#and yes… he has a cat… blue has a raccoon… neighbors’ cats like each other before they do trope babey | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

hipsterteller · 5 years ago

Text

a cat in Raccoon city.

to @cheshire18cat, if it weren’t for you. I would be stuck....and now I’m returning my thanks to you.

Ollie was only 6 when his mother died, it was heartbreaking and ever since then he stop talking and became mute. His father, Christopher Redfield the founder of BSAA has been finding the killer who murder his wife.

so everyday he would leave Ollie under care by his sister, Claire. But luckily he wasn’t alone....a gray cat with golden eyes, he name him “Munchie”. Cause he smells like those donuts from donuts shop two blocks from his home.

but what he doesn’t know, that his precious cat has a double life.

-Redfield Residence, 10:00pm-

12-year-old, Ollie had just fell asleep after reading the book his mommy gave him when she was still alive. He wore an big sweater and pants, he snore softly as he cuddle his bear. Munchie manage to jump to window sill and with quick movement of his paw, the window swung open slightly letting the cold wind breeze.

this made the little boy shiver by the fresh wind at back of his neck, he slowly open his eyes and look to see that Munchie is starring back at him. He sat up and cat turn back to open window to outside and jump out.

Ollie began to wonder, every night his cat would sneak out of the house and come back at morning.

he slowly crawl at side of his bed and pull out his boots and put it on, he slowly crawl back to window and open it slightly wider and got out. He steady himself in wall and slowly follow his pet.

Munchie began walking further away from Redfield residence, Ollie tried not to fall from neighborhood brick wall, so he then goes on all four and began crawling slowly. He pass by each neighbor hood backyard as well one dog that kept barking at him and Munchie.

Ollie can feel his close to source on where his going at night, there at apartment, he saw someone getting dress in slick suit, his messy blonde hair all dry up and comb and place a hat with cat ears along side red goggles.

He zip up his suit leaving his expose cleavage, he grab a whip all wrap up and place it at his upper left thigh strap.

Munchie let out a cry as the person turn to him, his blue eyes shimmer down at him along a smile. Ollie watch and gaze at the stranger eyes, his eyes reminds him his late mother, oh how he misses his mommy.

she would place bandages on his scrape knee after trying to ride a bike, would read bedtime stories for him before bed and how she gave kisses to his daddy. He misses her.

Ollie wipe his tears away and sniff a bit, he decided to crawl back home, as soon he began to reach his home, he stop mid way when he heard voices.

“so your saying that Redfield has an offspring?”

“yes, his even cute when his asleep except for that pesky cat.”

He stood up and lean against the plank wall, he look through the wedges to see four male and one woman.

“so Jill Valentine had a child and yet kept hidden in order to keep him safe...” a deep Russian accent spoke, Ollie look at male to see that he has silver hair and wore what look like tactical gear like his father but from different branch of government.

“yes and get this, his also hunting down that cat burglar. He recently stole the files from Chief Irons office along documents about Umbrella illegal action.” a female voice spoke up and it made Ollie recognize that voice.

his pupil look at woman in shadow as she slowly step out of darkness revealing non other than , Excella Giovanni.

Ollie gasp and about to fall back, luckily he push himself to wooden plank but only for him to fall down when plank this startle the goons as Ollie quickly stood up and made a ran for it but only for Russian man grab him by the back of his shirt.

“well now, what do we have here.....” he held his tiny chin as Ollie is scarred “you must be the Redfield off spring.”

before he and the goons leave, the sound of wind crack were in air, they look up at the tree to see a shadow figure holding a whip. This made the whole neighborhood woken by the sound of cries, scream, gunshot and whip.

-2 minutes later-

“little boy, are you okay?” a voice calls out to Ollie thoughts as he slowly woke up and found himself starring at sky, Munchie came to his view and lick his nose, Ollie sat up and found himself at rooftop of apartment, the male figure is leaning against the chimney as he took off his goggles and hat to reveal himself.

“now why are you following Munchie?” he asked, Ollie bit his bottom lip as Munchie purred at his small chest and snuggle him.

the male chuckle and kneel down to his level “my name is Leon, and you?”

Ollie bit his bottom lip and respond “Ollie..”

