If you were a "Rat" what would you prefer?

Ladies and Gents,
The subject of Rats eating wires, insulation and more has been brought up on here every now and then. I've got a question that I'd like your opinion on. My back yard is about a third of an acre. We have taken the time, energy and cost, to scrape it level, clean and weed free. And, we've got a layer of 3/4" rock, covering the entire back yard, that is where's not nice grass and an above ground pool.

In other words, it's about as nice as we can make it, under the circumstances. Now, my neighbors, well, that's a different story. We have a 6' fence that has about 1/2" gaps between the fence boards. The rock in our yard, basically seals the bottom of the fence. But, on his side, it's a pit. Weeds, trash, broken items strewn about, dirt, wood piles of some split and some not, rock piles and much more. And, he's got two trailers (travel and toy box) back there, under a driver under aluminum cover.

Yesterday he asked me if I'd had any trouble with "rats" and damage to any portion of our motor home, which sits on concrete under a nice drive under cover and that area is very well kept and non-cluttered. I said not that I'm aware of. At present, we have no indications of any infiltration of Rats, anywhere. I'm always about, doing something to the coach, taking care of the yard, picking a stray weed here and there that may poke its head up in our rock back yard. So, the type of environment we have, I would say is not "provocative" to a rat, for lack of a better word.

So, what would you think, should I be worried? He said he had the insulation, under the hood, on his truck, which had been parked back there since they came back from a trip, a month ago, has been moved and packed into a nest in other parts of the truck. And some wiring was chewed. Now, again, I've read several posts about this situation. And, it's always been a concern since we live in the country and in sort of open space type terrain.

And, if I should be concerned, is there some sort of preventative "poison" etc. that I can spread along the fence line etc. that might "keep" them over on the other side? Thanks.
Scott

P.S. No I don't have a cat. All we have is a mini Schnauzer she's inside with us during the evenings but, does get to patrol the yard and perimeter at her will during the day.

Class A

Sdlineman
Explorer
Sep 17, 2013
There is a pretty good population of raptors here in Ramona, and I know it's been said already, but they don't just crawl into their hole and die when poisoned, they come out in the open and thrash around. They might as well be holding a sign that says "free meal". A lot of people have had good luck installing an owl box in a nearby tree. Placed right, there is a good chance it will be inhabited within a few months, and they can eat 200+ rodents a year. There is a downside though, the area under it will get pretty messy, so maybe convince your neighbor to put it in his yard?
The other idea I had, which may depend on your relationship with your neighbor, is to offer to keep a strip of land on his side of the fence mowed down. It would require some work on your part, but might be worthwhile.
Cyborgie
Explorer
Sep 16, 2013
Free roaming chickens. They even chase people away.
Its4mykids
Explorer
Sep 16, 2013
Nothing worked for us until we got some outdoor "mousers". I tried EVERYTHING! We had rats, mice and SQUIRRELS that caused all kinds of problems, even chewing through the main wiring harness. Since we got the mousers, not a lick of trouble with anything. And I have hay fields on three sides of my property. We feed/water them, and provide heated shelter in the winter. They have never been in the house. They were all fixed at Neuter-Scooter for $40 each. The only downside is no more birds to feed. Going on five years now.
FIRE_UP
Explorer
Sep 16, 2013
All I can say gang at this point in time is we're very appreciative of all the ideas, suggestions, "traps", what not to do, what to do, and more. As of yet, we have no evidence of the intruders yet. As stated, we only have a mini Schnauzer, about 12" tall and she patrols the yard and does perimeter guard duty on a regular basis.

Now, many times while sitting in our living room, one of the neighbors cat's will stroll by on our back patio. Every once in a while if I leave the tire/wheel naugahide covers off the M/H, I'll find cat pee on the wheels, grrrrrrrrr. I work pretty hard for those to look like mirrors. But, I suppose I could look at it this way, DON'T FORGET TO PUT THE COVERS ON and, maybe those neighborhood cats might be the answer to the little furry intruders. Thanks again.
Scott
zman-az
Explorer
Sep 16, 2013
summerhouse wrote:
You most likely just have to worry about the potential for field mice, not rats.

I can tell you that out here in the southwest Rats are more of a problem than field mice.

I have used the electronic rat zapper under my car hood and killed 3 rats in 3 days. When you have 1 their is probably another. In my area rats love mesquite beans so if you have a tree nearby you have a good chance of having rats. Throw in a prickly pair cactus and a mesquite tree and your odds just doubled of having rats.

As far as cats they work great, but then you have to deal with tom cat urine and that's not fun either.

As mentioned, they like a dark place for shelter and food makes it worse. You cannot do much on the shelter part but I would avoid storing food in the RV. Also try using the scented repellent for mice along with those sonic noise makers. They are not bullet proof but they do aid in deterring critters.
bighatnohorse
Explorer II
Sep 15, 2013
@ Poison users:

When a mouse nibbles off some poison it doesn't flop over dead.
It will sometimes wobble twitch itself into the open where an OWL, CAT, HAWK or other predator will catch and eat it.

At which point you have killed the mouse and the natural predator.
Please don't use poison indiscriminately.

And thank you to the poster about the "T" trap.
That will be my afternoon project.
ferndaleflyer
Explorer III
Sep 15, 2013
Years ago my rear neighbor filed a complaint with the County Health dept that I had rats at the back of my property----that deal kind of back fired when the rats were really on his property living on the excrement and food from his dog pen....You know the type, big dog, penned up outside, never sees a human except to feed and water them, people shouldn't even have a dog......But they were HIS rats not mine. Here at our part time house in NC we have a car that stays here all the time and squirrels ate a hole in the gas line. Found nut hulls on top of the engine. 22 rifle took care of that problem.
BigRabbitMan
Explorer
Sep 15, 2013
DutchmenSport did a good job of describing the situation. You do not and will not have a rat problem. Rats live where there is a suitable environment and you place is NOT a suitable environment so they aren't there. Next door IS a suitable environment so that is where they are and will stay until he cleans up the place.

If he starts cleaning up, then be on the lookout as the rats will be looking for a new home and may temporaritly visit your place. That would be the time to put lights under your coach and leave the light on in your garage. As was said above, they don't like lighted places. On the farm we left the hood up on unused equipment to keep the rats out.
mguay
Explorer
Sep 15, 2013
rockhillmanor wrote:
Passin Thru wrote:
Take 10 ft of 3 inch plastic pipe and cut it in 18 inch sections. Buy Ts and make a standup pipe like an upsidedown T. Attack them to the fence with wire. Put RatBar in the upright section. No other animal except mice will get in and eat it and it won't poison Cats, dogs or Peacocks. We have used this simple method for years on or farm and in our TT.

Great invention. You should patent it and sell it! Horse farms would be knocking down your door to buy them. Thanks for sharing your great tip.

Already been done! JT Eaton TopLoader
FIRE_UP
Explorer
Sep 15, 2013
Gents,
I certainly want to thank all of you for taking the time to respond to this scenario. Yes, our yard is as close to being the same as one big concrete slab as you can get, without doing it. I actually had some "Malathion" that I had spread along the fence at one time for ants and a pesky "Pepe-La-pue" (aka Mr. Skunk). Man, that stuff really stinks, the Malathion, not the skunk. It took quite a while to dissipate.

But, the upside down "T-s" out of 3" PVC sounds like a neat trick. I just might have to run out and pick up some just to make those. Our mine Schnauzer I don't think, would be able to get into the ends on that setup. Thanks for the idea.
Scott