Pack Rat Solution, YMMV

[SmokingInTheWind]

I started this thread due to @Bananacaravanadium mentioning his rat problem in the WAYS thread. I figured it was better to start a new conversation.

I had a problem with pack rats this summer. They haven’t gotten into the house and garage but they loved to hang out on my patio and poop all over the place, especially in the corners of the block wall and along the edge of the house where we sit. I was able to catch a few at first using rat traps but they stopped taking the bait. I tried many different baits. They just kept hanging out and pooping. It must have been the village idiots that I caught. I tried the poison bait and they ate it for a while then stopped. Again, probably the village idiots that eventually died. But the pooping continued.

I tried many deterrents and the one that eventually worked was ground cayenne pepper. The really hot 90,000 HU stuff. I spread it lightly along the perimeter of the patio, concentrating on the corners of the block wall and edge of the house where most of the droppings were. I haven’t seen a rat dropping since. It has been about a month and I only did one application.

If you have children or pets this may not be a good option for you. If you try it, you should wear goggles, and a face mask when you spread it. A slight breeze could make things very uncomfortable. Don’t ask me how I know, ha, ha.

You also have the added bonus of using it to spice up your food. But remember, this is the high test stuff, so go slow if cooking with it.

 

[Briarcutter]

I use Tobasco sauce on my carved pumpkin to deter Squirrels in October. Too many of them around here to shoot and trap.

 

[The Benedictine]

I use Tobasco sauce on my carved pumpkin to deter Squirrels in October. Too many of them around here to shoot and trap.

I tried hot sauce on my kitchen table legs to stop my Boston terrier from chewing on them. He loves the taste apparently.

 

[Waning Embers]

Mix up peanut butter and baking soda. Leave drops of it around where you know rodents will be.

 

[huntertrw]

I tried hot sauce on my kitchen table legs to stop my Boston terrier from chewing on them. He loves the taste apparently.

My wife and I have had a number of French Bulldogs over the years, and two of them (both girls) enjoyed chewing wood. We tried Tabasco to no avail; apparently they regarded it as a delicious condiment that enhanced the flavor of the base-board in the kitchen and the leg of an antique chair in my den!

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

Mix up peanut butter and baking soda. Leave drops of it around where you know rodents will be.

I tried baking soda mixed 50/50 with corn muffin mix. It’s all over the internet as a sure fire rodent killer. The little buggers wouldn’t touch it. They wouldn’t touch peanut butter in my traps either. I’m dealing with some rats that aren’t motivated by food. They just get off on crapping all over
my patio and pissing me off

I was taking it personally. When I was ordering the cayenne pepper I had a 5 pound jug of it in my shopping cart. I was going to nuke my entire property with the stuff. My wife talked me down and I settled on a one pound bag. I only needed to use a few ounces

I will keep the peanut butter and baking soda mixed in mind though, thanks.

 

[Waning Embers]

I tried baking soda mixed 50/50 with corn muffin mix. It’s all over the internet as a sure fire rodent killer. The little buggers wouldn’t touch it. They wouldn’t touch peanut butter in my traps either. I’m dealing with some rats that aren’t motivated by food. They just get off on crapping all over
my patio and pissing me off

I was taking it personally. When I was ordering the cayenne pepper I had a 5 pound jug of it in my shopping cart. I was going to nuke my entire property with the stuff. My wife talked me down and I settled on a one pound bag. I only needed to use a few ounces

I will keep the peanut butter and baking soda mixed in mind though, thanks.

That's some Secret of Nimh rats you've got there!

 

[The Benedictine]

My wife and I have had a number of French Bulldogs over the years, and two of them (both girls) enjoyed chewing wood. We tried Tabasco to no avail; apparently they regarded it as a delicious condiment that enhanced the flavor of the base-board in the kitchen and the leg of an antique chair in my den!

My Boston stopped chewing after teething but I now give him a chew bone with hot sauce on it as a treat.

 

[huntertrw]

My Boston stopped chewing after teething...

Our girls chewed well into old age - perennial puppies!

 

[Servant King]

Very helpful stuff here! I assume this will work just as well to deter mice, yes?

I will admit, when I saw "HU," my first thought was, "Cool, a new release, maybe something in the same vein as Dockworker?"

I can see Jim's review now: "The cayenne leads the way, and provides a clear cut excuse to commit suicide immediately. Sports a few rough edges. Strength is just a notch past the reddest drawing on that pain scale chart you see at the doctor's office. Room note is...well, you'll be writhing on the floor in pain, so no need to worry about the room note. Requires precisely zero relights. Recommend a pipe you won't mind getting ruined forever. Not an all day smoke. Five out of four stars.

