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KackyK
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| Posted: Oct 22 2010 at 7:05am | IP Logged
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Literally! Not inside!!!! Thank the Lord, we'd probably move!
But their holes are all around the edge of our concrete patio and walk-up stairs from our basement. We tried pest people, they called them voles. They are wrong! My kids have seen them, yuck!
Anyways, short of getting an outdoor cat (which might just happen this spring), any other ideas that have worked??!!!
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KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
Beginning With the Assumption
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stacykay
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| Posted: Oct 22 2010 at 10:08am | IP Logged
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I would probably try those kits available at hardware stores (we used one that had blue crystal looking nuggets when we had mice. I would guess they work on rats, too?)
Also, make sure that you have a "clear" landscape around the perimeter of your home. Trim up bushes, remove any tall grasses, any trash (switch to metal cans if need be, although I've heard they can gnaw through metal, too.)
And last, I'd call your city. Someone in our neighborhood saw a rat crossing a street, called the city (I'm not sure what department, but they will direct you, I'm sure,) and someone came out, went door-to-door to check if anyone else had seens rats and gave us all a sheet of suggestions to make our homes/yards "unfriendly" to rats. It was a huge deal to this person who came out. Rats can carry diseases  and do a lot of damage. Plus, I guess they multiply quickly.
Here is a link I found to some suggestions from the other side of the coast, but I'd guess the recommendations would be the same, anywhere.
If I saw one, I'd probably freak!  I will pray they are gone, quickly!
In Christ,
Stacy in MI
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stacykay
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| Posted: Oct 22 2010 at 10:11am | IP Logged
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Ok, that link I gave said not to use poison, so please disregard that bit of advice I gave!  
In Christ,
Stacy in MI
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Maryan
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| Posted: Oct 22 2010 at 10:37am | IP Logged
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Kacky,
No advice. Cats and barn owls are great for clearing out all sorts of rodents thought.
But I did want to say that I'm pretty sure city rats are gross and nasty because they come across so much garbage, etc., but I'd be surprised if you had that kind? Your area is so rural! Even if you did have rats (instead of voles), I wouldn't think they'd be the same threat as rats in the city. Just my thoughts -- for your peace of mind.
As for me, all kinds of wildlife are par for the course around here -- as long as they aren't in my house, we'll get along just fine. Although Dan would really like to get rid of the groundhog that eats his veggies.
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
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LisaD
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| Posted: Oct 22 2010 at 2:45pm | IP Logged
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It sounds like you have Norway rats. The common roof rat doesn't burrow undergound, but Norway rats do. We have had some experience with roof rats...we have had to seal all openings around the foundation and roofline, frequently clean out the woodpile and woodbin (attached to the outside of the chimney with a door to the inside), and remove two persimmon trees from our yard. We still see the occasional one, but we live in an area with a lot of wildlife. If you have a fairly large property (I live in CA--anything bigger than 7,000 sq. feet is fairly large to me), you could put up a Barn Owl House. We've talked about doing this, because we have tons of gophers, too, but we haven't yet.
Other than that, a cat or a rat terrier might be your best choice for a new pet.
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~Lisa
Mama to dd(99), ds(01), ds(03) and ds(06)
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allegiance_mom
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| Posted: Oct 22 2010 at 2:52pm | IP Logged
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Don't fill or refill any bird feeders as long as you have them. They eat the bird seed. We had them when we lived in the city. Our whole neighborhood was invaded when they did a sewer project and disturbed them. Yuck. I can sympathize.
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Allegiance Mom in NY
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Mom to two boys, 14 and 8, and one pre-born babe in Heaven (Jan 2010)
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JennGM
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| Posted: Oct 22 2010 at 7:17pm | IP Logged
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allegiance_mom wrote:
| Don't fill or refill any bird feeders as long as you have them. They eat the bird seed. We had them when we lived in the city. Our whole neighborhood was invaded when they did a sewer project and disturbed them. Yuck. I can sympathize. |
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We just found one (dead, thank God) outside a few months ago, and removed our bird feeder because of that. We haven't found many other signs from the outside, but I think we'll keep checking. Yuck.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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KackyK
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| Posted: Oct 23 2010 at 9:37am | IP Logged
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We just have a 1/2 acre in a subdivision, but as Maryan said, we are "a bit out" from the main city. We have lots of deer too that are even daring enough to run down the street once in a blue moon and a home that is next to our subdivision lets it's chickens roam free and they have been down the road too, so that would be kind of rural 
We don't have any garbage or bird feeders out back at all. The only thing that my dh and I came up with as to why they are at our house is maybe because the houses all around us, have dogs. We have allergies  We look more inviting. You'd think all the children would do something to keep them away, guess not heh?
Maryan...I'll have to ask your sil for any kittens?? Almost got one or two from her this summer, should have done it!
Oh and I really know nothing about owls. Would just putting up one of those houses attract them? There is an old falling down barn which backs up to our road, but about 10 houses down from me. Either way...looks like a fun project for my boys who carve and nail any all wood they can get their hands on! Thanks Lisa!
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KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
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Maryan
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| Posted: Oct 26 2010 at 6:06am | IP Logged
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When we had barn owls, there was not a mouse to be seen! However, their eyesight is terrible and they are prone to killing themselves in barbed wire fences, so we only had a breeding pair one season since we've been here. Dan said years ago, a guy came out and put up a barn owl house in the silo. But then Isabelle blew off the top of the silo and we've only seen an occasional barn owl since. 
And Erin's out of kittens sadly. But her cat is a great mouser. Sometimes even leaves her kills on our doorstep... lovely.
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Oct 26 2010 at 12:03pm | IP Logged
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Maryan wrote:
| prone to killing themselves in barbed wire fences |
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EWWW.... What a visual, Maryan! Icky and disturbing and funny at the same time.
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stef
mom to five
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KackyK
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| Posted: Oct 26 2010 at 10:34pm | IP Logged
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That is an ugly image Maryan!
I'll have to pray for Erin's cat to find another mate! LOL
She's such a good mouser (the cat, NOT Erin!), the DNA must be good!!!LOL
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KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
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anitamarie
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| Posted: Oct 27 2010 at 1:17pm | IP Logged
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At least they weren't in the couch: Even a Dress Has Its Limitations
Gross Out Warning!
Good Luck
Anita
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KackyK
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| Posted: Oct 27 2010 at 6:33pm | IP Logged
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Anita...Anita...I have absolutely no words.
I can't even fathom...can't even!!!!!!
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KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: I have rats
