[QUOTE=Bluey;8416841]
No poisons with the bucket method here and it works like a charm:[/QUOTE]
I like that…the pictured helped!!
Oh Ick! I’m in AZ and we had pack rats ruin the wiring in our spa heater. I bought the Rat Zapper trap which electrocutes them…it’s a very clean kill…no blood, no stink.
Foxtrot; we live in a fairly remote area (that is also a gated horse community) so when we trap a raccoon, my husband puts the trap in the back of the truck and drives out into the remote areas where there are no residents or horses (or personal pets). So far so good. Im not into killing animals so relocating them to a remote area works for us. We also have 4 barn cats (all rescues from the local shelter) and its amazing how fast our other problem - mice and voles disappeared almsot overnight. The raccoons are a but more deliberate and not so easily convinced to leave. But happilly we havent had a raccoon for a few weeks which is unusual. Could be the cold weather…sigh and we may have this problem return in the spring…unfortunately. But relocating them to the vacant remote areas is working (so far) And having cats in the barn keeps the mice that were a problem from becoming one again. The cats are afraid of the raccoons and rightly so. They are nasty. But so long as we can relocate them to the great outdddoors where no one lives, we are ok.
Sadly, relocating raccoons is not really a humane solution. They don’t tend to survive. I understand not wanting to kill them, however,
[QUOTE=Linda;8417225]
Foxtrot; we live in a fairly remote area (that is also a gated horse community) so when we trap a raccoon, my husband puts the trap in the back of the truck and drives out into the remote areas where there are no residents or horses (or personal pets). So far so good. Im not into killing animals so relocating them to a remote area works for us. We also have 4 barn cats (all rescues from the local shelter) and its amazing how fast our other problem - mice and voles disappeared almsot overnight. The raccoons are a but more deliberate and not so easily convinced to leave. But happilly we havent had a raccoon for a few weeks which is unusual. Could be the cold weather…sigh and we may have this problem return in the spring…unfortunately. But relocating them to the vacant remote areas is working (so far) And having cats in the barn keeps the mice that were a problem from becoming one again. The cats are afraid of the raccoons and rightly so. They are nasty. But so long as we can relocate them to the great outdddoors where no one lives, we are ok.[/QUOTE]
The problem with “relocating wildlife” is that wildlife are not that adaptable, as those that rehab them have found out.
They are born into a certain territory and species around them and thrive there, the ones that survive, nature is not very kind to the very young, many don’t make it to adults.
Those that do well into adults then depend on what they learned about the lay of the land and others living there.
When you turn a wild animal into a new territory, they generally just don’t know what they are doing and get killed quickly.
Plus, if they are carriers of a strain of some disease that those in their old area are used to, they can introduce it and it wipes many in their new territory, if they make it themselves or not, by exposing them to it, in coons some strains of distemper.
Generally, game wardens will tell you which species you can safely re-home and which ones not so much, coons being some of those you should not.
Decades ago, the local game warden re-habbed an egret and asked to turn it out in our playa lake, which he did.
He was a snow white, beautiful bird, that waded partway into the water when he turned it loose.
Next morning, all was there was some white feathers, the poor bird didn’t even make it one night, some bobcat or coyote, or owl or eagle, had him for a late night snack.
We didn’t have the heart to tell the game warden, he had tried so hard.
You may want to ask your wildlife rehabber, here our vet was that, what to do about this.
Maybe is ok where you are, most times it is not, may want to find out.
By relocating some wildlife, you are not only most likely breaking the law (illegal to transport wildlife in many states, so don’t advertise online about it!) but are spreading strains of internal and external parasites. Not to mention all mentioned above.
Put them down humanely and be done with it.
[QUOTE=Epona142;8417498]
By relocating some wildlife, you are not only most likely breaking the law (illegal to transport wildlife in many states, so don’t advertise online about it!) but are spreading strains of internal and external parasites. Not to mention all mentioned above.
