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snakes v rats | (Read 780 times) |
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dianne Wheaton
Posts: 2
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January 27, 2008, 05:33:07 PM |
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I am the caretaker of a major urban park that has been seriously neglected.
Part of my task is to address the rats. Tons of rats. The Dept. of Rats in this city responds that they will need 40 K to treat for rats/ one year. Don't think anyone wants to spend 40K on rat poison.
So- observed an homeless guest and his dog in the park. The dog was having a blast catching rats in the beds. Got to thinking- they have no preditors. These rats are making an unnatural good living here.
So discovered that black garden snakes eat rats. Am thinking about buying a case of live snakes, placing them in the beds and letting them have at it.
Any thoughts... Where to buy common black garden snakes. Whats the best time/way to introduce them to the environment.
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 1342
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January 27, 2008, 07:32:32 PM |
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(hmmm ... a little surprised by the last name ...)
If you have a lot of rats, I have heard about some solutions involving 55 gallon barrels with a little water in the bottom. A wooden plank on a hinge with a little bait hanging out over the barrel ... I've heard of these barrels filling fast and eliminating the problem in a week or so.
Snakes are an excellent idea, although I think that snakes probably don't mix well with people going to the park. I think the dog is good. There are lots of breeds that are anxious to catch rats. Some breed have even been bred for that sort of thing.
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dianne Wheaton
Posts: 2
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January 28, 2008, 05:42:29 AM |
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Thanks for the barrel idea. I have had to release trapped rats from trash cans, so your idea has precedent...
The last name thing gets weirder.. my late husbands first name was Paul.
Others have also cautioned that snakes take the sun on the hard scapes during the day- and will frighten the guests. There is also a low profile fountain feature that may also attract snakes to swim. A potential for syncronized snake ballet. I want to learn more about black garden snakes, and calculate the installation. Perhaps after all the benefits and risks are weighed, the best tact may be to hide them in plain sight. A feature story in the paper about the benefits..." come and view the rat attack army on the plaza."
How quickly will 10 grow to a hundred... how long till they grow enormous on the rat population? If you know of any black garden snake resources... please forward.
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 1342
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January 28, 2008, 07:36:48 AM |
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I think the snake idea is fantastic. I had a vole problem in an orchard and checked into garter snakes and red racers. I never bought any though.
I think a good PR thing might be to ask folks to bring their rat catching dogs down to the park one saturday. Have a bit of a potluck perhaps.
Another good solution I have heard of but have not tried: cheap sponges soaked in bacon grease, cooled and smashed flat. The rats eat them, the sponges grow and then the rats cannot eat anymore and they die.
Do a bit of a google for the rat barrels. It's a popular idea and lots of folks have had great success - plus there are quite a few different/interesting designs.
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permaculture.dave
Posts: 113
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February 28, 2008, 12:25:47 AM |
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If you're willing to go a bit more to the woo woo side you could look into biodynamic (peppering) or radionics (energetic broadcasts) solutions.
Whatever you decide I'd suggest trying a multi-pronged approach. Your chance of success will be much higher if you try a dozen things than if you just try one.
Dave
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SueinWA
Posts: 313
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Yesterday at 06:01:03 PM |
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WELL?
So what happened???
Sue
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