Leon smile as he pat his head, before he could ask him more question, he heard Russian man voice...behind them along gun click. Without a second to spear Leon quickly pick up the boy placing his hat and goggle in his head for protection and made a quick run for it.

Munchie follow behind nearly dodging the bullet, Ollie hold on as Leon jump roof to roof as person behind them is still on there tail. Munchie rush in front guiding them.

it didn’t took long when Leon spot the crane that’s pointing at clock tower, he put Ollie behind his back, his tiny arms wrap around him as he began to climb up, Munchie took an alternate route on street as Russian man chase went up until Leon ran to walk way and jump to Clock tower balcony.

“stay here..” He order Ollie as he put him down, he got to edge were he stood above a gargoyle statue, Leon glare at Russian man as he recognize him.

“Nikolai Zinoviev...the man who murder Jill Valentine...”

Nikolai let out a huff as he clap by Leon intelligence.

“I’m impress that you know me..” He commented, Leon ready his whip as Nikolai grab his handgun only for the whip wrap around the top, Leon smirk but it frown when Nikolai grab it’s rope and yank it out of Leon as the gun and whip fall down to ground.

“Leon!” Ollie shout as door behind him is slam open, he turn and saw his dad “daddy?”

Chris is shock to see his son and Munchie but mostly saw Nikolai and Leon brawl at crane walk way, Leon tried to get away from his grasp around his neck as he began to choke to death.

“it’s a shame. You should have been a perfect assa-”

he was cut off when a bullet went through his shoulder, he scream as he fall off and landed on concrete bottom. Leon tried to breath ad luckily Chris came aiding him.

“you okay?” Chris asked as Leon smile.

“never better.”

Ollie watch as two men got to balcony and watch sun rises, Ollie decided to tell his tale to his daddy but somehow his daddy doesn’t seem to get concentrate but rather focus on Leon blue eyes that sparkle as sun rises.

-a month later-

Munchie was on brick wall walking as soon he got to window of Redfield Residence, Ollie open the window for him. The gray cat jump down of the home as the young boy pick him up with both arms.

Chris and Leon, are now married and Leon stop stealing and decided to join BSAA. As well a proposal that same day.

#chreon #chris x leon #Leon Kennedy #Chris Redfield #ollie kennedy redfield #ollie redfield kennedy

19 notes · View notes

offtosavetheearth · 5 years ago

Photo

June 29th 2018

First full day in the Jungle, and we have many activities planned. Our breakfast was eggs, pineapple, watermelon, plantains, yoghurt and granola, and coffee. Last night I slept on the queen bed, but I had to get up and pee about 7 times because the sound of the Napo River was messing with me. I’m still sick today, my lymph nodes have been super swollen for like over two weeks now, but onward we go. I whipped out my blue-green poncho, and everyone got rain boots for the boat ride. I sat next to Ginger, my boat buddy, and we drove through the Napo River for over an hour to get to the Amazoonica animal rescue center.

Amazoonico is a wildlife rescue center located in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest that rehabilitates, reintroduces, and cares for animals who are victims of illegal trafficking. All of the animals that arrive at the center are brought by the Ministry of the Environment, the result of confiscations from people who have kept them as pets or intended to sell or trade them on the black market. Some animals arrive suffering from multiple physical and behavioral problems which make it impossible for them to live free in the forest. In those cases, they are provided with enclosures similar to their original habitat, where they can live in the most natural conditions possible. In other cases, if the animals arrive in good physical and mental condition and after passing through quarantine, various examinations, and a rehabilitation process, they can be successfully reintroduced back into their natural habitat.

Founded in 1993, Amazoonico is a non-governmental organization created by a Swiss-Quichua couple named Angelika Raimann and Remigio Canelos. Together with Christine von Steiger, they wanted to protect the fauna of the Amazon, creating a center that would receive, treat, rehabilitate, and reintroduce wild animals that had been confiscated from illegal trade. In order to fulfill the plans for reintroduction it was important to create another project that would be exclusively dedicated to protection the rainforest itself, working with the community towards a common goal of sustainable and practical resource use. So came the birth of Selva Viva: a large umbrella project which would come to include 1750 hectares of protected forest, a trilingual school for the neighboring community, and two Eco-lodges which promote ecotourism. The project has been widely embraced by the nearby community and those who visit it daily, and has come to be well-recognized as a sanctuary of care and respect for wildlife. The driving force behind amaZOOnico are the Padrinos, volunteers, and tourists. Each day, they take care of the work with the animals, educational campaigns, and the maintenance of the infrastructure, the collection of funds and the general upkeep of the center.

