Filling in rat holes
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So the rats in my back yard have gotten out of control. There must be about 10-20 of them that have built a next under my garage and under my back porch. Kill traps are not the best option since we have other wildlife, squirrels and bunnies, and they frankly don't make traps large enough for these rats. My neighbor has started placing rat poison in their holes, in my yard, without my permission, only telling me once my dog tried to retrieve a bag of it from the hole. He has also placed a bag near my garden. I could easily shoot them on site with my .22 pellet gun, but given local laws, I'd be in jail forever. Anyways, my question is, what is the best way to fill in the holes? Is there an expanding foam that I can spray in there that will solidify and seal them off? Since I can't stop my neighbor from poisoning the holes I'd like to seal the poison into the holes so my dogs don't get to it.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
Your neighbor is a jerk. Even if you seal the holes, some of the rats will probably manage to dig out before they die. And if your dog eats a poisoned rat, the dog is doomed. Get an "adult" air gun - they're practically silent, and more than enough to execute a rat. If that's too risky from a legal standpoint, park your butt in front of the hole with speargun, crossbow, or a sharp pointed stick and sit there as long as it takes to eliminate them. As for the poison, toss the bags into the neighbor's yard and see how his dog likes the stuff.
Will Rogers never met me.
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Jesus, are you and gavin related, he literally just posted that. I've used them before, pretty accurately at short ranges. And my yard is small.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
wizardzz wrote:
are you and gavin related
nope, but we are both south of the Mason-Dixon... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Programming is a race between programmers trying to build bigger and better idiot proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots, so far... the universe is winning. A crisis on your part does not constitute one on mine.
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Never used one on game, is it quick/clean/humane, or will I have to finish it with a stick or have a rat hole with a disabled parking spot in front of it. I can borrow one from cousins on Sunday.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
a wrist rocket vs a slingshot. a good wrist rocket is quite powerful. A cheap kids slingshot is just that. If you are a natural marksman, its not hard to use and packs one hell of a punch. With steel shot and headshots I fully believe you would get kill shots.
Programming is a race between programmers trying to build bigger and better idiot proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots, so far... the universe is winning. A crisis on your part does not constitute one on mine.
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
Six tree rats met their maker as a result, and out of a tin of 300 pellets, I still have 293 pellets.
wah? :omg: :wtf: :confused: You missed?
Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett
I used one pellet to sight it in. Fired the shot (25 yards), adjusted the sight, and went to work.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 -
Your neighbor is a jerk. Even if you seal the holes, some of the rats will probably manage to dig out before they die. And if your dog eats a poisoned rat, the dog is doomed. Get an "adult" air gun - they're practically silent, and more than enough to execute a rat. If that's too risky from a legal standpoint, park your butt in front of the hole with speargun, crossbow, or a sharp pointed stick and sit there as long as it takes to eliminate them. As for the poison, toss the bags into the neighbor's yard and see how his dog likes the stuff.
Will Rogers never met me.
Oh, I know he's being a complete ass about it. He has lived there for like 60-70 years so he feels entitled to do whatever he wants in the 'hood. Realistically I wouldn't let my dogs get to a rat for that reason, and because the rats are massive. Absolutely massive, their bodies are the size of a small cat's. I think they could get some good bites in. I just want to seal in the actual poison so I know where it is, and keep my animals away from the live or dead rats. I'm telling him today to stop with the poison, that I need to know where it is, and that now I need to seal it off. He only told me last night at 11pm when he was already sauced so there was no point in discussing it then. I also need to ask where else he has put it, and if any has gone near my garden which has a lot of root vegetables. I'm not exactly sure why he hasn't put some sort of traps in his yard, as they live in mine, but are always in his.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
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Jesus, are you and gavin related, he literally just posted that. I've used them before, pretty accurately at short ranges. And my yard is small.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
How about a crossbow? :)
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 -
Never used one on game, is it quick/clean/humane, or will I have to finish it with a stick or have a rat hole with a disabled parking spot in front of it. I can borrow one from cousins on Sunday.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
if you really want to get high tech.. laser sighted wrist rocket :-D
Programming is a race between programmers trying to build bigger and better idiot proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots, so far... the universe is winning. A crisis on your part does not constitute one on mine.
