Pack rats

[Marsha Cassada]

We have trapped 8 so far in the garden. I've stopped giving treats to the chicken. I've raked a wheel barrow load of trash out from under the chicken house, where I'm sure they were/are nesting. They are rather attractive and do not carry any disease, so I was told by the Dept of Ag, but they cannot be left to devour the garden or terrorize the chicken. Someone suggested they are coming for the water--it has been very dry here, but no drier than other years and we did not have this invasion. I go out in the morning to find my lettuce, kale and beets with only a stem and no leaves. I have replanted twice. Also, it is time for rattlesnakes to migrate to their dens and we don't want rodents attracting them. We've lived here over 20 years and have seen maybe 2 in all that time. Why is there an invasion now?

 

[LostandFound]

I don't know why, but you can fence them out. You are going to need the wire mesh with the tiny square holes though. And probably to bury them so they don't just dig under.

 

[HersheyMint]

We have trapped 8 so far in the garden. I've stopped giving treats to the chicken. I've raked a wheel barrow load of trash out from under the chicken house, where I'm sure they were/are nesting. They are rather attractive and do not carry any disease, so I was told by the Dept of Ag, but they cannot be left to devour the garden or terrorize the chicken. Someone suggested they are coming for the water--it has been very dry here, but no drier than other years and we did not have this invasion. I go out in the morning to find my lettuce, kale and beets with only a stem and no leaves. I have replanted twice. Also, it is time for rattlesnakes to migrate to their dens and we don't want rodents attracting them. We've lived here over 20 years and have seen maybe 2 in all that time. Why is there an invasion now?

Sorry you dealing with rats! Grr. Did the Dept of Ag give any help on deterring or why they are so active this year? We have possums and raccoons, which aren't native to our area. How did they get here? Set a trap, caught a possum but the raccoon was to fall for it.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Sorry you dealing with rats! Grr. Did the Dept of Ag give any help on deterring or why they are so active this year? We have possums and raccoons, which aren't native to our area. How did they get here? Set a trap, caught a possum but the raccoon was to fall for it.

I'm surprised those two critters are not native to your area. I thought they were everywhere, except the Poles. We caught #9 today.

 

[HersheyMint]

@Marsha Cassada , I should change my thinking on possums and raccoons. They have been here long enough now that they probably are native here. Growing up here we never had them. Population has grown, climate has changed which probably has brought them. I was reliving the "good ole days" 🤣

 

[Minimor]

I'm surprised those two critters are not native to your area. I thought they were everywhere, except the Poles. We caught #9 today.

No possums in Manitoba, thank goodness. I could do without the raccoons too, but lately I am well supplied with those.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

#10 yesterday. He was in a drawer in a little cupboard I keep on the porch for my garden tools. He had harvested roses, lantana blossoms, elm branches and some mysterious thread (eek) in the drawer. Just overnight. What a busy guy! This one got away--for now. We set the trap for him but only caught a mouse.
The frogs in my little water features are piping. Likely that will bring the raccoons to the porch now. It's wild in the country.

 

[Standards Equine]

No possums in Manitoba, thank goodness. I could do without the raccoons too, but lately I am well supplied with those.

Agreed!! I didn't think there were raccoons in Alberta, I've still never seen any. But my partner traps in the winter and he videoed a family of raccoons not far from our place. Indeed they are around!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Hopefully the last one. It was the smallest so far. I have a call in to the Dept of Wildlife; the specialist is looking into the packrat species. I want to know where they are coming from and why so many. She has had no other calls about packrats, so we'll see if she comes up with anything. She asked if there are any changes in the surrounding habitat, but I can't really think of anything.