Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?

What to do?

Thanks...

Are you absolutely sure it wasn't an opossum?


Me too. wrote in message
link.net...
Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in
and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat
around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?

What to do?

Thanks...

Yes, have them too. This was a rat.

"Cereoid-XXXXX" wrote in message
. ..
Are you absolutely sure it wasn't an opossum?


Me too. wrote in message
link.net...
Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out
back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house
cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in
and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat
around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?

What to do?

Thanks...

Me too. wrote:

Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?

What to do?

Rat control is easy. Stop feeding them, and they'll disappear.

In article .net, "Me
too." wrote:

Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?

What to do?

Thanks...

Are you sure it's a rat and not an opossum? Opossums have razor-sharp
teeth, and they could do a lot of damage to your cats. A rat could also
bit your cats and give them fleas, lice, etc.

Assuming that you live in North America, it's probably time to take in
the bird feeders for the season. If the creature's easy dinner is gone,
he'll go somewhere else.

Me too. wrote:

Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?

What to do?

Thanks...




Rats and mice love, love, love graineries and other food warehousing.
Why make it easy for them? The birds are better off finding their own
food. I once watched rats coming for the dog food at the neighbor's
yard - had a big old dog that spent it's life tied to a tree, with
food/water bowls set out for him. Much of the time, his water bowl
would get turned over, so I used to carry water to him. I like pets and
their food indoors, let wild things find their own.

What area of the country are you in? You might engage one of the
neighborhood kids to catch a Rat Snake and turn it loose near the
deck!

Of course they also will eat Squirrels, Chipmunks, Birds etc...but the
rat would be history...

Dave

On Sat, 26 Apr 2003 19:51:33 GMT, "Me too." wrote:

Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?

What to do?

Thanks...

If you have a rat, you're probably feeding it.
If you have one rat, you probably already have a colony.
If you saw it during the day, you likely have a massive infestation.
If you have a deck, I'll bet you're not able to see under it to
tell if there are harborages there.

Me too. wrote in message
link.net...
Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in
and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat
around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?

What to do?

Thanks...

On Sat, 26 Apr 2003 22:42:42 -0400, "Michael Baugh"
wrote:

If you have a rat, you're probably feeding it.

He noted the Bird Feeder

If you have one rat, you probably already have a colony.

No doubt particularly in light of the size of the individual he
reported.

If you saw it during the day, you likely have a massive infestation.

A good possibility

If you have a deck, I'll bet you're not able to see under it to
tell if there are harborages there.

Most likely, hence my suggestion of introducing a Rat or Bull snake to
the deck area...they can and do go anywhere a rat might.

Cheers!

Dave


Me too. wrote in message
hlink.net...
Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in
and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat
around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?

What to do?

Thanks...

"Me too." wrote in message
link.net...
Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in
and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat
around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?


Ants go marching 2 by 2, Rats, travel in caravans. Rats are generally
nocturnal creatures, so if you saw one in the day time, odds are he was
searching for food because there are a whole lot of rats running about
during the night.

Wouldn't surprise me if you've got a large colony living under the deck. Rat
traps and rat bait placed outside will get a by-catch as well, of other
rodents. The best bet is to remove the feeders for a while, so the rats will
go elsewhere for food. If you do put a feeder out, place it in a location
where a rat has to run across open land to get to it. Gives predatory birds
a chance to spot them.

Rats also carry disease that are bad for humans and pets, so it's best they
be kept as far away from the house as possible.

Sameer

"Me too." wrote in message
link.net...
Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in
and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat
around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?

What to do?

Thanks...



I'd be a bit concerned if I were you. My in-laws live in the country and had
a problem w/ rats a few years ago. They didn't know what to do about it so
got me involved. We did eventually rid them of the rodents, but it wasn't
much fun.

In their case the rats actually found a way into the house and were helping
themselves to the dog food!!

In talking to an exterminator I discovered that these rodents are capable of
climbing up the exterior of most buildings. I don't mean to be an alarmist
here, but if they are out feeding at your deck, you are probably best off
getting rid of them now, before they find a way in.

As for the cats protecting you against them, I wouldn't bank on it. The
critters that I caught were smaller than a cat, but considerably more
aggressive.

I'd consider trapping and or poison.

Peter H

OK, thanks all. I've removed the bird feeders and I'll take a wait and see
approach for now. I've checked the basement and see no evidence of them
having entered the house.

"Peter H" wrote in message
.rogers.com...

"Me too." wrote in message
link.net...
Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out
back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house
cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in
and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat
around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?

What to do?

Thanks...



I'd be a bit concerned if I were you. My in-laws live in the country and
had
a problem w/ rats a few years ago. They didn't know what to do about it so
got me involved. We did eventually rid them of the rodents, but it wasn't
much fun.

In their case the rats actually found a way into the house and were
helping
themselves to the dog food!!

In talking to an exterminator I discovered that these rodents are capable
of
climbing up the exterior of most buildings. I don't mean to be an alarmist
here, but if they are out feeding at your deck, you are probably best off
getting rid of them now, before they find a way in.

As for the cats protecting you against them, I wouldn't bank on it. The
critters that I caught were smaller than a cat, but considerably more
aggressive.

I'd consider trapping and or poison.

Peter H

"Me too." wrote:

Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out back.

What species? Could it be a wood rat? Or is it the Rattus
species (grey, black or brown species)?

It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in and
surviving, or should I be?

WORRY! They are amazingly destructive and fertile and carry
Hanta virus, bubonic plague and other nasties.

And figure out where it's living and trap it.


Tsu

--
To doubt everything or to believe everything
are two equally convenient solutions; both
dispense with the necessity of reflection.
- Jules Henri Poincaré

Unless you plan to kill everything on the planet, including every rat, I'd just
move the feeder away from the house and always wear shoes or something on your
feet. We have rats, snakes, skinks, lizards, anoles, birds, armadillo's, skunks
occasionally, cats, bats, and insects. It all balances out. It is futile work
getting rid of rats or anything living wild outdoors. Strike a balance.


On Sat, 26 Apr 2003 19:51:33 GMT, "Me too." wrote:

Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?

What to do?

Thanks...

On Sun, 27 Apr 2003 21:37:51 GMT, animaux wrote:

Unless you plan to kill everything on the planet, including every rat, I'd just
move the feeder away from the house and always wear shoes or something on your
feet. We have rats, snakes, skinks, lizards, anoles, birds, armadillo's, skunks
occasionally, cats, bats, and insects. It all balances out. It is futile work
getting rid of rats or anything living wild outdoors. Strike a balance.

Which was why I suggested Rat Snakes as a control, keeps things
balanced..

Dave



On Sat, 26 Apr 2003 19:51:33 GMT, "Me too." wrote:

Hi, just the other day, I noticed there is a rat around our deck out back.
It seems to be eating the bird food that falls to the ground, (2 bird
feeders mounted on deck.) This is a somewhat rural area and has a
population of squirrels, chipmunks, bear, groundhogs, deer, rabbits etc.
So, seeing this unfamiliar site has thrown me. We have 3 large house cats
with full sets of claws, so I'm not too worried about the rat coming in and
surviving, or should I be? Anyway, this is 1st time I've seen a rat around
here and I'm not sure if I need to be concerned?

What to do?

Thanks...