Put them down humanely and be done with it.[/QUOTE]
sorry but poisoning is not humane… so…
I always wince when I see people resort to poison, for any animal. Awful way to go…
FWIW, my mother has resorted to poison at her farm quite a few times… thing about rats is, they’re smart – and I’m not just saying that because I like them – when they come up to a rat corpse they smell it, particularly, the porphyrin – it’s a learned behavior that helps them identify what the rat ate last… and then they avoid the same thing.
Some rats are smarter than others, particularly the old ones - so it’s usually the younger rats of the colony that fall for the bait.
Funny thing is, she still has rats.
Please point out where I said poison was humane in any way.
[QUOTE=Epona142;8417534]
Please point out where I said poison was humane in any way.[/QUOTE]
I read your comment “Put them down humanely and be done with it” as an encouragement for poisoning – I couldn’t imagine you were suggesting bringing rats to the vet for euthanasia… If this was not your intent, mea culpa. :yes:
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8416675]
Our rats have dug tunnels under the barn through the gravel, there are pallets under the hay to keep it dry and rats are able to stay well hidden, but then I feel they go under there to die, too, as we do not see them. A cat or terrier would never be able to clean up the whole population…the rat population needs to be kept at bay as they will explode in population. Preferably the babies will get weaned on the poison, but honestly, there is always another rat, or another one moving into the hood.[/QUOTE]
Omg ahhh!
What area of Canada are you in? I am horrified. In all my years of riding, I’ve never seen an actual rat in a barn (or anywhere else that I can recall). I’ve seen the occasional mouse, but RATS!! I would die!
Now I’m going to be creeped out going to the barn tomorrow!
[QUOTE=beowulf;8417541]
I read your comment “Put them down humanely and be done with it” as an encouragement for poisoning – I couldn’t imagine you were suggesting bringing rats to the vet for euthanasia… If this was not your intent, mea culpa. :yes:[/QUOTE]
So easy to misunderstand on the Internet, it’s true! 
Well if I am not going to relocate them, then what are you suggesting we do? Im not willing to have them get into the horse feed, make a mess in the barn and attack our cats (one was killed by a raccoon). SO I figure that relocating them at least gives them a chance that they would not have if we trapped and killed them - and at my barn, thats not happening. We arent into killing animals whether they be raccoons, rats or anything else. If y’all have suggestions, Im listening
Livestock guardian dogs.
We don’t like to kill the wildlife either. Rats and mice unfortunately we must, because of the diseases they carry and because we have a dairy facility.
Need a couple of rat snakes to move into your barn, they will take care of the rats. We have a couple that live in a space under our barn, no mice or rats. I do occasionally come across one of the snakes basking in the stall. Horses don’t notice them and I’m long passed the freak out there’s a snake thing.
[QUOTE=js;8417726]
Need a couple of rat snakes to move into your barn, they will take care of the rats. We have a couple that live in a space under our barn, no mice or rats. I do occasionally come across one of the snakes basking in the stall. Horses don’t notice them and I’m long passed the freak out there’s a snake thing.[/QUOTE]
The trouble with snakes, here they are mostly rattlers.
If you, the generic you, not any one specific you, have stuff to protect, you need to be willing to protect it.
Mice in your house and pantry, do you let them raise there and put out food and water for them too?
Lice on your kid’s hair, fleas on your dog, well, it is natures way to keep lice and fleas alive too.
Everything in this world is using a space they protect and defend from others, the cells in your body, the bacteria in and around it, insects, rodents, bigger prey and predator species, all of it lives and dies and much of it does so to keep other from harm or alive.
Even if you move to the most sterile bubble, so you stay safe and don’t have to kill anything directly to do so, you still can’t escape your own self, a big battle ground also.
No one needs to go on a wholesale killing spree, but if you are not willing to be part of life as it exist to stay alive …
Well for the moment, it sounds like my current process of relocation is the best way to go. Not really sure I want a snake in my barn…
.but I am willing to consider it.
