Oh rats.

[SaraJean]

Literally, rats... I found some rat poo in and on about a half dozen of my orchids. First, do they eat orchids. Second, do I need to worry about disease (plant kind, not human kind). I know orchids get defecated on in the wild but there is just something disgusting about finding rodent poo. I think there is a family of them living in a cluster of palms in my courtyard so those need to get cleared out ASAP. Unfortunately, I live right on the banks of the Mississippi River so I doubt that I will be able to eradicate the rodent issue completely.


Edit: I should make it clear that these droppings are on my orchids outside. No, I do not have rats running around my living room. That would be gross

[Dollythehun]

Others have experience with this, hang tight.But I just have to say ewww, you have my sympathy.🤤

[jkofferdahl]

Oh CRAP! Yeah, I've also dealt with this issue, though in my case the rodents made themselves at home INSIDE MY HOUSE.

Do they eat orchids? You better believe they do. And they'll lay waste to a plant in no time flat, too. I can't speak to spread of disease in the plants, though we all know what their chocolate drops can do to people. Simply nasty.

I tried a lot of things to get rid of them. Rat traps are all but useless because rats are far smarter than springs and metal bars. For a while I had one of my dogs sleep in the part of the house where my orchids grow and he was pretty effective. Of course, I then realized that I'm not much more fond of rat/field mouse corpses than I am of the live critters. I ended up, in desperation, buying some ultrasonic devices advertised to drive off rats, mice, and cockroaches. I'm not impressed with their effect on roaches (nothing gets rid of Georgia cockroaches) but in the six months since I bought the devices I've not even found a single rat dropping.

Otherwise, cats. When I was still married there were two cats in the house. The rodent invasion only began after the cats moved out with the ex-wife. I tease about cats, especially to annoy Carol, but in addition to being nice and sweet, ours were adopted ferals which knew the meaning of the hunt.

[estación seca]

Yes, rats eat orchids. This year has been especially bad here. We have pack rats, which I have been trapping by the dozen. One ate my near-blooming-sized Peristeria elata completely in one night. There was nothing left but a crater in the pot.

It's going to be impossible to control them outside, since there are so many living in your neighborhood. My only suggestion would be to construct a screened enclosure with a tight-fitting door. Adult rats fit through holes the size of a US quarter coin, and smaller rats through even smaller openings.

1/4" wire hardware cloth will exclude them. They can dig, so it needs to extend below ground level. I have seen enclosures like this built from 2 x 4 lumber, with an aluminum screen door and frame incorporated in the structure. In your climate you would need to prime the wood with an antimildew product like Killz, then paint the wood almost yearly.

[SaraJean]

Sweet Jesus! I had absolutely no idea and now I am panicking and feel sick. Going to the store tomorrow and buying anything I can get my hands on to kill these things. Also, tomorrow I’m cutting down that damn palm tree rat home. Wish I had enough time to do it now

Originally Posted by estación seca

It's going to be impossible to control them outside, since there are so many living in your neighborhood. My only suggestion would be to construct a screened enclosure with a tight-fitting door. Adult rats fit through holes the size of a US quarter coin, and smaller rats through even smaller openings.

1/4" wire hardware cloth will exclude them. They can dig, so it needs to extend below ground level. I have seen enclosures like this built from 2 x 4 lumber, with an aluminum screen door and frame incorporated in the structure. In your climate you would need to prime the wood with an antimildew product like Killz, then paint the wood almost yearly.

I wish I could do this . Living in the French Quarter they are SUPER strict about any sort of structure, even ones in a courtyard (the Vieux Carré association does regular fly overs). I can’t even put up a sun sail. The only reason I haven’t been fined for my strip of shade cloth over the orchids is because it matches my tile. Time to move

[estación seca]

PLEASE don't cut down the palm trees! There are rats EVERYWHERE where you live. Cutting down the trees will have NO EFFECT AT ALL on rats in your back yard! You can use garden tools on long handles to remove the nest. If you keep disturbing the nest they will move elsewhere.

If you don't believe me about rats everywhere, read almost anything written in English and set in New Orleans.

[Leafmite]

Can you use poison to get rid of the rats?

[estación seca]

Poison will kill some of the rats. Then the feral cats will eat the dead rats and die. And nearby rats will move in the following day to replace the rats that just died.

There is no way for a single household to get rid of outdoor rats in an area where they live everywhere. It takes a sustained, coordinated and effective response by the entire community. It would be like trying to get rid of sparrows. The only way to prevent rat damage in an area with rats everywhere is to block their access.

[dounoharm]

ADOPT 3 cats! let them rule outside and inside, and the rats will move down the block.....I have 4 neutered cats, and believe me, no mouse or rats will dare to enter my yard or house!

MUST HAVE CATS! and I agree, NO POISON! it will kill all the neighboring feral communities, and it is a horrible death for kitties!.....

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by dounoharm

ADOPT 3 cats! let them rule outside and inside, and the rats will move down the block.....I have 4 neutered cats, and believe me, no mouse or rats will dare to enter my yard or house!

MUST HAVE CATS! and I agree, NO POISON! it will kill all the neighboring feral communities, and it is a horrible death for kitties!.....

I have two cats already. The rats are bigger than my cats, lol. If my mastiffs were still alive it may have been a more even match up, but nevertheless.... Plus the cats stay indoors 80% of the time. It’s too easy for them to get out of the courtyard and the neighborhood has waaaay too much traffic for them to roam free (also, there are too many people and businesses the DO use poison and I don’t want to risk that)

I will not be going with the poison route for reasons stated above but sorry, estacion seca, the palms gotta go. Really they are banana trees, if that makes any difference to you, cut one out and three grow back next spring with gusto. I need to clear out the old stumps for sure and get rid of any hiding spots where they feel they can nest. Surprisingly, this only seems to be an issue November-February. I guess during the warmer months they are fine staying on the banks of the river and the restaurants. Trust me though, I believe you when you say they are everywhere. I’ve lived here for many years and I’ve even had to stop jogging on the levee in the late evenings after I kicked a gigantic rat one too many times