. Yes, they're cruel. But besides staying out all night with a shotgun (trust me, I've contemplated it) it's probably the last thing I can do. So I went to Amazon, typed in rat glue trap and chose the one that said for large rats. I figured Ratty there looked pretty big.

They arrived today.

I could catch a toddler on one of these suckers.



I used to live in Baltimore, and I know the rats were big... but I don't recall them being a foot long. Maybe I've just conveniently forgotten.

I did catch something almost instantaneously upon putting the trap down...



Big traps for big cats?

LOL!!!

I've seen huge rats. Not here yet, but when I lived in the Bay Area. One even started for me when I was a little girl. There were building a freeway and they'd come out all over. My mom beat that thing to death with a 2x4. Man I had forgotten about that. Our cat tried to attack it, but it was huge. The cat next door and about 5 others were in our drive that day. They surrounded it and wouldn't touch it. I screamed and it came right for me. My mommy was little but mighty!

Good luck on catching that thing. I think that cruel has gotten a little out of hand. Kill that dang thing! And kiss the kitty's butt for me. Poor thing. I'd do it myself (YEAH RIGHT!", but you're right there, so it's your job now.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Squeeky was lucky the traps were still in their packaging or he would have had a nice Brazilian Wax for his heiny.


I'm going to put it out tonight and hope for the best. It didn't come with a lot of directions... I wonder if I'm supposed to bait it in the middle or just hope he runs over it on his way to scavenge...

 

[stonykill]

a thread for adults

how have I missed this?

.

 

[insanity]

I have had some major rat issues around here since last fall. I cornered and bludgeoned a rat to death in mid fall last year because it wouldn't get caught in the regular rat spring traps. Obviously I can't (and won't) put poison down. So I took matters into my own hands. Two days after I took care of that problem a new rat moved in. This one has been even more difficult to catch. I have put multiple spring traps out with all kinds of bait. I've put out chipmunk traps and small animal Have-A-Heart traps.

I've even caught the thing on my game cam to try and track it and figure out its movements.



... and no luck. I finally decided to try glue traps. Yes, they're cruel. But besides staying out all night with a shotgun (trust me, I've contemplated it) it's probably the last thing I can do. So I went to Amazon, typed in rat glue trap and chose the one that said for large rats. I figured Ratty there looked pretty big.

They arrived today.

I could catch a toddler on one of these suckers.



I used to live in Baltimore, and I know the rats were big... but I don't recall them being a foot long. Maybe I've just conveniently forgotten.

I did catch something almost instantaneously upon putting the trap down...



Big traps for big cats?

I have bred and raised rats for years.Domestics draw in wild ones, so I've got some practice getting rid of them. They can communicate verbally and will "warn"others of traps.They also learn really fast.I've found for best results rotate type and location of traps often. Also since you don't like poisons you might try 50%strong coffee and 50% powdered cream in a dish.It is fatal to rodents but not much else.For the extra smart ones I have also set a candle/small light out in the open and waited with a 22 loaded with bird shot, curiosity doesn't just kill cats. Good luck.

 

[dsqard]

SCG you might want to put a little of the goat feed in the middle to attract the rat. Good luck. Tried spring rat traps for squirrels once. Traps disappeared and no dead squirrels. Dang things are too smaaaaat.

 

[dsqard]

a thread for adults

how have I missed this?

.

Welcome to the thread stonykill

 

[Cynthia12]

Welcome stony.

Linda..that pond is just delightful! You will have to catch more great photo shots of them enjoying it.

SCG, get that stinker! I can't stand mice..but that thing is huge! I'm with DiDi, bait that sticky stuff! Good luck. We expect to come to ~ well ~ maybe not photos, but news, of the culprit being caught. I think mice can eat a lot of my chicken food, can't imagine how that thing can chow down.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

SCG you might want to put a little of the goat feed in the middle to attract the rat. Good luck. Tried spring rat traps for squirrels once. Traps disappeared and no dead squirrels. Dang things are too smaaaaat.

Yes, they are. I had this cute spring loaded feeder for squirrels... it would bounce them. You could put a cob on the end. They took it off the line and ran off with it. This was years ago. We found it in the woods when clearing an area for the goat house.

Welcome stony.

Linda..that pond is just delightful! You will have to catch more great photo shots of them enjoying it.

SCG, get that stinker! I can't stand mice..but that thing is huge! I'm with DiDi, bait that sticky stuff! Good luck. We expect to come to ~ well ~ maybe not photos, but news, of the culprit being caught. I think mice can eat a lot of my chicken food, can't imagine how that thing can chow down.

Got it out there.

 

[stonykill]

I have bred and raised rats for years.Domestics draw in wild ones, so I've got some practice getting rid of them. They can communicate verbally and will "warn"others of traps.They also learn really fast.I've found for best results rotate type and location of traps often. Also since you don't like poisons you might try 50%strong coffee and 50% powdered cream in a dish.It is fatal to rodents but not much else.For the extra smart ones I have also set a candle/small light out in the open and waited with a 22 loaded with bird shot, curiosity doesn't just kill cats. Good luck.

I use small hav a hart type traps for rats then just shoot them in the morning. I just bait it with whatever they are eating. Usually chicken food.

My weasel killer. Inthe last year William has killed 3 weasels as have I. Yup combined we killed 6 weasels in a year.


in this photo William was 9. He is a Maine Coon mix. He was 10 on Easter

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I use small hav a hart type traps for rats then just shoot them in the morning. I just bait it with whatever they are eating. Usually chicken food.

My weasel killer. Inthe last year William has killed 3 weasels as have I. Yup combined we killed 6 weasels in a year.


in this photo William was 9. He is a Maine Coon mix. He was 10 on Easter

We have so many feral cats around here I'm actually shocked I have rodent issues. Maybe I need to get to the shelter and grab a coon cat.