Smart Rats
don_b
21 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (27)
dchall_san_antonio
21 years agoUser
21 years agoRelated Discussions
Rat in Compost Bin
Comments (6)My friend had a rat in the walls/ceiling of her new house. The exterminator said if you can hear them chewing, you've got a rat. Anyway, he said some rats are too smart for traps. But he said they like to play, just like kittens. He said if the bait he had didn't work, he would use a trap: Stretch a string between two points where the rat goes (your strawberries comes to mind). Then get a pingpong ball and punch two holes in it with an icepick or very large needle, opposite to each other. Run a string through the holes and tie a knot. Then tie the other end of the ball/string to the stretched string and hang it so the ball is about 3-4" over the trap. Set the trap. A breeze should move the ball, and the rat may start jumping at it and forget the trap. ZAP! Sue...See MoreRats!
Comments (6)Can I tell you a story of my experience with rat behaviour? Back in Asia, we actually see rats of the Norwegian types travel house to house via the telephone wires. The size of these things were as large as cats. One actually got into my former home, and we had thought to have trapped it in one of hte rooms - it gnawed through the door with it's very strong teeth and that took only a couple of minutes. It took several people to finally catch the thing and to kill it. Once a rat is killed in one of the traps, the other rats will avoid it. the scent will be a turn off. My uncle once observed that his stock of rice which was stored in a lidded bin kept going down further that what he & his wife would be able to consume. So one night he stayed up to observe what was happening. A large rat snuck into the kitchen and it carefully lifted the lid, scooped out the rice and dashed into a hole in the wall - apparently where it had a nest -- then the rat returned to the bin --- and slid the lid back to place. My uncle then set up baited traps around the bin and waited for the rat to get trapped. That didn't work for a while. The rat managed to ignore the traps and headed for the bin. Finally one night, it did work because the rat backed up into one of the traps. With the rat killed, the rest of its family came out the next few days looking to get food but they weren't as smart as the first one and were easily caught and killed. This goes to show just how smart rats can be. My cat certainly wasn't of any help. The rat that entered my old home would have been able to rip the cat into pieces. Ianna...See Moretricky rat cannot trap help!!
Comments (1)I hate rats, someone is going to ream me for this, have you thought of putting some poison in chicken? You'd just have to be very careful if you have kids or pets !!! Just a thought......See MoreHelp! Dog is using Hafele Foot Pedal
Comments (39)All – I have been very much enjoying the responses and love all the stories, thank you! Funkycamper, Eam44, mdln – I don’t want to have to disable the foot pedal, but I’m willing to try it for a few weeks. (Year or two…? Please, no!) Meganmca –The problem occurs both when we’re around and when we’re in other rooms. Hunter’s balls and other toys sometimes get trapped behind the pedals, which is how he learned this new trick (sigh). We’re working on ‘Leave it’ and if he tries to open it while I’m at the sink (i.e., at that cabinet), I’ll either tell him to Leave It and/or hold the door in with my knee. I like the idea of a magnetic lock, will look into options. K sissy, Stan Z– Thanks for the ice cube info. I’ve read conflicting info online and still on the fence; will call my vet when I think of it. (Hunter just likes them so much!) Lily – he hasn’t scratched the window sills much, but I know that’s coming. He’s currently crated but I look forward to when he can spend time/the day in the house and be trusted. That was funny about the sliding screen door, yes, same problem. Christine – Loved your story about Morgan! Bpathome – That dog is long gone, but by the time we thought of removing the towel, he had moved on to some other way of opening the fridge. He’d also do it when we stayed with others, so depending on the layouts of the kitchens, we’d have to come up with creative ways to block the doors from being