Fruit Rats in Garden - Any Suggestions apart from poison

frontalman



Joined: 28/02/2008
Posts: 499

Message Posted:
31/07/2011 12:22

We have had fruit rats in our garden for a few months at least now. They have helped themselves to the fruit off our immature trees, but have now started to chew the hard stems of our mature-ish bougainvilla in the front garden. Our dogs have caught and eaten one but we have at least one other doing damage. We cannot use poison because of the dogs which roam free in our large garden. We think he/she/they have set up home in our front stone wall. Any suggestions please as to how we can catch the little so-and-sos? I came face to face with one as I peered into the wall, and they are quite cute, but they gotta go!

pc4854


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 243

Message Posted:
31/07/2011 12:28

Sticky traps seem to work well at a friend of mines garden

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
31/07/2011 12:31

Get a cat or two ?

Sid447


Joined: 15/05/2009
Posts: 141

Message Posted:
31/07/2011 13:12

I would think a few wire cage traps might do it.



There can't be that many. Plus maybe a small mesh wire fencing around your property or trees?



Why not take advice from a pest control source that you could probably google, as pest control here definitely uses a different method...



Thumbs up to you for not wanting to use poison.



If you allow your dogs to eat the rats they will no doubt now need de-worming.

Deniz1


Joined: 28/07/2009
Posts: 3829

Message Posted:
31/07/2011 13:14

Get some sticky traps and put a bit of fruit in the centre once on they cannot get off. You can release them by putting cooking oil on their feet.

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
31/07/2011 13:15

Sticky traps? how very inhumane...





msg1... If your dog has eaten a rat I suggest you administer "Worming Tablets" asap..







Put some fruit in a cage with a trap door in the same way as the KAR cat catchers,then move them on..

yorgozlu



Joined: 16/06/2009
Posts: 4437

Message Posted:
31/07/2011 13:28

msg 6;

move them on to where?............someone elses garden!



Catch'em kill'em,job done.

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
31/07/2011 14:31

msg7 yorg, Is that your answer to the stray dog problem as well? good idea !...........What's good for one is good for all........eh....

denizen



Joined: 21/08/2009
Posts: 388

Message Posted:
31/07/2011 14:49

msg 4; ....I would think a few wire cage traps might do it.





got some good ones in 1001.



ps any you catch, take them to Yorgozlu's place. Job done

yorgozlu



Joined: 16/06/2009
Posts: 4437

Message Posted:
31/07/2011 16:47

msg 8;

My answer to stray dog problem is..............stop dumping the poor animals just because you are done with them.

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
31/07/2011 16:57

msg 10.. I agree Yorg,Would it not be a good Idea to post your sentiments on a Turkish Cypriot Forum in Turkish.....

CJtill


Joined: 02/05/2008
Posts: 836

Message Posted:
31/07/2011 17:54

We get tree rats eating the rotten papayas we cannot reach, and our dogs sit there for hours on end watching them, waiting for them to make a false move.

Good sport for all..The rats get the food....The dogs anticipate a kill....We watch the entertainment.

I know there are many downsides to this, but I dont like the idea of traps.

Michael

frontalman



Joined: 28/02/2008
Posts: 499

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 00:04

Thanks for all the helpful replies, I really appreciate your help. I think the cage traps are the way to go, as it seems a bit more humane.

Roomy


Joined: 20/02/2011
Posts: 836

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 00:26

Msg 10 what would you eat then?



Just joking but I couldn't resist it, before you get your panties in a wad.

collinson


Joined: 28/07/2011
Posts: 30

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 07:03

surely if you put poison up high in the trees, it would be out of the way of the dogs.

BoTanica


Joined: 22/12/2009
Posts: 714

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 09:06

İts not so much the dogs might eat the poison, but they may chomp on the dead or dying rat. I know they are a nuicance, (but can be tolerated in the garden). The problem is when (and they will) eventually start really breeding and start looking around your house for "extras".

CJtill


Joined: 02/05/2008
Posts: 836

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 10:11

Once those rats move from the trees to scavenge along the ground, then the dogs will have fun.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 10:45

Run after them and pour salt on their tails - you know it works!

mozgor



Joined: 16/06/2010
Posts: 256

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 13:23

This post makes me realise why my hubby refused to get any fruit trees planted in the garden - he said they attracted flies, but rats, no thank you. We only have citrus trees, so I'm hoping the rats only like sweet fruit!!!

rejela


Joined: 09/02/2011
Posts: 293

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 13:46

The truth is rats are every where, in Cyprus or even the UK. If you don't see them, it doesn't mean they are not there. If you holiday here and return to the UK it is best to put poison in the garage / out buildings, as rats tend to move into the warmer environment as the winter months approach. During their stay they have to cut their teeth on anything and everything they come into contact with or their teeth would grow and cause them problems eating. I once had a problem where bye rats entered the garage and managed to get into my vehicle where they chewed everything, even the diesel pipes in the engine bay.

So yes Yorg is correct, they need to be dealt with not moved somewhere else.