Thread: Proud hunter displays rat

Maybe not a trophy kill, but a good example of what we are dealing with. I smelled the presence of this one in my tool shed. I don't use Warfarin or other poison because of all the cats in the neighbourhood, and we don't want the smell of dead rodents in the walls. My wife picked up this trap at the hardware store yesterday. It has a little platform around the bait holder, and it is deadly.

The third pic is an example of a rat trail from a recent inspection. The brown smear on the electrical cable is from urine and dirt and rat oil, thanks, Rick. They can't seem to control their bladders when they travel, or they mark the best route that way, I don't know and don't really care.

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On my inspections they are usually alive.
I got chased out of a basement by, what looked like, hundreds of them. I flew up the basement stairs screaming like a little girl. The old lady was laughing her butt off when I got back upstairs. She had warned me not to go down there. Of course I was too manly to heed her advice.

Looks like you have a "Rattus norvegicus" otherwise known as a Norway rat.

Most of the staining is caused from the oil on their bodies and not from the urine you mentioned.

Anywho, good kill. Now lets talk about those cats!

rick

Originally Posted by Markus Keller

On my inspections they are usually alive.
I got chased out of a basement by, what looked like, hundreds of them. I flew up the basement stairs screaming like a little girl. The old lady was laughing her butt off when I got back upstairs. She had warned me not to go down there. Of course I was too manly to heed her advice.

All rodents have no real control of there bodily functions. Take a black light with you in the truck and if you are at a job where there is evidence of rats break out the black light in the crawl or attic. You will see the trails they leave everywhere.

Originally Posted by fritzkelly

Looks more like Rattus rattus to me, but I live in AZ, what do I know??

Could be you are right. Rattus rattus is the black rat, good climber, while R. norvegicus is the brown, not as good climber, but there are color variations, eh?. We may have to do an autopsy and .... nah, it's just a dead rat.

Update - bagged another one this AM, pictured here with the deadly trap. Of course there's never just one. This one is more brown with a greyish underbelly, so it's a mongrel family.

This one was at the end of the kitchen counter in a garbage container.

Here's a table that might help if you really want to know the difference.


I had to look this up as Alberta is, thankfully, rat-free!
(Except for the lawyers, politicians and certain realtours)

Originally Posted by Egbert Jager

Here's a table that might help if you really want to know the difference.

Thanks, that's a handy list, but I lose track the teats after about 7 or 8. If someone wants to chip in and help, send me a mailing address.

Originally Posted by Egbert Jager

I had to look this up as Alberta is, thankfully, rat-free!

Do you mean you are not aware of a rat problem, or the authorities tell you there are no rats, or they are actively stopping all rats at the border?

Originally Posted by John Kogel

Thanks, that's a handy list, but I lose track the teats after about 7 or 8. If someone wants to chip in and help, send me a mailing address. Do you mean you are not aware of a rat problem, or the authorities tell you there are no rats, or they are actively stopping all rats at the border?

Is there anywhaere on the planet that is rat free where human s live?

I shot a field rat on my back porch with a 357 varmint shot, I just knew it was going to blow a hole in my brick. It worked great but the noise was very loud and my neighbor thought I killed someone.

Never seen one blow a hole in brick, but you can never trust those Okie rats.

rick

Originally Posted by John Kogel

. Do you mean you are not aware of a rat problem, or the authorities tell you there are no rats, or they are actively stopping all rats at the border?

Rat-Free! Canadian Province Rat free for 50 yrs. (National Geographic)
History of Rat Control in Alberta (Provincial Gov't document)


We actually stop them at the border! Like the articles say, rats need human populations to survive. We are pretty spread out geographically, so as soon as anyone see or even suspects a rat population, we call the gov't guys and they come deal with it.... simple!

Originally Posted by Ted Menelly

Is there anywhere on the planet that is rat free where human s live?

At the moment, there are two places. My place and Alberta.

Thanks, Egbert, I didn't know that. Or maybe I knew but Warfarin killed those brain cells.

Inspection Safety Hint XXIVXI:

When using snap traps, always keep a sharp eye out for explosive rats:

http://www.darrenbarefoot.com/hall/m...serialNumber=2

Originally Posted by Michael Thomas

Inspection Safety Hint XXIVXI:

When using snap traps, always keep a sharp eye out for explosive rats:

Michael, I have two questions: First of all, how is a dead rat with explosives up his butt going to find his way over to one of my traps?
Number 2, where did you get this info? It looks like a 1940's illustration.

Originally Posted by John Kogel

Michael, I have two questions: First of all, how is a dead rat with explosives up his butt going to find his way over to one of my traps?
Number 2, where did you get this info? It looks like a 1940's illustration.

1) The same way live ammunition ends up in disposals are foreclosures?

2) Do not remember how I found it, I sort of collect weird signage that turns up on the 'net.

Rats are always good fun. Love the old spring traps. Anyone ever had luck with the sonic deterrents.