A Roadtrek Rat

[gonetothedogs1]

Found evidence of a rat in residence inside the engine compartment this week. Tried the nice route (Fresh Cab packets), after cleaning out all the debris/droppings. It sat next to the repellant packets while eating dinner the next night! Set a snap trap and so far have caught one. Will see what tonight brings. It (they) have pulled out some of the insulation near the firewall but I cannot see evidence of chewed wires. Will take to the mechanic next week to make sure there is no other damage, and will keep snap traps in the engine compartment for the foreseeable future when not traveling. I'm not a happy camper (pun intended). Barb

[drsolo]

mlts22 wrote:
I was actually surprised to see one (Americana breed) chowing down on a mouse... but they do actually will eat them. Other chickens may just ignore them... depends on the individual, I guess.

It just goes to show ya that there are always new things to learn. But it makes sense since birds are basically small dinosaurs with wings, many birds eat bugs, crows and jays eat meat as often as they can snatch it, roadrunners and snakes and of course, vultures but I been around chickens the early half of my life and didnt know they would eat anything as big as mice and live ones yet. youtube of chickens fighting over mouse
more about meat eating dinos with feathers and wings

[mlts22]

I was actually surprised to see one (Americana breed) chowing down on a mouse... but they do actually will eat them. Other chickens may just ignore them... depends on the individual, I guess.

I can't complain. They work magic by turning mice and bugs into tasty colored eggs.

[drsolo]

mlts22 wrote:
Cats, and to a lesser extent, chickens, will make short work of mice/rats.

You must got some vicious chickens down there in Texas.

[mlts22]

Cats, and to a lesser extent, chickens, will make short work of mice/rats.

[My_Roadtrek]

Yes, I'm sure USA mice are more athletic than Canada mice. :B

[Fastpaddler]

My Roadtrek wrote:
I don't know about the pan thing, mice are pretty athletic.

"is so flexible that it can get into your home through a crack or hole as small as 1/4-inch.
A mouse can jump as high as a foot, and climb 13 inches up smooth, vertical walls.
It can run 12 feet per second, and swim as far as 1/2 mile.
Being very inquisitive, a mouse will nibble or feed on any available human food, as well as other household items, such as paste, glue or soap.
It does not need free water, but can survive on the water in the food it eats."

Well, I guess your mice are smarter than the field mice we have in our RV yard. Not one mouse has come aboard since I placed these large trays under each wheel. And, of course a rat is bigger too and can do the high jump!!!
cheers
AL

[My_Roadtrek]

I don't know about the pan thing, mice are pretty athletic.

"is so flexible that it can get into your home through a crack or hole as small as 1/4-inch.
A mouse can jump as high as a foot, and climb 13 inches up smooth, vertical walls.
It can run 12 feet per second, and swim as far as 1/2 mile.
Being very inquisitive, a mouse will nibble or feed on any available human food, as well as other household items, such as paste, glue or soap.
It does not need free water, but can survive on the water in the food it eats."

[Fastpaddler]

I don't now if this applies to rats crawling into your engine but we have field mice at our RV storage site. I put a large heavy duty aluminum pan under each wheel--locate them and drive onto them and this disallows critters from getting feet-traction and crawling up the wheels and into the interior, including the engine bay. Works for us. No mice ever since using that system.
Al

[ernie1]

It's interesting to note that these anticoagulant pesticides are so feared in terms of secondary poisoning to non target animals. Coumadin(Warfarin) is widely used on humans to treat and prevent heart attacks and strokes. Also, any accidental poisonings can be counteracted with vitamin k which is readily obtained from any pharmacy. Typically I haven't seen any for sale to the general public that has any attractant like honey or molasses.

Pesticides, if used as per the labelling, is safe and these directions and restrictions are reviewed by the EPA.

In my office ,when I was still working, we dispensed anticoagulant grain and wax impregnated blocks for the control of rodents and in thirty years of doing so, never once was there ever a reported incidence of secondary or unintended poisoning.

Some pesticides referred to in a previous post, is not available to the general public and only used by professionals.

Strychnine is sold as a bait for gophers and moles and, if used as per the labelling requirements, is placed in holes and under ground. When the animal dies, it dead underground.

[drsolo]

My Roadtrek wrote:
Always good to narrow a broad statement.
drsolo, your link didn't work, here is one that does.
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/rodenticides.html

I fixed the link in my previous post. True, I didnt know strychnine was not banned for sale already. But basically the anti-coagulant type of poisons are unlikely to kill predators either domestic or wild by secondary ingestion. This idea has been widely disseminated by non-scientists and what I call the dedicated pet aficionados who endlessly repeat online what they think they understand without checking for factual information. So, for example, it is now "well known" that ingestion of grapes can kill dogs. News to me since my dogs have always et grapes inside and pick their own outside as they drop from the grapevine and have never suffered kidney failure. This admonition started with a couple anecdotal reports by owners when pets in kidney failure were brought into the vets. At least I cannot find any bona fide scientific articles on tests done. As a scientist and retired teacher I cannot stop myself from correcting myths when they land in my lap.

[My_Roadtrek]

Always good to narrow a broad statement.
drsolo, your link didn't work, here is one that does.
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/rodenticides.html

[Gene_in_NE]

I am a little surprised that someone has not suggested the - Rat Zapper. Read the description and decide for yourself.

[drsolo]

gonetothedogs1 wrote:
Besides the problem of unintended deaths with poison, .... A friend used poison in a fit of desperation, and had to live with the smell of dead/decomposing vermin in her walls for weeks.

In the city we dont have much "wildlife" but we do have idiots with bird feeders, garbage not in proper containers, etc so we have a thriving population of mice and rats. The most common types of poison are the anti-coagulant type. When bait is in a tamper-resistant bait station:"Although secondary poisoning is possible, it is unlikely to occur. Anticoagulant baits are manufactured with low dosages of active ingredients that range from 25 parts to 50 parts per million. A 20 lb dog would need to consume a range from 1.6 to 96 ounces of baits such as Contrac (bromadiolone) or Final (brodifacoum) to get poisoned in both primary or secondary poisonings. The chances of a pet to consume enough carcasses of a dead rat to accumulate sufficient poison for secondary poisoning would be low. It is more likely to occur with a high population of dead poisoned rats that are accessible, coupled with pets or non-targeted animals that are foraging for food due to hunger. Most pets are loved and fed well. They would need to be very hungry for them to eat many dead carcasses of rats."
And a good .edu article here is a review of scientific literature concerning secondary poisoning of wildlife in agricultural areas.
We had an infestation of mice for the first couple years we lived in our house in the city. We had a pest service come in and must have killed a hundred mice and altho I can smell viciously well there was only a couple times I could smell something, went into the basement and picked up the dead mice and got rid of them. The animals will seek water outside if all sources of water and sealed inside.

[gonetothedogs1]

Besides the problem of unintended deaths with poison, (my golden retrievers will put ANYTHING in their mouths if they think it could be edible), I have always had a concern about where the critters wander off to die--usually some place where it is difficult to extract. A friend used poison in a fit of desperation, and had to live with the smell of dead/decomposing vermin in her walls for weeks.