Michelle is right - dogs, specifically Jack Russsell terriers - are the best
biological rat controllers. We have had a couple of Jack Russells for
several years, and the have killed many rats and mice, many of them in
Lincoln Park. A few years ago someone was using them to control the rats in
Pioneer square. Unfortunately, our dogs do not discriminate, and they have
also killed a few squirrels and chipmunks, along with one feral cat. They
will also take on the Rottweilers and German sphpherds, but usually lose
those battles. They are not good around young children. Since they have
become so popular, the Jack Russell club has had an ongoing campaign to
educate would-be owners about these dogs, especially their need for lots of
space and exercise.

The "rat terriers" and Jack Russells are basically the same breed. Their
owners have never allowed them to be accepted by the American Kennel Club,
for fear that breeding to conformity would breed the brains out of the dogs,
as has happened with spaniels and many other breeds.

A very interesting, educational and humorous book, "Tales of a Rat-Hunting
Man(Wilder Places), by David Brian Plummer, is available in paper back at
Amazon.com. Mr.Plummer is an Englishman who was the official rat-catcher to
the Queen, and he does know a lot about rats and their habits. He used
mainly Jack Russells in his work. One dog is reputed to have killed over
600 rats in 20 minutes!

Bill Mulligan



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