I tried the sticky traps. In the two days they were set out behind the garbage cans, hidden under and behind boards I caused the death of multiple crickets, one cockroach, one Carolina Wren, one large toad. No Rodents. A sparrow did escape after leaving a quantity of feathers.
Never again. Moving on to other methods. It'll help that one house next door is now occupied by caring people, but the farm with horse barns is still abandoned behind us.
Preventative methods I am working on: all possible food sources locked up at night: chicken feeder locked up, garbage can secured, no bird feeders. The vegetable garden however, seems a prime target - the few tomatoes not rotting before ripening are sampled extensively. blah! Clearing all possible shelter: mowing, trimming, weeding, moving all "projects" to the shed. One site says to store lumber and firewood 18 inches or more off the ground to discourage nesting. True? Can't eliminate water sources. Cat too old to hunt as much as in the past, and can't get replacements. Neighborhood ferals seem to be around though.
I'll try the Diet Cola one. Heard that around town, will see how that does.