Our tour guide was from Switzerland and she is working there for two months. She was kind of ditzy, but I think it is because she wasn’t comfortable with her English. On our tour we met toucans first, who while beautiful, are known to be incredibly aggressive and territorial. Their feathers had been plucked for ancient local rituals, and they had been taken to the center to regrow them. However they are now too acclimated to living in a cage around humans, so they must stay in the rescue center for the remainder of their lives. Next was the three and a half meter long Anaconda, who had her sensory organ taken out from her tongue, which helped to determine if her prey was dead or alive. She was found as a tourist attraction, and must stay there forever, with her roommate the Boa Constrictor. The Macaws we saw were very special, but very loud. They are often kept as pets, but given away after two years because their owners did not anticipate how noisy they would be. These birds choose their mates for life, and one wild Macaw chose a mate inside the cage, so every day he comes and perches on the top of the chain links so he can be with his wife.

We moved onto the monkeys, and I especially like Mono Capuchinos. This species uses its tail as a fifth hand, and every time tourists come around, one of the monkeys puts on a show. Hunted for their young, the mothers are usually shot so that the young they carry will fall to the ground and can be captured. Oftentimes Capuchinos arrive at Amazoonica paralyzed from the fall off their mother’s back. Pecaris, or relatives of wild pigs, were grouped together as a pack in this reserve. As a common dish for holidays, Amazoonica tries to release 8-10 a year away from civilization so they won’t be captured and eaten. Other attractions were the Coati, which reminded me of a possum or raccoon, a wild cat similar to Jaguars, and Amazon River Turtles. My absolute favorite were the Spider Monkeys and Chi Chico. Amazoonica’s Spider Monkeys were to be released soon, with a pack that hung around their group cage. The Chi Chico, Ecuador’s smallest monkey, was found in a backpack being smuggled across the border of Peru. His brother died due to parasites, but he now calls the reserve his home.

Of all these animals rescued, 1/3 survive at stay, 1/3 die, and 1/3 survive and our released. To be honest, this was identical to a Zoo for me. I didn’t feel that their project had stayed our course for its goals and mission. Yes they gave the animals similar habitats to that of their natural homes, but to allow tourists to come view them in cages for money, and their ratio of those rehabilitated in the wild, did not convince me that they were truly following the founders’ beliefs.

After our fairly brief visit, we traveled a short distance to eat lunch by the river. We were served this rice conglomeration with chicken, corn, and all sorts of vegetables mixed in. For sides we had tomatoes, lettuce, apples, huge bananas from Colombia, and water. I was pretty much choking on the rice the whole meal and attracting way too much attention. I sounded like a dying squeaker toy with a tomato face to boot. I blame the Ahi sauce and my closed off throat, plus the drizzling rain and cold wind. Lunch was quickly over and we were off to visit the Tiyayaku indigenous community guided by Marco. Our first demonstration was artisanal gold mining. The community is named after the river they mine in, and there are 15 families with approximately 68 people. To mine they arrive along the river at 4 am, carry big pots that weigh around 40 kg. They stay there till 3pm, usually waiting till the water is high and coming from the north, for that is when they find the most gold. It’s important for the Tiyayaku to have strong metal sticks, helping dig up more minerals to bring back to the village. Once they have dug up the ground and moved it into the circular bowl, they partially dip it into the river, moving the bowl in a specific circular motion to keep the gold grain inside. After this practice, they used to put the gold in their mouth to separate it from the iron, but nowadays a magnet is used. Women and men alike carry these heavy pots about 15 meters, either on their shoulder or their back. About 90 pots is one gram of gold, and one gram is 20 to 30 dollars in market.

Walking into the village we saw a diverse array of flora species, such as the well-known paradise flower with over 57 types in Ecuador. The indigenous use this plant for shampoo and sweet water; because of this sweet water, its inside petals are house various insects. A wide variety of this flower contributes to many different species of Hummingbirds.

