The Ford Barn

Bill Lee/Virginia · 10-26-2017, 01:15 PM

I live near the largest ship yard in the world. I have a problem with rats (big rats) not mice. My wife feeds the wild birds and the seeds have enticed the rats to feed. The rats live under my storage shed and not in my attached house garage. Poison is not feasible. Rifles and BB guns are not allowed in this city (they will get you fined big time, ask me how I know). I have tried the water bucket thing and the birds eat the bait. I have purchased a small animal trap and used different baits but the rats do not go near it.

Help! What do you suggest?

Bill Lee/Virginia Peninsula

TerryH · 10-26-2017, 01:35 PM

Get a large Maine Coon cat.....16-20 lbs; that might work....

Chuck Sea/Tac · 10-26-2017, 01:37 PM

Wow, you seem to be running out of things to try. I would suggest moving .
Just kidding. Could you possibly cover your rotating bait pail trap with an overhead screen to keeps the birds off? What were you using for bait. Peanut butter?

Tom Foster · 10-26-2017, 01:40 PM

Mothballs. Use them liberally. They also drive off skunks.
And get a cat ;-)

Fearless

Oldbluoval · 10-26-2017, 01:40 PM

Uhhh, quit feeding the dang birds!
Quite an undertaking but bait some small animal traps and trap them (could be many!). A tarp and a metal hose from a running car exhaust while in the trap will send them to rat heaven in about 15 minutes.........or wherever.

Bill Lee/Virginia · 10-26-2017, 01:59 PM

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bttt

I used peanut butter on my water pail trap. I used 2 different kinds of cheese, scorched bacon and table scraps on different days in the animal trap but nothing seems to attract them. Maybe they smell human odor near the traps? I'll keep on trying.

Thanks for the info and advice.

Bill Lee/Virginia Peninsula

SeaSlugs · 10-26-2017, 02:10 PM

with coons old catfood/dogfood or applecores bannana peels attract them in our live trap. Im at war with chipmunks at the moment. Be so much easier if pellet guns were allowed in the city....

They used to sell like posionus smoke bombs you shove down critter holes then plug it with something sturdy. Actually if you still have a bunch of leftover smokeballs or mammoth smoke things from 4th of july light one and throw it in the rat hole and quickly block it with a board or something. Should suffocate them.

Gary WA · 10-26-2017, 02:15 PM

Wash trap in hot water (cage type) prior to setting out. peanut butter with bird seed worked for me then I shoot with pellet gun and throw in neighbors woods. Wash trap and reset.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-26-2017, 02:29 PM

GET A RAT TERRIER!!
Bill W. & Buster T.

Y-Blockhead · 10-26-2017, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

GET A RAT TERRIER!!
Bill W. & Buster T.

Boy ain't that the truth. We have a Cairn Terrier, no rats...

Chuck Sea/Tac · 10-26-2017, 03:35 PM

I think rats are much smarter than mice. My friend uses the bucket trap at his beach house, and there will be several of them in the bucket. Rats seem to change behavior when they see one of their own die.

1928Mik · 10-26-2017, 03:41 PM

Rifles and BB guns are not allowed in this city.....Wow, glad I don't live there!

Mothballs work great for me on keeping rodents away....

SeaSlugs · 10-26-2017, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1928Mik

Rifles and BB guns are not allowed in this city.....Wow, glad I don't live there!

Mothballs work great for me on keeping rodents away....

most places your allowed to own them but discharging them in city limits causes issues just like real guns

fritznbud · 10-26-2017, 03:58 PM

Rat Zapper does the job for me. Clean and reliable. Tractor Supply has a $40 Victor version and the batteries last all season.

mhsprecher · 10-26-2017, 04:34 PM

Why not rat poison? That worked for me. I used to feed the birds, too. Between squirrels and rats, I was a neighborhood nuisance. Rat traps do work, too.

I was told about putting dry ice down the holes. CO2 supposedly will displace the oxygen in their nest and suffocate them.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-26-2017, 05:56 PM

Dennis used DE-CON around his place, then would find DEAD RATS, floatin' in his swimming pool (YUK!)
Bill Ratfree

JDupuis · 10-26-2017, 06:22 PM

Baby food jar, small rag inside. Pour some ammonia in. Pre-drill small holes in the lid.
Put some under the shed, near the entries and exits.
One smell of this will burn their lungs and they will move on. Works for skunks and raccoons as well. Good luck.
Jeff

Y-Blockhead · 10-26-2017, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

Dennis used DE-CON around his place, then would find DEAD RATS, floatin' in his swimming pool (YUK!)
Bill Ratfree

Good luck finding the "Real" DE-CON anymore. Only thing available is the "Safe" DE-CON that doesn't work.

Tacoma Bob · 10-26-2017, 07:02 PM

Quit feeding the birds for a few days and they will get the hint. Then sprinkle peppermint oil around the shed. I love my ruger 177 air rifle. I take their little bodies to a certain spot in the front yard and feed the possum. they eat ALL of the little bastards so there is no evidence. Win win. LOL

johnneilson · 10-26-2017, 07:15 PM

rats, squirrels and gophers. simple solution gunpowder.

I have all the poisons, traps, widgets etc. Nothing works like old surplus rifle powder.

It doesn't take much and it works very quickly, have a garden hose handy.

