We had the rat issue last summer. TWO of 'em. They were near tame - SPOOKY! I work from home, and my desk looks out over the front porch. I'd see the *#*( at race by nibbling fallen seed, and I'd freak! I'm not afraid of them, but there is something decidedly gross about a rat on your porch. Enter the live trap. We live about four miles from the local dump. I figure if Templeton had a dandy time at the fair, well, the dump must be akin to a Freestyle Cruise for a rat. Off they went, never had another problem until we got to the out of control squirrel... :O)

Heading to the PAWS site, already decided on a WONDERFUL location that is seriously THICK with Douglas Fir trees.

nina
neens at wavecable.com
----- Original Message -----
From: cwilsdon at earthlink.net
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2008 14:10
Subject: [Tweeters] rats, feeders, and relocation


Rats: I have heard many, many stories of rats in houses and basements this season, and our neighbor has been tussling with them a lot--must be due to the very cold temperatures. So far, no rats in our basement, perhaps because we have 3 (indoor) cats, and hence a constant predator smell (fortunately, not strong enough for humans to detect!).
But we have had a rat actually on the feeder--it's a wire-cage feeder with a plastic 3-section tube inside, filled with sunflower seeds. How pleasant it was to glance out the window over a cup of coffee and see not the usual birds but a great big rat clinging to the feeder and stuffing its face instead. I knocked on the window and without seeming to move a muscle--as if it were a cartoon rat on a spring--it flew backward in a perfect arc about 6 feet through the air and landed in the bushes.
It did appear a few times after this display, but since the exterminators came next door, I haven't seen it. But they can jump from the ground up to a feeder.
As for relocating feeders--we've moved feeders a couple of times for various reasons and the birds never failed to spot them quickly. Within a day they discovered the new locations and cheerfully checked out the new "restaurant".
Squirrels--I think PAWS in Lynnwood probably has some good advice on their website about wildlife, relocation, laws,etc.
Christina
c wilsdon at earthlink net seattle


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