We were led into a large wood-gated common area, where Rosalina, a grandmother of 35 grandchildren, showed us how they utilized the Yuca. With three different types harvested in the beginning, middle, and end of the year, it is the most important and most nutritious of their harvest. They also make the chichi drink, by fermenting this plant. It is so integral to their culture that spouses are chosen based on how well the woman can make this alcoholic beverage. After we all had a taste of the strange-milky vodka-tasting drink, two volunteers were brought up to make ceramics out of clay. This activity has been lost my many communities, because children simply aren’t interested in learning ancient skills. The making of ceramics was vital to this culture, so they could feed their families from pots and bowls, each with a specific purpose.

Our last activity was shooting darts out of the blow guns to hit a wooden toucan. Tactics like this were used to fight off the conquering Incas from invading the Amazon. At the gift shop I purchased a hand-made bowl designed with butterflies, toucans, and a woman. Then it was back on the boat for a quick ride to our cabins. I felt awful after sitting in the cold and the rain. In my opinion, cultural ecotourism activities like this do more good than harm. It seems to be keeping the culture alive against waves of modernization and outsourced labor. Not only does it provide income for the Tiyayaku, it also forces them to keep practicing ancient traditions to showcase their history and development. In terms of our cabins, I also think it is the most practical and sustainable way to combine humans and the environment. By integrating cabins into the landscape, destroying as little of the rainforest as possible, a deeper appreciation of nature is established, and visitors are encouraged to protect this house of biodiversity.

As soon as we got home I took a shower and napped until dinner. But when I woke up I felt even worse; my eardrum was swollen, itchy, and pounding, my throat hurt, I was hacking up globs of mucus, and my head was killing me. After our dinner of cornita frijo, fish, and fruit, I asked Felipe for an ibuprofen, and went to bed around 8:30pm.

The plan is to go to the doctor in Quito tomorrow, so here’s hoping.

0 notes

thecoroutfitters · 6 years ago

Link

Written by Wild Bill on The Prepper Journal.

With some school systems still on the 9/3 year, mixed with the year-round school systems, with summer temps still in full swing and fall harvest not yet started it is hard to believe that the Fall hunting seasons start in just ten (10) days.

Early dove season starts September 1 nationally. Waterfowl seasons vary by area (state) but run generally from September to January, and deer and turkey archery seasons generally runs from September 15th to December 15th.

And there are seasons for rabbits and hares, fur bearing animals such as badgers, beavers, fox, mink, muskrat, nutria, opossum, otter, raccoon, ring-tailed cat and yes, even skunks. And even some “non-game” animals have seasons.

Then of course there is deer and elk and turkey seasons for rifle, with a separate season for black powder, usually starting in October. Of these waterfowl and elk are my favorites because of the excellent meat each provides.

So as preppers planning to stock our freezers for the coming winter it might be time to close all the blinds, turn the AC on “freeze”, build a fire in the fireplace and start to do some planning.

Before the Planning Let’s Get our Head on Straight

Hunters are some of the best conservationist on the planet. Anyone who has contributed to PETA should stop reading this post now and go back to the Marvel Comics page. If you look at your states Fish and Game Departments, the people who manage wildlife, you will find, mostly, people dedicated to maintaining a balance between predators and wildlife. People who understand the areas they manage and what those areas can support as far as herd sizes and populations of predators and how they are integral in the management of wildlife. They also know the important role hunters play in the whole scheme of things and they are hunters best lobbyists when it comes to setting hunting rules. While digging for my fishing license, or passing a warden with a tagged turkey I have met some of the most dedicated of public servants.

Hunting is a tool in their arsenal to manage and maintain the herd size and health of wildlife. Constantly dealing with mans encroachment on wild areas is a thankless job. Dealing with poachers who hunt out of season it can also be a dangerous and heartbreaking job. Some poach because they are lazy and don’t care about the law while others do it because they are hungry. Life is complicated.