J

10-26-2017, 01:15 PM	#1
Bill Lee/Virginia Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 295	Rats Not Mice I live near the largest ship yard in the world. I have a problem with rats (big rats) not mice. My wife feeds the wild birds and the seeds have enticed the rats to feed. The rats live under my storage shed and not in my attached house garage. Poison is not feasible. Rifles and BB guns are not allowed in this city (they will get you fined big time, ask me how I know). I have tried the water bucket thing and the birds eat the bait. I have purchased a small animal trap and used different baits but the rats do not go near it. Help! What do you suggest? Bill Lee/Virginia Peninsula

10-26-2017, 01:35 PM	#2
TerryH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fountain Valley, Calif. Posts: 937	Re: Rats Not Mice Get a large Maine Coon cat.....16-20 lbs; that might work....

10-26-2017, 01:37 PM	#3
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Rats Not Mice Wow, you seem to be running out of things to try. I would suggest moving . Just kidding. Could you possibly cover your rotating bait pail trap with an overhead screen to keeps the birds off? What were you using for bait. Peanut butter?

10-26-2017, 01:40 PM	#4
Tom Foster Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 160	Re: Rats Not Mice Mothballs. Use them liberally. They also drive off skunks. And get a cat ;-) Fearless

10-26-2017, 01:40 PM	#5
Oldbluoval Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Signal Mtn, TN (SE TN) Posts: 2,370	Re: Rats Not Mice Uhhh, quit feeding the dang birds! Quite an undertaking but bait some small animal traps and trap them (could be many!). A tarp and a metal hose from a running car exhaust while in the trap will send them to rat heaven in about 15 minutes.........or wherever.

10-26-2017, 01:59 PM	#6
Bill Lee/Virginia Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 295	Re: Rats Not Mice Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) bttt I used peanut butter on my water pail trap. I used 2 different kinds of cheese, scorched bacon and table scraps on different days in the animal trap but nothing seems to attract them. Maybe they smell human odor near the traps? I'll keep on trying. Thanks for the info and advice. Bill Lee/Virginia Peninsula

10-26-2017, 02:10 PM	#7
SeaSlugs Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central, IL Posts: 3,968	Re: Rats Not Mice with coons old catfood/dogfood or applecores bannana peels attract them in our live trap. Im at war with chipmunks at the moment. Be so much easier if pellet guns were allowed in the city.... They used to sell like posionus smoke bombs you shove down critter holes then plug it with something sturdy. Actually if you still have a bunch of leftover smokeballs or mammoth smoke things from 4th of july light one and throw it in the rat hole and quickly block it with a board or something. Should suffocate them. __________________ 1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!

10-26-2017, 02:15 PM	#8
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,102	Re: Rats Not Mice Wash trap in hot water (cage type) prior to setting out. peanut butter with bird seed worked for me then I shoot with pellet gun and throw in neighbors woods. Wash trap and reset. __________________ www.whidbeymodelaclub.com

10-26-2017, 02:29 PM	#9
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Rats Not Mice GET A RAT TERRIER!! Bill W. & Buster T. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

10-26-2017, 03:35 PM	#11
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Rats Not Mice I think rats are much smarter than mice. My friend uses the bucket trap at his beach house, and there will be several of them in the bucket. Rats seem to change behavior when they see one of their own die.

10-26-2017, 03:41 PM	#12
1928Mik Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Zanesville Ohio USA Posts: 267	Re: Rats Not Mice Rifles and BB guns are not allowed in this city.....Wow, glad I don't live there! Mothballs work great for me on keeping rodents away.... __________________ 1928 Niagara Blue Phaeton 1972 Olds 442 Convertible 1979 MGB -Life's Too Short To Drive Boring Cars-

10-26-2017, 03:58 PM	#14
fritznbud Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Westminster, SC Posts: 188	Re: Rats Not Mice Rat Zapper does the job for me. Clean and reliable. Tractor Supply has a $40 Victor version and the batteries last all season.

10-26-2017, 04:34 PM	#15
mhsprecher Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Takoma Park, MD Posts: 2,817	Re: Rats Not Mice Why not rat poison? That worked for me. I used to feed the birds, too. Between squirrels and rats, I was a neighborhood nuisance. Rat traps do work, too. I was told about putting dry ice down the holes. CO2 supposedly will displace the oxygen in their nest and suffocate them.

10-26-2017, 05:56 PM	#16
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Rats Not Mice Dennis used DE-CON around his place, then would find DEAD RATS, floatin' in his swimming pool (YUK!) Bill Ratfree __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

10-26-2017, 06:22 PM	#17
JDupuis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Maryhill Ont Canada Posts: 834	Re: Rats Not Mice Baby food jar, small rag inside. Pour some ammonia in. Pre-drill small holes in the lid. Put some under the shed, near the entries and exits. One smell of this will burn their lungs and they will move on. Works for skunks and raccoons as well. Good luck. Jeff __________________ Let's let pylons, be pylons!

10-26-2017, 07:02 PM	#19
Tacoma Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,025	Re: Rats Not Mice Quit feeding the birds for a few days and they will get the hint. Then sprinkle peppermint oil around the shed. I love my ruger 177 air rifle. I take their little bodies to a certain spot in the front yard and feed the possum. they eat ALL of the little bastards so there is no evidence. Win win. LOL

10-26-2017, 07:15 PM	#20
johnneilson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: 34.22 N 118.36 W Posts: 1,054	Re: Rats Not Mice rats, squirrels and gophers. simple solution gunpowder. I have all the poisons, traps, widgets etc. Nothing works like old surplus rifle powder. It doesn't take much and it works very quickly, have a garden hose handy. J __________________ As Carroll Smith wrote; All Failures are Human in Origin.