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- Subject: Re: (ET) rats
- From: John Charles Fedor <John Fedor net>
- Date: Mon, 05 Feb 2001 00:26:19 -0500
- References: <3A7DCDF8.18692.9C124C@localhost>
snakes are cold blooded and hibernate during the winter - they will be of no use eliminating rats and mice (and voles) in winter. However, in this area of the country (vermont) we have black snakes, and I must say that they are wonderful. They live in my barn and eat rodents as well as predating upon any rattlesnakes that may be in the area. Black snakes are rather shy and avoid humans - one almost never sees them around. The only successful discouragement of rodents is to eliminate access or to eliminate their habitat - they will not cross (metal) window screening that is sunk into the ground and will only climb over it if the snow gets above the top of the screening. I successfully prevent rodent damage to potted trees and bushes (which is a MAJOR problem in this area) by grouping them together and setting up a double thickness of typical metal window screen in a circle around them. I use a shovel to make a slit in the turf around them all and insert the wire into the slit. Then I use twine to hold the screening up by tying it around the potted plants. In this area, we rarely get more than 2" so I use a 22" height. Never have rodents crossed this simple and inexpensive barrier. (if you live in an area with gophers, significantly stronger wire will be needed) "David Roden (Akron OH USA)" wrote: > On 4 Feb 2001, at 21:32, Neil Dennis wrote: > > > Most positive cure I've found for rats is my airgun or a .22 with bird > > shot. > > I haven't tried it, but a friend of mine recommends snakes. I forget > what the breed is that she recommends, but there's one that is supposedly > nonpoisonous to humans but does a good job on the rats. Nonpoisonous or > not, I'm not sure I want snakes living in/around/under my tractor any > more than rats!
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