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Oh, I know he's being a complete ass about it. He has lived there for like 60-70 years so he feels entitled to do whatever he wants in the 'hood. Realistically I wouldn't let my dogs get to a rat for that reason, and because the rats are massive. Absolutely massive, their bodies are the size of a small cat's. I think they could get some good bites in. I just want to seal in the actual poison so I know where it is, and keep my animals away from the live or dead rats. I'm telling him today to stop with the poison, that I need to know where it is, and that now I need to seal it off. He only told me last night at 11pm when he was already sauced so there was no point in discussing it then. I also need to ask where else he has put it, and if any has gone near my garden which has a lot of root vegetables. I'm not exactly sure why he hasn't put some sort of traps in his yard, as they live in mine, but are always in his.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
Rats like that will probably have no trouble chewing through foam - try a few bags of post mix concrete. But another thought occurs. My grandfather used to eliminate (or at least motivate to move out) gophers by inserting lit road flares in their holes. If it's safe to do so, you might try that. The fumes are toxic, and irritating enough that, if the rats aren't killed by it, they might be panicked into rushing out to meet your spear! Happy hunting... :-D
Will Rogers never met me.
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I don't want to get into it with an old 'nam vet, he's lived there his entire life, I'm just a renter, the cops wouldn't even side with me if I called them.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
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Rats like that will probably have no trouble chewing through foam - try a few bags of post mix concrete. But another thought occurs. My grandfather used to eliminate (or at least motivate to move out) gophers by inserting lit road flares in their holes. If it's safe to do so, you might try that. The fumes are toxic, and irritating enough that, if the rats aren't killed by it, they might be panicked into rushing out to meet your spear! Happy hunting... :-D
Will Rogers never met me.
I was going to mix in steel wool with the foam, but might have to do concrete this weekend, I'll try the foam tonight though. I might try the flare technique, too.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
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if you really want to get high tech.. laser sighted wrist rocket :-D
Programming is a race between programmers trying to build bigger and better idiot proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots, so far... the universe is winning. A crisis on your part does not constitute one on mine.
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I have one of these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Greyhound[^] and one of these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Terrier[^] And 2 cats with front claws that are twins of Henry's cat. The dogs chase the rats out of the yard, haven't caught one yet, but I can't live them out there unattended for long. My cats to a great job of keeping rats/mice out of the house/porch/basement. They've killed 2 of them in my basement years ago before I even knew we had a problem.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
If your cats eat a poisoned rat, that might be bad. :~
Driven to the ARMs by x86.
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How about a crossbow? :)
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997Possibly, but realistically, no. I am now pondering the ability of a blow gun to down a rat. I have used them before for target. Also considering throwing knives / hatchets now.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
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Rather than trying to kill them why not use something that would repel them instead. Then they would all move to your 'nam-vet' neighbors yard where HE could shoot them and the cops wouldn't give a hoot. End of problem! :-D
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If your cats eat a poisoned rat, that might be bad. :~
Driven to the ARMs by x86.
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I used to have a terrier and it would go after any and every small living creature is could see/find/smell/suspect was in the yard. The only problem with rats and moles though is that the dog leaves your yard a disaster as they DIG for them absolutely everywhere! Expect to have no grass left when they are done. :doh: The neighbor's napalm would probably do a cleaner job! ;P
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So the rats in my back yard have gotten out of control. There must be about 10-20 of them that have built a next under my garage and under my back porch. Kill traps are not the best option since we have other wildlife, squirrels and bunnies, and they frankly don't make traps large enough for these rats. My neighbor has started placing rat poison in their holes, in my yard, without my permission, only telling me once my dog tried to retrieve a bag of it from the hole. He has also placed a bag near my garden. I could easily shoot them on site with my .22 pellet gun, but given local laws, I'd be in jail forever. Anyways, my question is, what is the best way to fill in the holes? Is there an expanding foam that I can spray in there that will solidify and seal them off? Since I can't stop my neighbor from poisoning the holes I'd like to seal the poison into the holes so my dogs don't get to it.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
Boiling water. Lots of it. Or maybe some sort of acid.
Driven to the ARMs by x86.
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Mine don't eat what they kill. Rats were intact with broken necks.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
Now those are my kind of cats. Smart and deadly efficient.
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill
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Laser sites attached to any weapon, or on their own are completely illegal in my county to even possess.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
I hate Cook County. Its got to have some of the most needlessly strict laws I have ever seen.
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill
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I hate Cook County. Its got to have some of the most needlessly strict laws I have ever seen.
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill
Ah, lucky you, you're down in Urbana, as we like to call it "The rest of the state." Seriously Illinois is divided into Cook County and the rest of the state.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