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

That's some Secret of Nimh rats you've got there!

Yeah, I’ve never seen anything like it. I normally wouldn’t worry about rodent droppings outside, but it was mostly around our patio furniture where we spend a lot of time. New Mexico is known for the Hanta virus and it is passed on to humans through rodent droppings. I know it is rare but it is always in the back of my mind.

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

Very helpful stuff here! I assume this will work just as well to deter mice, yes?

Yes, it should work on mice. Any critter with a sensitive sniffer I presume.

 

[Bananacaravanadium]

Yeah, I’ve never seen anything like it. I normally wouldn’t worry about rodent droppings outside, but it was mostly around our patio furniture where we spend a lot of time. New Mexico is known for the Hanta virus and it is passed on to humans through rodent droppings. I know it is rare but it is always in the back of my mind.

Better safe than sorry with that one! I’ll wash clothes right after crawling in crawl spaces and attics especially because I’ve got young kids who still like to climb all over me so I’m extra cautious.
I really appreciate the thread and was happy to see your solution because I do have pets and would hate it if they found and picked up a poisoned rodent before I could get it.
Right now I’ve got peanut butter on classic spring traps not yet set to try and get them to trust it. Then I’ll set it.

If I don’t have any luck I’ll try and flush them out of the house with the cayenne!

 

[greeneyes]

I addressed our similar problem as a hobby. I built, bought and enhanced traps of every size, using various types of bait, and captured, killed, skinned, ate, and trained every four legged animal that set foot in our yard.

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

Better safe than sorry with that one! I’ll wash clothes right after crawling in crawl spaces and attics especially because I’ve got young kids who still like to climb all over me so I’m extra cautious.
I really appreciate the thread and was happy to see your solution because I do have pets and would hate it if they found and picked up a poisoned rodent before I could get it.
Right now I’ve got peanut butter on classic spring traps not yet set to try and get them to trust it. Then I’ll set it.

If I don’t have any luck I’ll try and flush them out of the house with the cayenne!

The traps will probably work on normal rats ha, ha. You could also try the baking soda/corn muffin mix or baking soda and peanut butter. Rats and mice can’t burp or fart so that is what kills them. Plus, it is totally harmless to pets and children. Good luck.

Before finding a solution I was getting so frustrated that I was thinking of asking Jim if I could rent some of his ferals.

 

[Indygrap]

Yes, it should work on mice. Any critter with a sensitive sniffer I presume.

Also, male rats drag their testicles & as any man who has ever eaten wings or boiled crawfish, gone to take a whizz, & not washed their hands first can attest to, spicy things on your thing is never fun. Not to kink shame but, I can’t imagine dragging your junk through a trail of cayenne is pleasant.

 

[Bananacaravanadium]

Also, male rats drag their testicles & as any man who has ever eaten wings or boiled crawfish, gone to take a whizz, & not washed their hands first can attest to, spicy things on your thing is never fun. Not to kink shame but, I can’t imagine dragging your junk through a trail of cayenne is pleasant.

Huh, maybe I should get the 5 lb bag…

 

[Searock Fan]

I started this thread due to @Bananacaravanadium mentioning his rat problem in the WAYS thread. I figured it was better to start a new conversation.

I had a problem with pack rats this summer. They haven’t gotten into the house and garage but they loved to hang out on my patio and poop all over the place, especially in the corners of the block wall and along the edge of the house where we sit. I was able to catch a few at first using rat traps but they stopped taking the bait. I tried many different baits. They just kept hanging out and pooping. It must have been the village idiots that I caught. I tried the poison bait and they ate it for a while then stopped. Again, probably the village idiots that eventually died. But the pooping continued.

I tried many deterrents and the one that eventually worked was ground cayenne pepper. The really hot 90,000 HU stuff. I spread it lightly along the perimeter of the patio, concentrating on the corners of the block wall and edge of the house where most of the droppings were. I haven’t seen a rat dropping since. It has been about a month and I only did one application.

If you have children or pets this may not be a good option for you. If you try it, you should wear goggles, and a face mask when you spread it. A slight breeze could make things very uncomfortable. Don’t ask me how I know, ha, ha.

You also have the added bonus of using it to spice up your food. But remember, this is the high test stuff, so go slow if cooking with it.

View attachment 416417

Ha! I looked at this threat because I thought it was going to be about tobacco hoarders.

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

Ha! I looked at this threat because I thought it was going to be about tobacco hoarders.

And now you know more about rats than you probably wanted to.

 

[Servant King]

Also, male rats drag their testicles

It would appear they have found a way around this predicament: they simply identify as female.