Now Let’s Do Some Planning

While sitting by the blazing fire, burning kilowatts to get “in the mood” or being later into Fall with cool days and crisp nights we first need to take a practical view of “hunting” as preppers. You have all heard the stories and many have lived them as well that after a weekend duck hunt, when you do the math, that duck you are enjoying for dinner on Sunday night cost just about $88 a bite. While I love elk it means a trip with all the expenses to Colorado or north, with the increased fees for an out-of-state tag, travel, meals, and on and on. The same for pheasant. On the other hand I have quail almost always foraging in my yard, though the city frowns on hunting in my yard or that of a neighbors. But open areas are less than a 30 minute drive. So while I fully encourage hunting for that desired trophy that provides meat as well as a challenge, I look at most preppers as being more practical in their goals.

What to Wear?

It is all about fashion. With camo coming in all colors of the rainbow now, your fashion choices can be both impractical and functional. CHECK your states hunting regulations as some places demand blaze or hunter orange and for good reason.

Just a cap or a hat in hunter orange is NOT sufficient (except for bow hunting during some archery seasons.) If you are hunting deer, antelope, mountain sheep or elk using a firearm, including black powder, or bow hunting during overlapping firearm deer seasons you are required to wear at least 400 inches of what is called Hunters Orange on your head, back and chest. And for good reason, but, again, with governments involved at all levels check the locations guidelines.

It is generally believed that deer and other trophy American mammals see Hunter Orange as brown or gray. But it is known that they see blue wavelengths better than humans and those would be present in clothing washed in a detergent that contains brighteners, so avoid these as well as the detergents or laundry addatives that contain perfumes.

When NOT to Go

I am a firm believer that if you live in or plan to hunt in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Texas or any state north and east of New York City you stay home and hide on opening day for deer season. This allows the crazies, amateurs, or the “here, hold my beer” crowd to clear out. It may “scatter the herd” for subsequent hunters but I will take that over playing possible target on day one.

When to Break in New Gear

Now would be good to break in any new gear. While it may not be fashionable pool side or at the beach, the time to break in new boots, and other clothing items is before you are in the field. And not just for comfort but for sound. Find out you have a squeak in a boot at home, or that your arms make sounds when moving against the side of your jacket before you are in the field. The same for all your gear and carried ammo. What sounds like just a little clang to you sounds like alarm bells to wildlife.

The same with sighting in new rifles and checking the sights on your tried and true favorite weapon. Simple things like changes of our posture can affect our accuracy and we should have those dealt with before we head out the door for any hunt.

Common Sense

As with any outdoor adventure follow the common sense rules:

Tell someone you can depend on the details of your hunt; when and where you are going, how long you will be gone and the names of everyone going with you and their contact information. If you can have that person take a picture of you with their phone

STICK to your plan

Yes, take your phone and a radio to use to contact people, to keep track of weather, and to update your contact person should a change in plans arise or something worse

If no one in your party has a field medical kit and/or does not know how to use the items in it don’t go – use the time instead to get the right training, then go

Take BOB. Always have a knife you are skilled with, fire starter, signaling whistle, mirror and emergency shelter, not to mention water and some portable foods

Pack out everything you packed in

Have the right bags to harvest and carry away the meat you are expecting to bring home

You aren’t Rambo just yet so use a second shot to finish a kill if the first was not perfect; finish the job

Remember Where You Are

Every hunting trip is a survival trip, a chance to test your skills, your awareness and your ability to support you and yours off the land. Make every one memorable by doing your best to bring success to your endeavor. That friend that loves to party may be better left to other devices while you take on the serious business of hunting live animals with real guns and real bullets with the singular purpose of putting food on your table and in your freezer. If at all possible share your bounty with others less fortunate. Most professional meat shops who will process your kill know of local families or facilities like half-way houses, orphanages and long-term care homes that will be more than thankful for the professionally processed donation.

In Alaska you can obtain a proxy permit to hunt for a disabled person, to get to hunt for them and put meat on their table and in their freezers. On tagged animals it give the hunter a second opportunity to hunt and harvest that animal for someone in need. This may be true elsewhere, again, know before you go.

One last suggestion. Use hunting as a teaching tool with your of-age children. You will be surprised at how they respond. While dining at a neighbors home on venison the host told my children, who he did not know well, that we were eating beef. I corrected him right then and there not to be discourteous, but to teach my children, which he understood.

Follow The Prepper Journal on Facebook!

