Creepy garden problem

Oggie · #1 08/29/08, 03:46 PM

Something has been eating my tomatoes just before they are really ripe.

I figure that it had to be a rodent, and I've caught glimpses of a tail now and then.

So I declare war and set a rat trap with peanut butter.

The next morning: clean as a whistle. "That's one smart rat," I thought.

I set it with raisin bran, raisins and a smear of peanut butter, making sure it's fairly well attached.

The next morning: clean, again.

I had to go to work, so I just left it set, empty.

Well, a rat had gone to climb the tomato vines and got caught in the unbaited trap. It was resting on it's face. I turned it open and there was half rat / half skeleton. Covered in ants!

Those nasty little (1/8 inch or so) ants had been eating the peanut butter.

So, now, I probably have to get rid of the ants and the rest of the rats.

I'm thinking boric acid and more traps.

Any suggestions?

hotzcatz · #2 08/29/08, 04:07 PM

set the trap inside a moat so the ants can't get across but the rats can? Hang the trap so the ants can't reach it but the rats can? Get a cat?

Oggie · #3 08/29/08, 04:19 PM

We've already got two cats, but I banished them from the garden because I hate tootsie rolls in the raised beds.

nancy237 · #4 08/29/08, 04:26 PM

If other animals cannot get into the garden could you try some rat poison ??

How can you keep cats from the garden?? Is there a cover over it???

Oggie · #5 08/29/08, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancy237

If other animals cannot get into the garden could you try some rat poison ??

How can you keep cats from the garden?? Is there a cover over it???

I lecture them for about three hours each day.

That, and I keep most of the loose soil covered so that they don't think it's their giant litter box. And most of their day is filled with indoor activities.

Meg Z · #6 08/29/08, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oggie

We've already got two cats

THAT explains a LOT

katydidagain · #7 08/29/08, 05:03 PM

I have an abundance of Norway rats. The city used to hand out bait blocks free of charge and I dutifully dispatched many a rodent in years past but, with one of PETA's founding members living 2 blocks away, that was stopped. (Actually, I'm friends with Walt; Bill met him at the Farmer's Market last Sunday.) The new thing was traps--the nice ones. What to do with your "catch of the day"? Drive it out to Howard County! (Howard County wasn't too keen on that idea.)

The ex used to shoot them, surplus squirrels and pesky pigeons; he kept them under control. But, since that was all he did for me, I cut him loose 4 years ago.

But I diverse...

By this summer, my "wildlife" was abundant. Bill found it amusing; I didn't. I bought a lb of rat poison divided into 8 little "serving trays." The 1st one disappeared entirely! I mean the tray was GONE. The 2nd was emptied as were the next 4.

There's one drawback to using poison. It seems city ratties chow down and then retreat to their holes; your garden will stink until you cover the openings. Occasionally with bait blocks an unsuspecting squirrel will come to dinner; I'm okay with that since it means fewer black walnut seedlings to wrestle the next year. (They don't seem to like the "trays"--Darn!)

Good luck!

bill not in oh · #8 08/29/08, 05:07 PM

I vote for the moat!

Only use beer (cheap, undrinkable brand as they have no taste for quality beer) and it has the added benefit of attracting and drowning slugs!

And yes, Katy is a very diverse person!

Oggie · #9 08/29/08, 05:19 PM

Hi, Bill and Katy, I hope you're doing well.

I worry a little about poisoning the rodents because our big dumb dog has a talent for finding dead things. And, even though she's insode most of the time, if she ate a poisoned rat, in addition to my grief, my family would make me into a big dead thing.

Next season, I'll try to make better barriers around the garden. There's not time left this year.

I'm getting tired of drooling over ripening tomatoes only to have them disappear.

prairiedog · #10 08/29/08, 07:23 PM

white cake mix laced with plaster of paris kills them good

tn_junk · #11 08/29/08, 07:31 PM

Might want to look at a couple of other posts about rat meat.
Export them suckers!

alan

Nellie · #12 08/29/08, 07:38 PM

OGGIE has CATS???????

What you need are some big bull snakes.

soulsurvivor · #13 08/29/08, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oggie

I lecture them for about three hours each day.

That, and I keep most of the loose soil covered so that they don't think it's their giant litter box. And most of their day is filled with indoor activities.

ok, I just about p'd myself laughing and imagining this one... Oggie, you have an awesome sense of good humor about you. Thanks.

oh, and I'm kinda surprised rats chose tomatoes over peanut butter and ants. I know they love corn and will beat you with a baseball bat to keep you away from it.