On 6/2/2012 9:19 AM, Steve Barker wrote:
On 6/1/2012 11:59 PM, Bill Keefer wrote:
I hate to kill them - but I have to.
Do they die quickly when the big rat traps spring?

I'm not talking the little mouse traps - but the larger classic Victor
rat traps.

why does it matter? and why would anyone hate to kill them?


Regret at killing rats is absolute insanity. Transport them so that they
can multiply elsewhere? Regret a slow death, but do away with them. I
once had a neighbor who had a large dog, pinscher mix, tied to a tree in
their yard all the time. He would knock over his bowls of food and
water, and I'd go over to refill his water on occasion. Watched one day
as rats came out of the brush behind their yard, grabbed a bit of dog
food and ran back to the brush. Yuck! Pet food and waste are
invitations to rodents to come and party! Rats and roaches eat anything
and everything; all the more reason not to allow them entry to house.

Few days ago, son and grandson were getting the lawn mower ready to mow.
It has been the practice for several years for mice to live in the
mower in the shed, so they were checking it carefully. Out popped a
mama mouse and a baby, and both scurried off to a dark corner. Son
continued removing their nesting material from the mower and out pops
another baby. Second baby fell to the floor of the shed and the mama
ran out, grabbed it by the nape of the neck, and took him back to her
safe corner. The shed has been home to feral cats, mice and several
generations of groundhogs. Saw a possum checking out the yard a couple
of days ago, but don't think he's in the market for a shed. )