Rats and Mice, My Nemesis
I've had a long-standing feud with what I consider the lowest, vilest species of rodents, rats and mice. Actually, it's more than just a feud, It's all-out war. Warning: this content isn't for the very sensitive, the gung-ho live-animal-trappers, or those who can't abide killing anything.
Rodent Invasion
It started about seven years ago in 2019. Before that rodents must have lurked around unnoticed, but that year they over-ran my yard like a scene in a horror movie. In broad daylight, rats ran along the top of the fence. Mice congregated in groups on the ground under and in the birdfeeders. Once, I took a feeder down off the branch and a mouse jumped out onto my hand (shiver shiver!) Ridiculously unreasonable fears of Ben the monster-rat lungeing at my face made me hesitate to open the shed door. Often, one or two would scurry away.
An Unexpected Answer
I didn't understand why this was happening. I googled it and there was indeed a worse problem in our area than usual, but this was over the top. I knew birdseed attracts them but didn't want to give up feeding the birds, as a pest control expert said I should do. I explored several things, including shooting them with BB gun (not a good outcome). A pellet gun could accidentally damage or hurt the neighbors so that was out. Poison was a desperate measure, but not for long because of possible injury to another type of animal. Plaster of paris bait...(horrible thought, even for a rat), traps, electric shock boxes, motion sensing noise makers, animal repellant powders and sprays...I tried it all and nothing worked to the extent required. One day, I talked with my friend Jeannie, telling her how much time and energy I was spending trying to get rid of them. I remember well her words: Let's pray about it. Her simple prayer: Lord, I'm asking that you would just take care of it.
Then a small miracle happened. My grandson Austin and I had been looking for a kitten. He
really wanted one and there were none at the shelters in early 2020. That's when Jasper showed up in the back yard. A large tuxedo cat, he had a gentle demeanor and a quiet meow. Typically, I don't encourage stray cats, but Austin happened to be here and he begged to keep him. I said He's not a kitten, you know. Of course, faced with a real fur baby, he didn't care. After observing his sweet undemanding behavior, I agreed. After putting out a notice and taking him to the vet to confirm he wasn't chipped, I got him vaccinated and he was ours.
Like magic, the rat and mice invasion drastically decreased. Jasper hunted a few mice at first, bringing his trophies to the patio, but after he became a spoiled house cat, he didn't hunt much. That's ok, the rodents could smell there was a cat in the area. A couple of years later, my neighbor discovered the rat colony in her shed across the fence from me. They tore down the shed and eliminated even more of the nasty creatures.
Learning to Deal
I've accepted that nasty rodents are here to stay and we have come to a truce: stay out of sight if you want to live. I've learned to deal with them as best I can and their presence remains minimal. Here are some rat/mice deterrants:
Eliminate hiding places: At one time, rats made a nest in the shed where I keep birdseed (in cans with lids). It was pretty bad until I had someone remove the bottom board of the inside wall. They were living in the wall but when the bottom board was removed, they were exposed. A pile of cedar 2x2's was stacked in one of the garden paths before I was ready to use them. To my disgust, I discovered mice had nested there and had babies. I won't tell you what I did to get rid of them, but they violated the truce. I quickly moved them. Anything they can get behind or under that isn't disturbed is a potential nest.
Mothballs, peppermint oil, ammonia, cayenne pepper: They don't like strong smells so place these things in a shed, gutters (I still have issues with rats in the gutters, but it's time to replace the mothballs), outside storage, etc. I've had best results with mothballs in the shed and gutters and cayenne in the birdseed.
Traps: It's not pleasant, but traps work. I use the big black ones you set with your foot, filling the small removable container with peanut butter and a piece of walnut. Leave the unset traps sitting out for awhile before setting so they get used to them. They are fast and strong, so they kill pretty much instantly. More humane than others. Not often, but occasionally one is still alive. The best way I've found to finish the job is to fill a bucket with water and drop the trap and rat together into the water. You may have to place a brick or rock on top to keep it down. I'm sorry....I do apoligize for this ugly, graphic description, but the real world is rough. Rats carry diseases and make a smelly, nasty mess.
Remove food sources:
I sometimes bury vegetable scraps to compost naturally into the soil, but don't leave any exposed on the ground.
Feed pets indoors; if you feed outdoors, don't leave food out at night. (That's why I leave food for the raccoons and oppossums by the street, not in my yard.)
Three birdfeeders hang outside my kitchen window. When the rats are on vacation (or something), I leave them out; but sometimes, late at night, I see the long ugly tail of a rat. Then I bring the feeders in at night until I can set a trap and catch the culprit(s). The other feeders I leave hanging in the trees. I've looked with a flashlight but haven't seen rats or mice feeding. I can't imagine they don't try, or at least eat off the ground, but as long they're out of my sight... I will try putting cayenne in those three bird feeders, and will also get a motion light for that area.
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