opened. Cluelessincolorado – Great picture, what a cutie. Linelle, silken1, beachem, I’m smiling over your pet stories! Murchkid – thanks! It’s the Varaluz Nevada. Algeasea – Yes to the training, he’s a really smart dog. Your description of what makes your dog bark cracked me up! Benjesbride – You make an excellent point about the exercise. DH is really good about playing with Hunter when he gets home from work and I will try to make getting a morning walk in, regardless of weather, one of my new year’s resolutions. Chicagoans – Too funny about Hendrix. A friend of mine has trained her lab with a bell by the door, and she swears by the method. Love the newspaper stories! Mrspete – I’m pretty sure there’s a spring we can just detach, DH will be delighted to put these out of commission…. Sbkh – loved the stories about Peri, and the provenance of her name. Rebunky – good memory! That was Otto and to be fair, he had juuuust a little help getting up on the counterJ. Badgergal – Holy terror until he was 5? Ack!!! I get nothing done these days other than let the dog in and out, and throw toys away that he’s started to chew through and …. Rosco is sure a cutie! Desertsteph – loved your concept of our passed dogs having wings, very comforting thought. Nosoccermom – I used to have that kind of trash can, before we ‘upgraded’ to the cabinet ones. Rockybird – While DH loves the pup, I know he grew up with parakeets, so might be willing to make a trade J Scratch that, actually – I’m sure I’m too cheap to keep the house warm enough in the winter. lazy_gardens - caught on film, love it. Interesting idea about reversing direction, thanks. With the pedal, one pushes it in, towards the cabinet, vs. down, so it's just a little kick to open the door. I'll have DH look into it. Another idea I've been mulling over is the servo-drive (darn it, now the tune is in my head again) - different way of opening the doors - but it's an expensive solution which the pup might well figure out before long, too....See MoreArizona_Bob
21 years agospambdamn_rich
21 years agodon_b
21 years agoAegis
21 years agojannie808
21 years agoroselust
21 years agostuschreib
21 years agomerj13
21 years agowillowtrree
21 years agojusdewit
20 years agothecaretaker
20 years agocynthiacTX
19 years agocantstopgardening
19 years agobiz2121
19 years agodmullen
19 years agodmullen
19 years agolifestarter
19 years agoJoeMomma
19 years agofather_o_4
18 years agoelemental_fool
18 years agoadchon
18 years agotommyw
18 years agotlc26163
18 years agotclynx
15 years ago
Related Stories
FIREPLACESDesign Workshop: Smart Ways to Store Wood Outdoors
Consider size, location, protection, air circulation and, of course, style for storing your firewood
Full StoryLAUNDRY ROOMSA Laundry Room With Bunk Beds and a Shower for Muddy Dogs
Custom cabinets with dog beds and a new step-up dog shower turn a laundry room into a hardworking hot spot
Full StoryMOST POPULARGarage Cleaning Tips for the Overwhelmed
Don’t let this catch-all space get the better of you. These baby steps can get you started
Full StoryMOST POPULAR8 Ways to Get a Handle on the Junk Drawer
Don’t sweat the small stuff — give it a few drawers of its own, sorted by type or task
Full StoryMOVINGHiring a Home Inspector? Ask These 10 Questions
How to make sure the pro who performs your home inspection is properly qualified and insured, so you can protect your big investment
Full StoryFUN HOUZZThere's a Mouse in the House
No need for 'eek' and capture schemes. These mouse toys, decals and artistic renderings have all the trappings of cute
Full StoryLIFEHow to Outsmart Backyard Critters
Learn to think like a raccoon, skunk or squirrel to keep your home safe and your garden intact
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGWhat's That Sound? 9 Home Noises and How to Fix Them
Bumps and thumps might be driving you crazy, but they also might mean big trouble. We give you the lowdown and which pro to call for help
Full StoryPETSHouzz Call: Send in the Dogs
Have the greatest dog in the world? Share your best design photo featuring the dog you live or work with
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNLiving on the Edge of the Wild
When Mother Nature is your neighbor, the possibilities — and responsibilities — can be that much greater
Full StorySponsored
dmullen