Rats?

[Trishstathers]

Anyone else seeing a rat or two in around their houses? Uplands-Naramata?

We've never had rats before, moved in 1998...I've seen them running across the road in the Uplands area...

[Fancy]

There's been discussions on rats from Summerland to Kelowna. They are a problem.

[ToddT]

Our cat brought a giant one home the other day before all the snow. Left it right on our bedroom floor. Ugh. If you keep the perimeter of your home clean and clear they shouldn't be a regular problem.

[twobits]

I wonder if the miles of deer fencing that has gone up in those areas in the last decade hasn't also provided safety for the rats from coyotes and thus the population bloom of rats?

[ToddT]

Certainly a possibility, but I think the main issue is the provision of shelter and food. They multiply so exponentially fast that once you have a few it's only a matter of time before you have a problem.

I believe most in our area are called the Norway rat and can be managed by raking your leaves before winter.

[Fancy]

Raking the leaves won't stop them. Need to get rid of food sources like bird seed and dog food.

[ToddT]

Well assuming you aren't leaving food outside. They use the leaves for shelter. Also, don't use old rat poison. I found out the hard way. Had one die under my house. Stunk for 10 days. Awful, awful smell.

[Fancy]

Have zero control over neighbours' compost piles, feeding their dogs outside and attracting them with lots of bird seed. Am now appreciating cats a lot more (as long as they are catching the rats).

[youhavegottobekidding]

Rat Reproduction - National Geographic

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/vid ... production

You can't call them lazy. Once a female rat reproduces, she could have 15000 descendants by the end of just one year!

GROSS EH?

[fluffy]

The oxbows along the channel parkway have been a trouble spot over recent years, residential neighbourhoods in that area are particularly at risk.

[Debbi]

Hello

I live downtown and the rats are terrible. Last year they ate some of the wires under the hood of my truck, cost me $400.00 to fix. I see them running across Government street , in my backyard, in the alley's. I don't keep any garbage laying around or feed the birds anymore. My dogs try to catch them but the rats are pretty fast.
I have a live trap but have only caught 1 so far. If more people would not leave garbage laying around maybe we could clean-up the rat problem, but that probably won't happen.
These rat's are huge, I think even the neighbourhood cats are afraid of them.

Good Luck
Debby

[madmudder]

The biggest rats I've seen hang out around city hall.LOL