The post Hunting Season is Just 10 Day Away appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

from The Prepper Journal Don't forget to visit the store and pick up some gear at The COR Outfitters. How prepared are you for emergencies? #SurvivalFirestarter #SurvivalBugOutBackpack #PrepperSurvivalPack #SHTFGear #SHTFBag

#SHTF #TEOTWAWKI #MARTIALLAW #BUGOUT #PREPPERBAG #USAF #USSOCOM #ARMY #NAVY #SurvivalFirestarter #Sur

0 notes

josephkitchen0 · 7 years ago

Text

How to Get Rid of Rats

By Cynthia Smith (Veterinarian in Washington) – I hate rats. I hate the way they dig dirty holes in my nice clean barns. I hate the squishy way the floor feels when there’s a rat tunnel underneath it. I hate the sick feeling I get when I see a rat whisk past my feet as I open the barns in the morning. I hate their furry little brown disease-carrying bodies that make me feel like my backyard chickens are a menace to all the neighborhood and like, any minute, the next Black Death will descend upon the world and all because I just had to raise poultry. My hatred of rats and their presence on my property lead me to search for solutions on how to get rid of rats.

Act 1: The Discovery

I feel like rodents are the dirty little secret of the poultry world. The one thing we hate to discuss or admit to (like having fleas on your dog or cockroaches in your house); acknowledging that you have seen a rat in your barn is like saying you are a bad person — one with really crummy hygiene. My son, Rob, has been well-trained never to say the word in public. (The last thing I want the neighbors to know is that the cute little backyard farm next door might be less than perfect, let alone a potential reservoir of disease.)

Our best chicken secrets revealed with this FREE guide!

Even old pros say they got dozens of tips for their flocks by reading this guide. YES! I want this Free Guide »

Indeed, when I told Rob I was going to write this article, his first words were: “I hope it’s going to be anonymous!” I didn’t always hate rats. I had the pet white variety as a child and saw them occasionally in my practice as a veterinarian. It was only after I acquired chickens (about eight years ago at the age of 43) that the loathing began.

Our first order of chickens on my son’s birthday arrived in a cheeping little cardboard box from the Murray McMurray hatchery. While they grew inside of a puppy pen in the house, my husband and 8-year-old son labored to build a raccoon-proof coop in the backyard. Feed was stored in the next-door shed (which had an elevated floor).

All went well, as far as we knew, until the following summer when my husband reached to the upper shelves of the shed and pulled down last year’s nylon swimming pool. The blue plastic came down in a heap, along with the rats that had been nesting in it. As furry bodies rained over my husband’s head and shoulders, an impossibly high-pitched shriek emerged from his masculine throat and my son was witness to a burst of profanity the likes of which he had never heard his Christian father utter. “Mommy, Daddy swore!”

After the gnawed plastic and gruesome tale were revealed to me on my arrival home, I began my first foray into the business of extermination and researching how to get rid of rats; not something a veterinarian is particularly well-trained in. My husband proudly brought home electric traps, a tip he’s received when researching how to get rid of rats. They were supposed to give a quick painless death to the rat when it stepped on the plate. Either they didn’t work, or the rats never touched them. Nary a body did we ever see from those expensive devices. Then there were the glue traps. Guess what, the glue isn’t sticky anymore if it gets anything on it, like dust or shavings. Strangely, my coops were not dust-free. Then there were the good old-fashioned oversized mouse traps designed for their rattish cousins. These at least got some action. We found them exploded six to 10 feet from where they were set, but again, both bait and rat-free. I need not even mention the “humane live catch” trap (it was sized for mice anyway, who seem to be a lot dumber than rats). The plan was that mice could get in but not out again, so one was supposed to check the trap daily and humanely release Mickey and Minnie back into the wild. My husband only tried this once. He forgot to check the trap for two weeks, after which there were multiple cannibalized mouse corpses in the trap; the aftermath of a rodent-style Hunger Games and clearly not a humane way to die.

At this point, I felt there was no option except to try poison as a means of how to get rid of rats. All my efforts to employ natural ways to kill mice and rats were unsuccessful. I never wanted to use rat poison. Goodness knows, we see enough dogs and cats poisoned either by the poison itself or by consuming the poisoned animal. Years before we ever had poultry or had thought of using poison, we lost a pet cat to DeCon poisoning.

