Squirrels by day, rats by night...Ughhhh!!!!!!

Calimom · 01-25-2009, 05:32 PM

The downside of putting a bird feeder up is that in addition to beautiful birds, it attracts squirrels and rats. Yuck. I don't mind the squirrels and Cali loves to chase them. For the most part I ignore the rats' presence as long as I don't see them and they don't get in the house. I have a tray that catches most of the wayward seed and a baffle to keep vermin from getting to the feeder to gorge themselves but apparently enough gets on the ground to attract them. Well, the problem arrises when it's time for Cali's last call of the night before bed. Sometimes when I flip on the outside lights and open the back door mr. ratty hasn't had time to scamper away. So, he climbs up the pole and in to the baffle. Well, Miss Cali is right there with her nose up the pole. I'm trying to grab her collar and drag her in to the house and keep as far from the birdfeeder as possible in case Mr. ratty drops down. The last thing I want is Mr. ratty climbing up my leg looking for higher ground!

Well, Mr. ratty does drop down, I shriek and do a dance trying to achieve having no feet on the ground, Mr. ratty zis and zags for cover with Cali in hot pursuit and deaf to my commands of leave it, and Mr. ratty takes cover in the copper canyon daisy bush. Cali is ecstatic trying to rout him out so I leave her to it for 20 minutes. Finally we convince her to come inside. I guess I'll have to set traps under overturned milk cartons with a brick on top.

tuffystar · 01-25-2009, 06:34 PM

Yuck! But your description has me laughing! Sorry but the picture it brings to mind makes me think of all of the times a mouse has made me do that dance!

gene · 01-25-2009, 06:42 PM

Oh, to have a video of that!! Love the play by play drawing!!

annabelles mom · 01-25-2009, 09:04 PM

ewwwwwwwww they rank up there with snakes and spiders

Jac · 01-26-2009, 12:45 AM

Love the drawing that goes with the hilarious description!

MerNor · 01-26-2009, 08:22 AM

I can see it now.. Cali extatic, you hopping from foot to foot and screaming! Thanks for the laugh.. and great diagram

01-26-2009, 09:13 AM

hahahaha. Great description!!! I have starting teaching Maya and Sadie to wait by the open door. Then I will slam the screen door to make sure that all the squirrels etc are scared and running then I will realease the hounds.

pringle's mom · 01-26-2009, 10:42 AM

RATS!!!!!!!!!

I would be totally freaked out. You are WAY braver than me!!!!!!

cissy k · 01-26-2009, 10:56 AM

Rub mineral oil on the stake part and the rats and squirrels won't be able to climb it! Your description was great and I have done that dance over a palmetto bug or two!!

blueteal · 01-26-2009, 12:29 PM

teehee
Loved the way you told that story..............We have those pesky things too plus skunks and coyotes and raccoons
I can never let the dogs out late at night without patrolling the yard first.............

**lindamarie** · 01-26-2009, 02:11 PM

YIKES!!!!!!!!!

........and I thought my skunks were bad. Yet, at least rats don't spray! But one crawling up my leg makes me want to pass out right here and now!

cocoandjane · 01-27-2009, 03:28 AM

OMGoodness!!

How in the world did you let Cali stay out there hunting the varmit for 20 minutes!!!
I don't think I could have let her keep trying to get a hold of it!

Did she catch it???
Did she kiss you when she came in???

Eeeeewwww! GAG!

