[Community_garden] 3 methods of Organic Rat Control

[Jack Hale]

Oboy!  Rats again.
Funny thing about rats is that they come from somewhere else.  Although
it may seem that they appear in your garden by magic, they typically
don't travel far, so if you have them, so does your neighbor.  Trapping
a rat in your garden may be somewhat satisfying, particularly if you can
arrange a violent end or the previously suggested strategy of
re-gifting, but it won't stop your problem.  There's no such thing as
one rat, and they breed like rabbits (AKA long-eared, short tailed
rats).  Trapping works pretty well inside buildings if you can figure
out how the little rascals are getting in and can put a stop to that.
Outside, the best you are likely to do with traps is temporary reduction
in the population.  Poison works a little better, but there is no silver
bullet.
Main thing is to clean up your act and try to get your neighbors to join
in.  Rats want food, standing water, cover, and a place to burrow.  Take
one of these 4 away and they get discouraged.  So, if you have a rat
problem, clean up your garden.  Don't leave any containers around that
might catch rainwater.  Remove or cut weeds.  Harvest produce when it is
ripe and don't leave anything on the ground, particularly rotten fruits,
boards, piles of stuff.  Grow up, not out.  Back to that burrow.  If you
find one in or near your garden, try stirring it up.  Dig it up  and
then go back a couple of days later and do it again.  They will tend to
go looking for a burrowing place where there are fewer lunatics.
This is the short course on rats in gardens.  I wrote a longer and more
self indulgent version that should be findable on the ACGA archives.
Good luck.
JH

Jack N. Hale
Executive Director
Knox Parks Foundation
75 Laurel Street
Hartford, CT 06106
860/951-7694

-----Original Message-----
From: community_garden-bounces at list.communitygarden.org
[mailto:community_garden-bounces at list.communitygarden.org] On Behalf Of
GivenTrees at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 5:11 PM
To: MikeMcG at PTD.net; Powellharris at aol.com;
community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] 3 methods of Organic Rat Control

I'm all for harming none, but I don't think the rats know that tune.   
Perhaps the person that charmed the yellow jackets could play Pied
Piper!  
 
 
In a message dated 12/23/2007 2:37:54 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,
MikeMcG at PTD.net writes:

I  applaud your Buddhist attitude here, but I personally cannot condone
the release of vermin who have plagued (literally) mankind for untold
centuries. 
I do agree with the trap, but then a trip to the vet for a fast  and
professional...well, you know what.
Because although  you obviously respect all living creatures, I don't
think you want to be  responsible if that released rat bites a small
child--or worse.
---Mike  McG
----- Original Message -----
From:  <Powellharris at aol.com>
To: <MikeMcG at PTD.net>;  <community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
Sent: Sunday, December  23, 2007 2:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] 3 methods of Organic Rat  Control


> Please!  None of the 3 methods of Organic Rat  Control sound very  
> humane or organic.  You may  need a permit to use our method, but it 
> is effective (if only in  knowing that it can be accomplished yields  
> satisfaction).
>
> 1)  Secure a "Hav-a-Heart" trap.
>  2)  Bait the trap with peanut butter or other substance.
> 3)   Trap the rats.
> 4)  Release at or near the home or place of  business of your worst  
> garden adversaries.
> 5)   Leave ear corn or some other proven rat delight food to insure
that  
> the
> rats enjoy their new home.
>
> Much of the  satisfaction from using this method results from knowing 
> that  it can be accomplished.  You may even be able to borrow the 
> traps  from animal  control.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>  (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)
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