An excellent mouser, she would bring back just the tails and line them up at night for our admiration. Twice, she must have eaten a poisoned animal. The first time, we pulled her through. The second time, we were too late. So I know the risk of poison to the animals nearby. Unfortunately, I also understand the risk of a rat incursion in a populated area, both to property and to health. Something had to be done.

Intermission: Safe Rat Control Options

A word here must be inserted about what is certainly the most natural and safe of rat-control options: the domestic or farm cat or, perhaps, a rat terrier. People swear by this option for how to get rid of mice. The terrier was right out as, in my experience, dogs that kill rats also really enjoy killing chickens. But what about a cat? I counted. We have had 12 cats in the past 29 years. Of those, three were excellent mousers. Two of three died before they attained late middle age (about eight years), presumably because of their outdoor lifestyle. We are responsible citizens and have our pets spayed and neutered, so frequent replacement was not an option. The two cats who currently reside on my bed would not dream of soiling their precious paws with a filthy rodent. If you have a healthy supply of competent barn cats and are reading this article thinking what a dangerous poison-wielding idiot I am, my hat is off to you.

Act 2: Back to the Rat Story

Let us return to the saga. I contacted our Washington State Poultry Vet at the lab that does necropsies on poultry. If you do not have the access to a brilliant poultry resource like Dr. Roccio Crespo in your state, you have my pity.

Dr. Crespo informed me that I needed to buy little locking plastic boxes that hold the poison tightly confined on stakes. In this way, the rat must eat the poison in the box and cannot carry a chunk away to possibly poison another animal. I bought Tomcat boxes and bait at the local feed store. They were easy to use. The poison disappeared, dead rat bodies appeared and were immediately disposed of. There was no collateral damage in birds or other animals. Whew!

Fast forward to our move from our little house on a small lot to our littler house on a large (1.3-acre lot) a few years later. In the classic reverse market savvy that runs in my unhappy family, the real estate market crashed mere weeks after the papers were signed. Our new house was immediately worth much less than we paid, the mortgage was underwater and our old house unsalable unless at a very great loss. Doggedly, we muscled on as have many ethical Americans in the same situation. Refusing to renege on our word because circumstances had changed, we paid for our now overpriced home and prepared to become landlords as our old house was now vacant. Another rat crisis worsened our situation. When we abruptly removed every bird to our new barn on the new property, the current invisible rats grew and hungered. They went looking for food. They found it in grass seed stored in the garage, in camping food locked away in the attic, in water and food stores stored in plastic 24-hour kits. Before we knew it, we had rats that had moved uptown: highfalutin rodents living high in the attic and sporting top hats and monocles. The traps were again a failure. Once again, we were forced to resort to the poison. It worked, but with a small side effect. These rats did not do us the courtesy of quietly dying in their holes underground.

Noooo, they went to the far reaches of the attic and vents to die. It was summer. Chanel Number Fur permeated the house in several unexpected areas: the master bedroom, the hall closet, and the pantry — open these doors and prepare to run. All searches for their desiccating bodies proved futile. The house was, most certainly, not fit to go on the market. Eight months later, in the depths of winter, eau de rodent being but an unpleasant memory, we could finally begin to make preparations to lease out our money pit.

Act 3: The Return to Chickens

We had by now narrowed our focus to breeding only show varieties of bantam Polish and Araucanas. Some of our old flock remained as pets, along with turkeys, geese, and ducks acquired variously as lawn candy. Most birds were free range on our 1.3 acres, with the show birds confined to covered pens. A locked poison box was kept in each pen and rarely needed emptying. All was well. There are several other people in our neighborhood who keep a few birds, including a lovely next-door family who acquired nice birds and joined our 4-H club.

Suddenly, the rat population swelled. Poison boxes were still full but the Tomcat poison seemed barely nibbled. An experienced friend recommended, “Just One Bite,” a tasty looking poison with embedded grains. The rats loved it. The poison disappeared again and so did the rats. I diplomatically (I hoped) donated poison to my chicken-keeping neighbor. Whew. Back on track.

In 2013, the situation changed yet again. My neighbor went back to school and I offered to place her birds for her. Once the birds were homed, hungry rat hordes moved to the nearest source of food: us. This was the worst ever! On one night I saw six — count ’em, six — rats running around like they owned the place. (And I was taught that, if you see one, there are 10 more you didn’t see.) Neighbors down the street also discovered rat damage under their houses. Exterminators were called. I felt like Typhoid Mary.

