Topic: The Pack Rats must die!!!!

[DeMented Toys]

The Pack Rats must die!!!     First they packed in a bunch of leaves and crap and pooped in the floor and peed all over!  Then to make matters worse they chewed up some wires in my dash that I'm still trying to figure out.  I was going to sit up on the hill with my .17 HMR and snipe them, but they only come out when no one is watching I guess... 

Anyone have any ideas to keep the Pack Rats from infiltrating my perimeter?

[jimbo74]

[DeMented Toys [OP]]

I like the way you think.  I didn't know they made traps that big.

[kneedownnate]

I saw 2 giant rats last night in my front yard.  I was making dinner and kept hearing something very quiet outside, hit the light and saw 2 possums.  Went outside and one jetted over the side of the hill, other just kept slowly walking toward me. 

Several years ago I kept hearing one under the sink at another place I used to live.  I noticed it had chewed out the bottom corner of my garbage bag and eaten some chocolate muffin, so I went to ace and got a rat trap and bated it with chocolate muffin.  At 3 am I get woke up by a loud SNAP! and went to find a 14" rat in my trap!  Just to be sure I took it outside, shot it with my .22 and threw it over the side of the hill.  That was the first rat I'd ever seen in person.

[jimbo74]

we have some nasty wierd animals @ work... all stray and live at the airport.... airports are crazy, because there is all of that haz mat stuff that is around... i have seen little mice, big huge cat things but they have really short legs, seen really fast rabbits, and possums

[Duffil]

how about some DCon in the truck?


Of course, you could string up some claymores if you are resourceful.

[Lady Di]

possums aren't rodents, they're marsupials (like kangaroos, they carry their babies in a pouch) and they actually eat things like baby rats and mice, thingyroaches, and other pests. They are actually beneficial to have around.

[Trunkz]

you say that till you gots one pissed at you MWM lol

[Lady Di]

you say that till you gots one pissed at you MWM lol

You can say the same about any wild animal, Trunkz.
Possums aren't confrontational, they are actually quite docile (like the one that wandered in the bedroom the other weekend and fell asleep under the bureau next to Mark's desk! Yes, Mark was at his desk ) but you don't want to corner them for sure. (again, same for any wild animal) They do have some serious teeth!

http://www.opossumsocietyus.org/frequently_asked_questions.htm

It is more likely that a dog will injure or kill an opossum. A cat may attack and kill young rat-sized opossums. Adult opossums and cats seem to have a mutual respect and leave each other alone. In general, opossums are docile, non-aggressive animals and will not attack your pets. They prefer to escape and avoid confrontations, if possible. If not, the threatened opossum may “play ‘possum”, show its teeth, or bite in self-defense, as any animal would.

[BLACKDOG]

Don't bother talking crap about possums to MrsW, she loves'm, even raised one for what, a few days? 

You'll never convince her that possums are da debil!! 

[Lady Di]

Don't bother talking crap about possums to MrsW, she loves'm, even raised one for what, a few days? 

You'll never convince her that possums are da debil!! 

   yeah, we had the one in the front closet that lived there for a few days. The one that was under the bureau wandered out that night.
We put food out for them outside but I don't think they've been around for a while.

[abnormaltoy]

Diane,

Just where in the hell do you live? I only have one possum story, but, you've got 'em sleepin under desks and cleanin your toilets...I didn't know you lived in http://updateanytime.com/u12094/default.aspx?id=pk&aid=&opn=&tid=&uid=&rid=&guid=&

[Lady Di]

Diane,

Just where in the hell do you live? I only have one possum story, but, you've got 'em sleepin under desks and cleanin your toilets...I didn't know you lived in http://updateanytime.com/u12094/default.aspx?id=pk&aid=&opn=&tid=&uid=&rid=&guid=&

cleanin the toilets I wish!

Well we have an overgrown swamp/lake behind the houses next to us, and both the houses behind us and next to us (we're on a corner lot) yards are completely over grown with kudzu and weeds. There are critters galore living there, I'm sure.

[79coyotefrg]

The Pack Rats must die!!!     First they packed in a bunch of leaves and crap and pooped in the floor and peed all over!  Then to make matters worse they chewed up some wires in my dash that I'm still trying to figure out.  I was going to sit up on the hill with my .17 HMR and snipe them, but they only come out when no one is watching I guess... 

Anyone have any ideas to keep the Pack Rats from infiltrating my perimeter?

[V-Man]

 Go collect up a few of these...

[Cheesemaker]

When I go to camp every fall, I take a live trap with me!  Bait them with peanut butter cups!  I've seen them up to 14" just the body alone. (timber rats)  The best way to get them out of the trap is to tie a rope to the cage and toss it in water for at least 5 minutes!  And shake them out! 

[DeMented Toys [OP]]

These did the trick!  Got two big ones the first night.  baited them with peanut butter.   

[Plekto]

Though, for long term results, a cat is best.  They are rightfully scared witless by a cat and won't come near the place.  The cat hardly has to even work - just be there and look menacing.

btw, Glen, you beat me to a photo like that...   

P.S. Technially, a terrier will also work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Terrier

[Rocksurfer]

Though, for long term results, a cat is best.  They are rightfully scared witless by a cat and won't come near the place.  The cat hardly has to even work - just be there and look menacing.

btw, Glen, you beat me to a photo like that...   

P.S. Technically, a terrier will also work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Terrier

Technically! The right Terrier and no critter in their right mind will venture within striking distance, it's in their blood to seek and distroy them. In some ways they are better than cats since they will dig out the burrows.

[DeMented Toys [OP]]

Technically! The right Terrier and no critter in their right mind will venture within striking distance, it's in their blood to seek and distroy them. In some ways they are better than cats since they will dig out the burrows.

And the best part is they are NOT cats!!

[V-Man]

Though, for long term results, a cat is best.  They are rightfully scared witless by a cat and won't come near the place.  The cat hardly has to even work - just be there and look menacing.

btw, Glen, you beat me to a photo like that...   

P.S. Technially, a terrier will also work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Terrier

   A cat will work for Mice, but not for a rat.. Rats have been known to kill and eat the cat.  A 3 pound cat is out classed by a 10 pound+ rat on the rats worst day. Snakes love rats...the bigger the rats get the bigger the snake grows to eat them. I have though "shot" 15 to 20 pound rats on Docks and wharfs in the pacific. 

[Plekto]

Dang.  Ratzilla?

For something that big, yeah, get a 15-20lb cat(Siberian Forest or Norwegian Forest cat or similar) or a Terrier.  No 3-4 lb toy cats need apply.(though most any cat will still scare things like pack rats away because they don't want a fight)

I mentioned the Rat Tarrier because they aren't cats - lol - and some people don't like cats(dunno why, but there are non cat options as well if you want a dog).

[79coyotefrg]

   A cat will work for Mice, but not for a rat.. Rats have been known to kill and eat the cat.  A 3 pound cat is out classed by a 10 pound+ rat on the rats worst day. Snakes love rats...the bigger the rats get the bigger the snake grows to eat them. I have though "shot" 15 to 20 pound rats on Docks and wharfs in the pacific. 

the cat  in the pic above  is at least 15 pounds,  and  ive seen him  kill grown possums,  he's a true hunter

unfortunately  i haven't  seen the old boy  in 3 days