Close Encounters of the Rodent Kind

avatar
(Edited)


In the nearly two years I've been in my new/old home, I've found no rodent DROPPINGS or such evidence, but a few months after moving in, I heard a noise during the night.
I got up but couldn't see anything. Next morning I found an Apple that had been in a bowl in the center of the island, now on the floor with teeth marks.
Just that one time a little over a year ago, until about 10 days ago.
This time they have shown an affinity for tomatoes

These were on the window sill above the sink. Next morning (after hearing what I thought was a car door shutting at night) I found them in the sink

With some healthy bites missing

I borrowed a good sized wooden rat trap (the traditional kind, sorry no pic) and the first night I used a CHERRY Tomato as bait
The rat got the mater, without springing the trap
Next night I tried a Reese's Peanut butter cup (people told me to try peanut butter)
Next morning, at first I thought there had been no temptation, the trap wasn't sprung, but upon closer look I found bite marks in the candy and small pieces of chocolate on the counter next to it.
I DID capture the main culprit in the night vision of the camera

As you can see, dis ain't no mouse.
Next day, in my "mud room" entrance, I heard it, but I thought it was behind the freezer, then His Majesty Sir Tommy of Assholia heard it too, in the CEILING


This was just too much
I went to a hardware store and got some supplies:

In the back some VERY heavy duty glue traps.
The one looked like this today

Since it like tomato, that is what I put as bait. I got tracks and a patch of belly hair, but that's all.
I pulled out the bottom most drawer of the stove (under the oven, most folks store pots and pans down there) and found what I suspected:
These new cabinets have space behind them


Since these cabinets run around the corner where the lazy Susan storage is (and I've heard the noises there as well)

I had ever reason to believe that they were all the way around the corner as well.
I went around and did my best to look under the dishwasher (which is at the end, next to what was the original back door to the outside, I think the kitchen sink was originally on the end, because)

under that copper fitting, inside the oval I put there, is a hole big enough for a sink drain going through to the underside of the house.
Now I can't get under there on this end, because

At this end of the house there is almost no space, and the access door to the crawl space is DIAMETRICALLY opposite this corner.
I placed poison and a glue trap under the dishwasher, a loaded squirrel trap under the stove and the glue trap on the counter next to the stove, and waited. This morning I found the tracks and hair in the one glue trap, and this on my video

I WILL get this issue resolved. Either they will be gone, or I will ha ha ha

"Close Encounters of the Rodent Kind"

aka "My battle for the kitchen continues"
by
Jerry E Smith
©08/14/2022
All images and videos are original



image.png


Self Portrait from about 1978

woods-rats vermin traps-poison homesteading amazingnature diyhub teamusa wednesdaywalk photography hive-125125
0
0
0.000
12 comments
avatar

Man vs Rodent looks about even so far 🤣 I got my money on you man but I think it'll go the distance - all 12 rounds.

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

wow! you are at war :D

I should confess I love tomatoes too 😁😁🤔

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

Ha ha ha... I would gladly share m y tomatoes with you @qwerrie , but you ain't no rat, and they weren't invited ha ha ha.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

Just a bit of good joke... I hoped it will cheer you up! and a slice of hot Hive !PIZZA, as well. Thru all of the July I am enjoying the different kinds of tomatoes, as they are seasonal, same as eggplants. they became very cheap, and I get them from the local market, not from the grocery stores. anyway thanks for a kind suggest 🤩

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

Somehow I've been missing your posts for weeks, and now I find one and it's loaded with pesky varmint videos. Ack! Good luck with your critter catching! Maybe you need a cat.

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

You HAVE Been away for a LONG TIME Then.

I got "His Majesty Sir Tommy of Assholia" nearly 3 months ago. Wandering the street, I took him in, and have gotten him the minimum shots. and I DESPARATELY need to get him fixed, just can't afford it nor the time to hunt for a provider atm.
I thought he'd been separated from him mom too early and was making bread as a nursing behavior.
Now I know he is masturbating, and I think he is gay

He'll twist my covers up into a phallus. 👿
He is now dallying with another cat,


which at first I considered taking "her?" in as well, since his need for me to play with him while cute, when it is cute and I have time, most of the time is irritating, but now I don't think so. (taking the other cat in)
His Majesty can come and go as he pleases, so he has date nights

Which concern me. The black cat will come to the pet door (which is clear)... looking in, at night, all I can see are a pair of green eyes. Spooky as hell, and unless I lock it, there is nothing preventing her from coming in and feasting.

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

Oho, so you do have a cat! But a lazy one, it seems. Our cats don't catch nearly as many varmints as we'd like them to. And then they bring them into the house, sometimes alive, sometimes dead. We, too, have a pet door, mostly for the convenience of our daughter's dog that lives with us, and that means the cats can bring their gifts right on in.

0
0
0.000
Reply