Abby,

Rat poison works well for me. Place it under a board or inside an inverted
wooden box with a hole in it in an area a few feet away from the bird
feeder. The rats will find it. I have the same trouble with mice around my
chicken coop. In damp areas, the poison bricks made of grain and wax work
well. The little poison pellets tend to deteriorate in a high moisture
environment. Just keep the poison well stocked and the rats should
disappear.

Ok, I'm ready for the inevitable backlash from someone!

Scott
Yakima, WA
-----Original Message-----
From: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
[mailto:TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of Abby Jaworski
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 1:40 PM
To: Oregon Birds On Line; obolb at yahoogroups.com; tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: Need help- rats


Hi, everyone-

I really need some help, and I'm hoping someone on one of these lists
might have experience with this issue.

I've been feeding birds for almost a year, and now it appears the bird
seed is attracting rats. I've read what I can find on how to discourage and
elminate rats, and the general consensus seems to be that water, shelter and
food all need to be eliminated. Unfortunately, we live next to a storm
drain, which is where the rats are burrowing, and also where they are
getting their water. Therefore, there's nothing I can do about the shelter
and water, and the city will not do anything either.

I've been told I should stop feeding the birds, which breaks my heart, as
I really love to open the windows each morning and see them. I also credit
the bird watching with a partial cure in a battle with depression. I'd hate
to think that I have to stop feeding them.

Has anyone ever had this problem, and if so, what did you do about the
rats? We've put out bait boxes and bait in an attempt to get rid of them,
but so far, that isn't working. I have seed catchers on every feeder, and I
clean up daily- unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be working, either. I'm
assuming I'm missing some of the seeds that are falling and the rats are
coming to that seed. I've seen the rats, even in the middle of the day, as
they come to the area under my feeders.

If anyone has any suggestions on what to do, or a better way to catch the
falling seed, please let me know. I'm at a loss.

Please feel free to contact me privately, if you think this discussion
should be taken off list.

Thanks so much-
Abby
Beaverton, OR
carpe.diem4 at verizon.net