[Community_garden] 3 methods of Organic Rat Control

Sun Dec 23 20:54:15 EST 2007

I have always feared that poison kills more raptors, cats and other rat 
eaters than it does rats. Then there's kids, dogs, Al Gore...
                                            ---McG

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jack Hale" <jackh at knoxparks.org>
To: <community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 8:46 PM
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] 3 methods of Organic Rat Control


>
> 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.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes
>>  (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)
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>
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