What rodent is eating my palms, peppers & tomatoes?

[UK_Palms]

Okay, so a few of you may know that I have been dealing with a rodent infestation for many months now. I live out in the country and have neighbours who insist on putting out bread and birdseed, which ultimately attracts rodents... and as a result, I have had serious problems with rodents in my garden and house. 

I have baited the heck out of my house and garden, but this has not stopped the rodents from chewing through my palm seedlings, tomatoes and pepper plants! Just this week alone, I have lost 2 Chamadorea seedlings and 6 pepper plants to this rodent species, which have had their stems chewed through. Just last night I went outside with a torch and saw 4-5 of them scutter away on my patio, close to my plants & palms. They have even chewed through my Butia x Jubaea seedling hybrids and a Sabal seedling. I am literally at wits end now and don't know what to do!?

Can anyone give me a postive I.D. on what rodent this is exactly? To put it into perspective, I have caught maybe 150 of these rodents in the past 3-4 months! Around 1-2 a day since Jan/Feb. All the same type, whatever species they are exactly. The infestation isn't as bad as it was a few months back, but it is still pretty bad and I am struggling to control it, given that my palm and veg seedlings are still getting annihilated. I have lost palms, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, sunflowers and normal flowers to this rodent... and I don't even know whether it is a rat, or a mouse...? Or how to stop this rodent plague? I am literally ripping my hair out over it. It is getting to the stage where I am getting depressed over the issue now. They just keep coming and attacking my palms and plants. For every 100 that I catch, there is another 100 that move in. It is extremely frustrating. 

I apologise if you find the pictures somewhat graphic, but I am clutching at straws now and looking for help in identification of this pest and prevention of it. Any tips on how to deal with them and keep them of my palms, specifically the seedlings. Thanks. 

[Tyrone]

I feel your pain. Have had significant losses over the years to these things. I know people hate it but anticoagulants used responsibly are the only solution. In your case you’ll need lots of them and be prepared to become a rat morgue.

[UK_Palms]

  On 6/1/2019 at 12:54 AM, Tyrone said:

I feel your pain. Have had significant losses over the years to these things. I know people hate it but anticoagulants used responsibly are the only solution. In your case you’ll need lots of them and be prepared to become a rat morgue.

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Is it definitely rats? I have reason to believe that they may be house mice, which look quite similar to black rats and are also quite big? But I don't know. I am struggling to get a positive I.D. on what this species is exactly...?

I refuse to use poison as well. I have already tried it and I will never use it again. I would rather put up with them chewing my seedlings, and the sound of the rodents in my attic and walls, then deal with that god-awful smell of them dead and decaying in my walls from being poisoned. Nothing is worse than that smell. It is genuinely the worst smell in the world. I will never use poison again! Surely I can't be alone on that...? 

[Steve Mac]

    It looks like a big healthy mouse to me, but I know nothing about English rodents.

Yes, your situation is very depressing. You may be fighting a losing battle. With so many rodents I think that the local bird feeders are only a small part of the problem. I don't think that a positive specific ID would help you either. Mouse? Rat? the problem and solution is the same. You may never be able to control a mouse plague in your area from your house, but to minimize the impact on yourself you may need to do a lot of things.  I know that talking to neighbours rarely works but I would start with that anyway, asking if they could put less out so that there was no/less residue to attract mice. That is step one. 

I understand the problem with baits and that you are firmly against them but consider using them just at the external extremities of your property, and traps close to and inside the house. Usually rodents poisoned inside will stay inside and the ones poisoned away from the house would die outside. At least this is my personal experience.  Also try 'sonic deterrents', I don't know if they work. Try 'scent  deterrents' , I don't know if they work either and I would definitely try to make a little 12V electric fence that cattle hate, and kills mosquitoes, but lower.  And use several different types of traps, they may learn to avoid one type after a while.  And I have heard mixed results of spraying the plants with a Chilli mixture to make them unpalatable.

I would also look for a trap that can catch multiple mice, I assume that they exist. Also protect the smallest plants with a cage.  Years ago I read anecdotally that seedlings were protected in an open tray with only a 6" high sparrow proof wire fence. The top part being painted with an oil and chilli mixture which the mice quickly learned not to touch or climb over.  

Historically the only thing that has stopped mice plagues has been winter,  so let us know if you have any success, a lot of people have the same problem as you.  And even if you can't eradicate mice in your area, which you are unlikely to do, doing more of the above may at least give you some personal satisfaction.

Cheers Steve