Where do rat snakes live (climate and area?) And what is their behavior like? Aggresive or passive?
We have a lot of rattle snakes here and i surely dont want to encourage they or other (not helpful) snakes to join us.
Nope, the above poster is wrong about the rat snakes and rattlers. I have lots of rat snakes, big ones, no rats and very seldom see a rattler.
Laat summer, I rehomed a rat snake to a neighbor that wanted one and was immediately sorry, when sure enough a big rattler took its place.
I think snakes must have more misinformation spread about them than any other animal.
Honestly, rat snakes, hawks, owls, fox and the like are the best solution to a rat and mice problem. But your natural predators have probably been killed off.
There are a few “just kill it and solve it” people on this thread (interesting to me because I know who is pro-horse slaughter here, sorry for the aside), but given a rodent overpopulation problem, what is the most humane? Probably a good gunshot. Poison is cruel and harmful to the environment. Drowning is cruel – they will swim and swim and try to live for a very long time. I have lifted exhausted little mice out of the dogs’ water bucket, and respected their will to live. To say drowning is ok because I don’t have to watch would be a lie to myself and my soul. Years ago, before I had guns, I tried to kill a dying rabbit with a broken leg by drowning it, and it was an awful experience that still saddens me for my stupidity. For rats and mice, I would probably trap and make myself shoot it if the trap didn’t kill it. I think those rat traps are pretty effective.
We don’t have rat killing snakes here.
I am trying the noise thing now (not the silent ultrasound things but the really loud annoying ones. I have one in the basement,one upstairs and one on the main floor which I only plug in when dog and I are outside (most of the day)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FG8B50/ref=rr_xsim_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448665964&sr=0
I will do poison if I have to -but trying this first-I dont want to kill my old barn cat who WILL eat any dead rodent he finds
I have three rat zappers set
http://www.amazon.com/Rat-Zapper-Ultra-Rodent-RZU001/dp/B00CM859OA
but they have not worked very well- only got two.
Cats! There was a big wood pile near our barn when we moved to our farm and once we got rid of it, a ton of rats moved into the barn. Two barn kitties adopted from the humane society did the trick!
[QUOTE=ToTheNines;8417751]
Nope, the above poster is wrong about the rat snakes and rattlers. I have lots of rat snakes, big ones, no rats and very seldom see a rattler.
Laat summer, I rehomed a rat snake to a neighbor that wanted one and was immediately sorry, when sure enough a big rattler took its place.
I think snakes must have more misinformation spread about them than any other animal.
Honestly, rat snakes, hawks, owls, fox and the like are the best solution to a rat and mice problem. But your natural predators have probably been killed off.
There are a few “just kill it and solve it” people on this thread (interesting to me because I know who is pro-horse slaughter here, sorry for the aside), but given a rodent overpopulation problem, what is the most humane? Probably a good gunshot. Poison is cruel and harmful to the environment. Drowning is cruel – they will swim and swim and try to live for a very long time. I have lifted exhausted little mice out of the dogs’ water bucket, and respected their will to live. To say drowning is ok because I don’t have to watch would be a lie to myself and my soul. Years ago, before I had guns, I tried to kill a rabbit with a broken leg by drowning it, and it was an awful experience that still saddens me for my stupidity. For rats and mice, I would probably trap and make myself shoot it if the trap didn’t kill it. I think those rat traps are pretty effective.[/QUOTE]
I wonder how long before someone would start calling names.
Guess that is the only way some feel superior to others, they of course are more pure than anyone else.
Anyway, when it comes to cats, we have bobcats here and no cat survives one night here.
We quit long ago feeding pets to our wildlife.
Talk about questionable ethics, when choosing to go that route.
We have a veritable explosion of rats and mice this year, so many even birds that live off those, hawks, owls and eagles, are so fat they can’t hardly fly.
So are coyotes and other.
