I hate dock rats!!

[soling42]

I'm talking about the big a$$ wharf rats that are partying on my boat when I leave. Luckily(?) they're confined to the cockpit and rear setees' but what a mess and they're starting to munch on plastic parts. Insulation for desert can't be too far away.

Tried poison but it only turned their poo blue. Trapped a few but didn't find the last one until 4 days after it got "otherwise distracted". 4 days dead in august create an even worse mess beyond words. I still can't get the stench out of my nose.

Hate to leave my otherwise very nice dock space but I'm seriously considering it. Words of wisdom will keep me from posting a gory rat picture.

Michael

 

[BobM]

Thoughts

Have you complained to the marina? I'd think that they have a responsibility from both damage prevention and health (as in board of)to have an active program for keeping the population down.

 

[Rick D]

Oh, THOSE Rats....

...I thought you meant the other kind. Like the family of a mother and two late - teen girls who rented a power boat next to me once. The (really good looking) girls would run around naked all the time which in of itself wasn't bad ;D but the attracted every young guy and they partied on my boat! The dock master moved me after I told her what was going on. Maybe your result can be the same? Rick D.

 

[Steve Dion]

Funnels on your dock lines

Have you considered putting funnels on your dock lines. You can purchase S.S. funnels that should work in keeping them at bay (or in it).

You can also try some plastic ones to see if they would even work.

If you are using rat poison, it should be placed at the top of the gang way NOT on the dock.

 

[soling42]

Not moochers, teens or trespassers, but furry rodent types

I re-read my post and with somewhat of a wry sarcastic twist I could see the comparison but normally I'd refrain from poisoning an "adventurous" teen or even an obnoxious mother in-law. No, these are the big, nasty rodent types with long boney tails and sharp strong teeth munching and excreting foul juices etc on my boat.

I'm at a private dock behind a friends house in a nice upscale area at virtually no cost so I'd really rather find a prevention/deterrent than a new dock site. Surly there's some sage rat defeating wisdom from such a salty group. I even had a dream that they chewed through all 6 dock lines as revenge*666.

Swing away.

Michael

 

[Cactus Jack]

Complain?

Complain to the dockmaster about partying, naked rats? Wonder what kind of response that would get...

And soling42's description of the rodents reminds me of the killer rabbit in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

 

[Ross]

Mix peanut butter with the blue pellets and place it

under the dock steps, and in all of the places where you would stash food if you were a rat. Generally it takes about 4 days for the bait to do its job. If they can they will carry the bait away and stash it. If it is miked with peanut butter they are much more likely to eat it where they find it. If it is any comfort my pharmacist friends have told me that the effects are completely painless. Squirrels are just rats with a better wardrobe consultant. But they are just as destructive as their ugly cousins. The phone company had to replace my external wire because the tree rats had been gnawing on the insulation. They took the bait and are gone for now. The next gang is expected before winter.

 

[Ross in Tampa]

I'm not sleeping on your boat...

Geez Louise Mike,

could you have waited till after Saturday for this post? I will sleep on the couch in the squadron.

 

[David10790]

Every location has its pests

This year we are mobbed by purple martins which love to perch on the lifelines and crap on the decks. They do eat a lot of bugs though.

In the winter we have beavers (yes! beavers in Canada!) that attack the trees and sometimes drop them on the docks.

The worse, however, are the Canada geese which produce unbelievable amounts of guano. They are federally protected and cannot be harmed.

But no rats.

 

[soling42]

You should see the rats in THAT old bldg

It's an officially seaworthy craft now....rat certified. No longer just some pretty dock trophy fresh off the showroom floor.

RNT I was bringing you this weekend just to divert their attention with a PBJ stuck between your toes. Hey, what would the guys in the movie Second Hand Lions do? Shotguns I'm sure. By the way Kelli doesn't know about all this rat stuff and Ross in tpa shouldn't you be working.

Thanks, for the good advice Org Ross. PB "treats" with a little >snap< for all my furry friends.

Rat Killa Michael

 

[BobM]

David, I can't believe...

...there are still Canadian geese in Canada. I thought they were all down here now! I can't believe they need protection from anybody but golfers.

Tough situation...rats, but a great deal on dock space. What about if you bought mooring whips. Those might make it more challenging for the rats. There would be a significant initial investment though.

 

[soling42]

We ARE on whips. These are/were nimble rats.

The canal is lined with mangroves so I'm afraid that they're multi generational, well established and may put up a valiant fight.....Acme large traps, cones on whips and spring lines and extra sharp peanut butter for everyone.

And what if they're swimmers too.....

 

[JohnS12875]

You COMPLAINED?!?!?!

"The (really good looking) girls would run around naked all the time ...and they partied on my boat!" Not something I'd be running to the dock master about.

 

[Ross]

Michael, It won't hurt to expand your perimeter

when you have thinned the herd around the dock. Start working your way out into the woods. Just plan on making your bait stations raccoon proof. Like a 2 1/2 inch pipe about 3 feet long, with the bait in the center and stake it down well. You can nail it up from wood if you like, that way it just rots away in a couple of years.

 

[Rick Webb]

Bait Them and Shoot Them

Worked on the tree rats who invaded our place. A pair of NVGs make it somewhat easier at night.

 

[Ross]

Rick , I agree that shooting them would be more

satisfying but I live in a rather crowded subdivision and I am concerned that my neighbors would object to intermittent rifle fire. ;D

 

[Rick Webb]

Should Have Mentioned My Weapon of Choice

A Daisy 880 Powerline, works well on PWCers as well.

BTW spring for the extra $12 for the scope. I know it sounds silly but it does help.

 

[Steve Dion]

These things work!

These things work great on mice! I cannot vouch for RATS!

 

[RichH]

I have had rat problem in my barn ....

Spreading/scattering cotton balls along the walls soaked in cayenne pepper oil and/or oil of cloves and/or oil of peppermint seems to keep the population low.
You might want to put some on your docklines; plus, some open 'cap-fulls' of liquid ammonia (to smell like predator urine).

 

[letterman]

get a tape of Rossanne Barr

singing the National Anthem. I heard even rats can't stand the noise. Play it on loop.