Response to rat attack ?

[Tyrone]

If they were transmitting at 104.1MHz (radio broadcasting) at maybe 1000W or more it might be plausible, but just receiving the station at 104.1MHz would do nothing imo. I work with radio frequency etc. Maybe they just hated rock music. 

[SHEP]

Darold, read the UC Davis paper on rats.  The report gives advice to line up traps next to one another along their routes, and bait them, for about four days, and not set the trigger.  Let them get used to it.  They also (at least at that time recommended Contrac Blocs or Blocks) It is supposed safe for dogs (our small 7 lb dog ate one and didn't suffer when our neighbor took it off the top of fence where I nailed it down and threw it where she could get it).  When that happened I urgently did research, and it would take over six to kill a pig.  Anyway, it works well.  I tie it up in the trees to protect my figs, otherwise the rats will consume them, and throw them up in attic.  My understanding is that Contrac doesn't move up the food chain where other animals consume the carrion and suffer.  Cecile  

[richnorm]

https://thisnzlife.co.nz/takes-kill-rat/

[Darold Petty]

I obtained my first rat kill with the a24 trap last night.  However, after losing about 15 adult Howea fronds the rodents are still ahead. 

Last nights victim had blood coming out of its mouth and ears, very satisfying ! No photos !!  

[UK_Palms]

I have finally got on top of my rodent issue. Both neighbour's have agreed to stop putting out bread for the birds, or putting out bird seed, which is hardly surprising since they have been affected by the rodent plague as well. One neighbour had an entire underground network of rat tunnels in his yard they had dug, which pest control put poison down and sealed up. He has chickens as well and is now keeping the enclosure cleaner, from here on. We had to threaten him with legal action to get the issue sorted, which has only further strained the already fractured relationship, between me and that neighbour. But at least the rat issue is coming under control now. 

I was catching 5 rats a day (indoors) at the peak of the problem, about 6 weeks ago, but that has now reduced down to about 1 rat every 3 days. I still see them scamper across the garden when I go outside though. Yesterday I saw 2 rats on my lawn, which scampered down a hole and another running along the fence, so the issue isn't completely sorted yet. I can say first hand though, that putting out bread for birds and putting out bird seed is one of the worst things you can possibly do, if you don't want to invite rodents onto your property, or your neighbours property. It only takes a couple of rodents arriving and setting up home, then next thing you know, you've got a whole frickin colony.

It's not just one type as well. We have had a collective issue with 4 different types of rodents - Brown rat, Black rat, House mouse & Wood mouse. Although 75% of the rodents caught/seen have been brown rats. A lot of Wood mouse and House mouse as well in the back yard especially, and also in the house. Only 2-3 black rats seen, which the brown rats will outcompete.

Never really had a palm attacked once by the rats. But Peppers, tomatoes & bedding plants all chewed through back in the autumn. Entire stems chewed through by the annoying little vermins.

[UK_Palms]

No sooner had I posted the above message, that I hear the sound of a trap going off. Followed shortly by another. I hadn't caught any rodents for 4 days, prior to today, only for two traps to go off in the space of 20 minutes this evening. One in the attic, the other under the kitchen sink. I think I must have jinxed myself with the above comment.

Anyway, I have caught upwards of 100 of these SOAB's in the past 6-8 weeks. I thought I better snap a few pics, seeing as I was commenting on the subject, literally an hour before the traps went off. Which is just typical.

Hopefully mods don't have a problem with me posting this... but this is the vermin I am dealing with...

[Tyrone]

Vermin numbers have dropped down to near zero here because a family of falcons has set up residence in the trees. A mother one and 3 or 4 young ones have just scoured the area for rodents. In one day I saw the mother flying back with two mice. Another day it dropped a mouse to its youngster about 3 ft in mid flight for its youngster to grab. I haven't needed to bait the place in months. If they move out though a bunch of rodents will move back in.