What can eat 12 packs of rat poison?

I believe it to be grossly irresponsible to poison something that you don't even know the identity of. For all we know, you're poisoning harmless wildlife that have just as much right to the land as you do.

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"Perhaps I'll have them string a clothesline from the hearse I am in, with my underwear waving in the breeze, as we drive to the cemetary. People worry about the dumbest things!"
by Wendy

Having lost about 12-14 young chicks/geese in the last 3 weeks, having lost one of our muscovy hens 2 weeks ago, having lost our '2 weeks from slaughter goose' 4 nights ago and then one of our ganders night before last I will continue to be irresponsible and continue to put out the poison bait (last night was the first night that some of it was left--up till now we've been going through about 1/2 lb a night) I will also keep setting the live traps and shooting what I catch until I stop loosing stock. My right to keep my critters safe superscedes their right to exist thus they will be terminated with extreme predjudice. If one of 'them', whatever they might be, gets caught in the snap trap, or live trap, or has the curtesy to die next to my poison bait I'll be able to positively identify the culprit(s). In order to show respect for their little animal spirit and to recognize their 'rights' I will, as a show of my compassion, consider singing a chorus of kumbaya when I throw the last carcass into the holler.

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"Only the rocks [and really embarassing moments] live forever"

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands..." tick-tick-tick

It would be better for your health, your animal's health and the planet if you would simply get a guardian for your stock.

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"Perhaps I'll have them string a clothesline from the hearse I am in, with my underwear waving in the breeze, as we drive to the cemetary. People worry about the dumbest things!"
by Wendy

We had neighbor come over and take a look BEFORE we put anything out and he said it was "woods rats" and "field mice" and that was when we put the poison out. Now, with that much gone, I am unsure. The children and I have looked and we do see tiny poo-poo's. We do not smell anything. I have called the neighbor to come back over and a friend has offered to come help us check out crawl space to be sure what has been under there.

I do care what it is.....but I don't care if I am killing mice and rats. I need to get rid of the rats and mice even if it means killing them. But I agree that I do not want squirrels or other animals getting in there. Thanks

rats can....

believe me. Our old house had a rat, we tried all kinds of traps because we have a do and didnt want her to accidently eat anything. Well, the traps never worked. The rat was way too smart and would always figure them out. So we eventually had to try poison as it was eatting all the wires. It went through every box we put out. A week later it died

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It's not that I don't like mankind, I just like nature a whole lot more.

Nah, dead rats leaving my birds alone and not spreading disease is better for my health. The planet sent me a message, whispering through the trees "good job pappaw, snuff those rats". I also found that the poison was guarding my stock all through the night. That's a good boy.

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"Only the rocks [and really embarassing moments] live forever"

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands..." tick-tick-tick

Amen Farmerwilly
My and my families' right to eat supersedes theirs. And my right to have my home not burn down because the vermin dined on the wiring, and my right to have my vehicle continue to run with it's wiring intact, etc, etc.

Maybe I misunderstand, but I don't think anyone here has disputed your right to exist and survive, and thrive, for that matter. The only objection I've seen here is in regard to your method of battling the "vermin." And the opinion expressed is that you might use something besides poison--which tends to spread itself around in ways that might eventually be harmful to you and your environment, not to mention the environment of other creatures which have not been robbing you of your food, etc.

No?

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Use traps instead of poison! Then you will know what you are dealing with.

ditto on what dare2b said

For some really crazy reason, the only lost of shock I have had at night was from a blacksnake aka RATsnake getting into my guinea keat housing - and that was my fault because I missed an opening large enough for it to get into (but not out off once it had dinner.) And since we do not kill the natural predators of RATS we do not have a problem with rats - who would have thunk it?

So I'm sticking with responsible people take care of stock and their predators responsibly

Hugs,
Marlene

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It is the one with persistence and determination that brings great ideas into being.

My only concern with the neighbor and children crawling under there to look for holes is IF your intruders are deer mice, they carry Hanta virus, which is deadly, so be careful and have them wear masks, and some type of disposable or old clothing that can be tossed afterwards. Wash well, don't breathe the dust under the house, etc. Check it out beforehand! It is a problem when you have something like this, as they can destroy and cause all kinds of havoc to your home, supplies, etc. Don't be put off by those who are flaming you for killing them. You probably would be safer using the bar bait. Get some mouse size as well as rat and see what happens. Rats are just too smart for traps, so no use there. Good luck, and if you discover what is coming under there, let us know! Jan in Co

You've obviously got at least one ROUS(Rodents of Unusual Size) on your place. Your going to need a sword and a pool of quicksand to defeat them. Have fun storming the castle!!!

Yes, I am keen to know what it is, as well. Didn't mean to flame anyone, if flame is what I did....

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You use the flame spurt after you stab the ROUS not the quicksand

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Give Blood it saves lives.

OK, nasty job but it is done. We had neighbor come, helped boys crawl under there, he declared it is "wood rats" and helped boys put tin down and cement to close up two holes. He said he saw "rat poo" (thats not what he called it but we shall leave it at that) and they tore up insulation and pulled some wire loose.

Now - we hope it is fixed. Thank everyone!

I second the use of bar bait. You can use traps also on the occasions you are there full time, but obviously you don't want to leave traps out when you are not going to be there to check them every morning.

Decon is a waste of money if you have a large infestation of mice and rats.

So far, between traps and poison I've gotten 1 mouse (in a enviromentally approved blue barrel) and 1 opossum. Rat bait is gone again. Still have two sections of wire being dug under so continuing to set the larger live traps. Rat trap sprung again under the 2x4 wire protected poultry house---empty. Looks like another trip to Tractor Supply and a few more pounds of bait. I'll put a little sign up announcing to the patrons that just like most buffet type restraunts they may eat all the want, but no carryout.

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"Only the rocks [and really embarassing moments] live forever"

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands..." tick-tick-tick

Just so we're clear, I'm not flaming her for wishing to be rid of rodents which indeed can destroy and cause all kinds of havoc to her home, supplies, etc. I'm flaming her for putting out 14 boxes of deacon, and asking what we think is eating it. Hope that makes my flaming a little more clear.

Hugs,
Marlene

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It is the one with persistence and determination that brings great ideas into being.

Using poison is ALWAYS a temporary fix. And, if you use it - it should never be the only thing you consider. For most problems you have to use more than one tool to get rid of the problem.

If you have rodents, predators getting into buildings or killing livestock - you have to at least look at other options.

1. Habitat is first. Do I have a lot of crap around, do I leave feed around? What am I doing to encourage pests?

2. Exclusion is next - how can I keep critters out and what can I use to do it that makes sense.

3. Trapping - Yes, I do trap. But it is targeted. I know what I am dealing with.

4. Poisons. Oh and as for mouse and rat baits/poisons. Yes, they do die - sometimes out in the open. Or between walls - where the stink is just as bad.

In our area where Hanta Virus is a concern with deer mice, the Health dept recommends good old fashioned mouse snap traps so you can physically remove the body and dispose of the carcass safely instead of leaving it in a building.

Using poisons alone is the lazy man's solution to a problem.

I prefer the lazy woman's solution. Figure out and fix the problem in the first place with habitat/exclusion so I don't have to deal with it again. Little more work in the beginning - a lot less work in the end.