01-25-2009, 05:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Calimom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Woodlands, TX Posts: 2,408	Squirrels by day, rats by night...Ughhhh!!!!!! The downside of putting a bird feeder up is that in addition to beautiful birds, it attracts squirrels and rats. Yuck. I don't mind the squirrels and Cali loves to chase them. For the most part I ignore the rats' presence as long as I don't see them and they don't get in the house. I have a tray that catches most of the wayward seed and a baffle to keep vermin from getting to the feeder to gorge themselves but apparently enough gets on the ground to attract them. Well, the problem arrises when it's time for Cali's last call of the night before bed. Sometimes when I flip on the outside lights and open the back door mr. ratty hasn't had time to scamper away. So, he climbs up the pole and in to the baffle. Well, Miss Cali is right there with her nose up the pole. I'm trying to grab her collar and drag her in to the house and keep as far from the birdfeeder as possible in case Mr. ratty drops down. The last thing I want is Mr. ratty climbing up my leg looking for higher ground! Well, Mr. ratty does drop down, I shriek and do a dance trying to achieve having no feet on the ground, Mr. ratty zis and zags for cover with Cali in hot pursuit and deaf to my commands of leave it, and Mr. ratty takes cover in the copper canyon daisy bush. Cali is ecstatic trying to rout him out so I leave her to it for 20 minutes. Finally we convince her to come inside. I guess I'll have to set traps under overturned milk cartons with a brick on top. __________________ Meg and Cali

01-25-2009, 06:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
tuffystar Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 2,292	Re: Squirrels by day, rats by night...Ughhhh!!!!!! Yuck! But your description has me laughing! Sorry but the picture it brings to mind makes me think of all of the times a mouse has made me do that dance!

01-25-2009, 06:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
gene Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: youngstown ohio Posts: 8,619	Re: Squirrels by day, rats by night...Ughhhh!!!!!! Oh, to have a video of that!! Love the play by play drawing!! __________________ gene , jonah , miko and rumor "A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down." - Robert Benchley

01-25-2009, 09:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
annabelles mom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: lkkkkkkkkkkkkk Posts: 6,837	Re: Squirrels by day, rats by night...Ughhhh!!!!!! ewwwwwwwww they rank up there with snakes and spiders

01-26-2009, 12:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: northern California Posts: 9,243	Re: Squirrels by day, rats by night...Ughhhh!!!!!! Love the drawing that goes with the hilarious description!

01-26-2009, 08:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
MerNor Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northern Sweden Posts: 302	Re: Squirrels by day, rats by night...Ughhhh!!!!!! I can see it now.. Cali extatic, you hopping from foot to foot and screaming! Thanks for the laugh.. and great diagram __________________ Meredith, Gabby and Baby Hagrid

01-26-2009, 09:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Squirrels by day, rats by night...Ughhhh!!!!!! hahahaha. Great description!!! I have starting teaching Maya and Sadie to wait by the open door. Then I will slam the screen door to make sure that all the squirrels etc are scared and running then I will realease the hounds.

01-26-2009, 10:42 AM	#8 (permalink)
pringle's mom Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 667	Re: Squirrels by day, rats by night...Ughhhh!!!!!! RATS!!!!!!!!! I would be totally freaked out. You are WAY braver than me!!!!!! __________________ Susan, Pringle, Finn & Gracie Rose

01-26-2009, 10:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
cissy k Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: NC Posts: 1,433	Re: Squirrels by day, rats by night...Ughhhh!!!!!! Rub mineral oil on the stake part and the rats and squirrels won't be able to climb it! Your description was great and I have done that dance over a palmetto bug or two!! __________________ Cissy and Semi

01-26-2009, 12:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
blueteal Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8,334	Re: Squirrels by day, rats by night...Ughhhh!!!!!! teehee Loved the way you told that story..............We have those pesky things too plus skunks and coyotes and raccoons I can never let the dogs out late at night without patrolling the yard first.............

01-26-2009, 02:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
lindamarie Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Birmingham, Michigan Posts: 6,171	Re: Squirrels by day, rats by night...Ughhhh!!!!!! YIKES!!!!!!!!! ........and I thought my skunks were bad. Yet, at least rats don't spray! But one crawling up my leg makes me want to pass out right here and now! __________________ Linda & Bogart Dogs=Unconditional love "We have it all! Just like Bogie & Bacall!"

01-27-2009, 03:28 AM	#12 (permalink)
cocoandjane Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: near Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,856	Re: Squirrels by day, rats by night...Ughhhh!!!!!! OMGoodness!! How in the world did you let Cali stay out there hunting the varmit for 20 minutes!!! I don't think I could have let her keep trying to get a hold of it! Did she catch it??? Did she kiss you when she came in??? Eeeeewwww! GAG! __________________ Jane Coco, Abby, Nellie, my doodles and Delilah, too !!

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