Hello from the Rat Wrangler

[Arizona Jeanie]

Hello ES,
Thank you so much for the detailed information, that is very helpful! I'm sorry you've had the experience that led to your expertise, but thank you for sharing it.
What did you do with the live-trapped rats?
I love the caution statement, it was very thoughtful. I like to think I'm generally non-violent, but I will defend my home! I'm OK with quick-kill traps, but haven't quite got to the drown-in-a-bucket thing.
There is a "rodent resistant" wrap for electrical wiring, I now have some in my car. I think in comes from Honda, they had a big problem with rodent damage when they went to soy-based insulation. I think there was even a class-action lawsuit.
Thanks again

[estación seca]

I drown them, freeze them and give them to friends who keep rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes greatly prefer local food as opposed to exotic.

[Arizona Jeanie]

Ah, the circle of life.

---------- Post added at 09:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:44 AM ----------

I know that part of the reason I have a packrat problem is because I feed wild birds. How can I put out food for the ground-feeding birds, such as quail and doves, but be able to put the food away at night? Seems like there must be some way to do this, any suggestions?
Re the adeniums--packrats will collect all kinds of material to add to their midden, it may be chewed off, taken home, but not eaten.

[Mountaineer370]

ES, I just wanted to say welcome back! You have been greatly missed. I'm sorry for the troubles you have been through, and I hope things are getting a bit better each day. I always enjoy reading your informative and interesting posts.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Jeanie. Can you put the food in shallow trays that you pick up At night?

[Arizona Jeanie]

I think that might work, I'd like to find a tray with perforations on the bottom and handles on the top for easy pick-up. Then I'd have to winnow out the chaff from the leftover seed, I suppose. Removing the birdseed should help encourage the rats to go for the trap baits, but I still want to feed the birds!
I now have an ultrasonic and flashing LED rodent repellent gadget wired into the car engine compartment, I'll see if that helps.
They say it's good to have a hobby, and dealing with packrats is keeping me busy, I'm supporting local business,and I have even enlarged my vocabulary.
ES, do your ratsicles go to the Phoenix Herpetological Society/Sanctuary by chance? Just curious, they seem to be in the news from time to time for their good work.

[Dollythehun]

AJ, the Chief made some trays out of scrap lumber and stapled screen to the bottom. It was to winnow compost but worked for seed too. You could also drill holes in the side and run rope through for handles. Or buy compost sifters.

[DirtyCoconuts]

if you lay two layers of hardware cloth at slightly different spacing they can make most size holes...if you need really small, use three layers.

[estación seca]

I'm a member of the Arizona Herpetological Association. We used to meet once a month... lol. It's legal to trap and keep almost all wild reptiles here, with a current hunting license. The club has a State educational license to keep the endangered and protected rattlesnake (Crotalus) species not otherwise legal to take. We have all Crotalus taxa native to Arizona, some 30. Various members house the snakes. The club puts together a display of all species for schools, home shows, reptile shows, etc. It takes about 16 banquet tables to hold all the cages and the information booth. Members have taken the display as far as Texas for shows. I give the frozen rats and ground squirrels to people in the club.

[rbarata]

It's legal to trap and keep almost all wild reptiles here, with a current hunting license.

It's a different kind of hunting.