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wunderdog
Citizen
Username: Wunderdogny
Post Number: 88
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 7:41 pm: | 
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For a moment this afternoon I thought I was back in Brooklyn. We have a stream running through our back yard, and today I saw three rats, each the size of a small Buick, foraging for food in the stream. Is there ANY way to get rid of them or discourage them from setting up housekeeping in our yard? I have a two year old who likes to play outside. |
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 414
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 7:47 pm: |
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Search the archives - Maplewood has rats. No bird feeders, don't leave anything they might consider food out or in non-metal containers.
You can poison them - but you risk poisoning everything from pets, hawks and of course, your child.
They nest in burrows - so check under the porch or garage. And you may want to call the town (who will put down poison) or call an exterminator and see what options you have.
The house behind us has a rat burrow. I feel your pain. |
mark halliday
Citizen
Username: Markhalliday
Post Number: 30
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 10:57 am: |
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Home depot sells a small cage trap that does not harm the animals(although rats are fair game in my mind). it costs about $20. It has a flapper kind of door and you put food(peanut butter works great) in the center. The door and food "cup" are attached so once the animal feeds it triggers the door to close.
You'll have to put it near the hole and may wind up also catching squirrels. Thats why I reccomend the small one. The trick is releasing the darn thing. Its gotten half crazed trapped in the cage and can be a little unpredictable at release time. Actually I recommend the trap so you release the good critters and let your conscious be your guide with the vermin. The brand is "have a heart" or "save a heart". something along those lines. good luck |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 127
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 3:08 pm: |
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The health department via Animal Control will place traps or let you take a trap or two, leaving a small deposit. Are you sure they are rats? At that size, they may be opossums (the only native American marsupial) and should be left alone as they are considered wildlife, and generally stay away from humans, but love any food left for them. If they are indeed rats, don't be too aggressive-- remember the man charged by the humane society for animal cruelty in abusing a caught rat? |
wunderdog
Citizen
Username: Wunderdogny
Post Number: 90
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 3:31 pm: |
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Cat, I grew up in the rural South, so believe me I know an opossum when I see one, and they don't bother me in the least. I also recognize the racoons who love our garbage. No, these were HUGE rats. They make the subway rats look anemic. I'm going to call townhall Monday and see what gives. Then will try and exterminator if need be. Mark, I'm with you....rats should be fair game; any marksmen in need of target practice in the group??? NO, I never heard about the man charged for abusing the rat, but in my book that's just plain nuts! |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 129
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 3:59 pm: |
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Hey, I meant no offense. If they are rats, they are rats. And yes, that abuse case was nuts. After several hundred dollars in legal fees, he was acquitted, and it was an embarrassment for the humane society. Better not use them as target practice, though, because we have strict, paranoid firearms laws in NJ, and nothing is fair game, not even a murderer. |
wunderdog
Citizen
Username: Wunderdogny
Post Number: 95
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 9:38 am: |
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Absoultely NO offense taken, plus thanks for the warning about humane society case....I'll quash my plan to feed the little boogers M-80's!!! |
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