The poison boxes were once again loaded and distributed. Chicken feed and water disappeared, but the bait stayed pristine. My friend was again consulted. Take out the feed so they have to eat the poison, she advised. Laboriously, every night we lugged feed out of all six pens, refilled the bait boxes, and lugged feed back out in the early morning before work. Chicken chores were becoming less fun and my teenage son was far less enthralled with his feathered friends. It worked (sort of), as the bait disappeared.

Indeed, we went through 24 pounds of bait, both the Tomcat and the Just One Bite, in the following three months.

However, while the bait was gone, the rats seemed totally unaffected. Fat rats, baby rats, all cavorting with seeming impunity in and among our birds. Then it hit me. Every morning I had to refill, not only the feed, but all the water! Full waterers at night were empty in the morning. My two remaining tired neurons finally made the connection: what did I put in my water? Apple cider vinegar. What does the vinegar contain, among other things? Vitamin K. How does rat poison work? By destroying the body’s vitamin K stores, thus causing them to slowly bleed to death.

Excellent, I’d spent three months administering the antidote along with the toxin. Fine work indeed. The darn poison itself was getting a lot harder to acquire too. The FDA had decided to ban sales of most of the really effective products to regular consumers. My local Del’s feed store and local hardware store no longer carried them. I was forced to pick up the Just One Bite in 8-pound cases from a feed store 120 miles away. I had to sign for it too. This would be OK except that it still wasn’t working well. Now I was carrying birds’ water and feed out every night and every morning, a feat which required I give up an extra 45 minutes of sleep before the work day and stumble around in the dark loaded with water that poured all over my shoes. Oh, I was loving raising chickens, you betcha.

An example of a safety trap, that keeps the rats from dragging poison into places also shared by pets and poultry.

We found a few dead rats, to be sure, and the Just One Bite was disappearing nightly by the pound, but the influx of baby rats playing fearlessly in my show cages convinced me I was still fighting a losing battle. To make matters worse, I had a deadline approaching. Soon I would have abdominal surgery, which would necessitate me turning over all the care of the birds to my son Rob for a while. No way was he going to be able to spend that kind of time lugging feed and water before his 6 a.m. Bible Study and 7:30 a.m. school. What to do?

Several things came to light in my frenzied research on how to get rid of rats that did not involve going back to a life without birds.

1. Visits to the affected neighbors informed me that their exterminators had tracked their rats to a neighborhood sewage drain source. (I was so worried they’d target me!) These people paid premium prices for professional exterminators who did exactly what I’d been doing: Put bait boxes all around the areas and when finished, advise their clients to buy their own boxes and keep them full as further sewage incursions were a certainty. (Whew! I wasn’t going crazy: there were indeed plenty of rats coming in faster than I could kill them.)

2. I discovered that the United Kingdom is experiencing a serious outbreak of poison-resistant rats in their sewage system. While I found no such reference in the U.S., it does not seem a far reach to assume that we, too, have rats that have evolved to be able to eat the stuff with minimal damage.

3. I decided I was quite unwilling to try the newer poisons that do not antagonize vitamin K. These poisons have no antidote whereas, with a $9 bottle of vitamin K given daily for a month, a pet that one presumes may have been poisoned can be saved. (I found my own cat eating a single rat this summer, and considering her incompetence, felt that there was no way she would have caught it unless it was already dying. A pill a day for a month and she lives to purr on my pillow for years to come.

4. There are many variations on the vitamin K antagonizing poisons. The trick, I decided, was to find a poison these rats had never seen before and that was tasty enough to compete with the feed. (We continue to put away the vinegar-enriched water at night, though.)

I found that product in First Strike Soft Bait. These soft packets must be stuck tightly on the stakes so the rats cannot carry them away, but they must taste delicious and we’re finally seeing corpses everywhere, even though we’re leaving the feed in at night. I am confident that, for a while at least, the vermin are in retreat. First Strike uses an ingredient called Difethialone at a concentration of 0.0025 percent.

As I mentioned, a product that I have really liked in the past is Just One Bite, which has the active ingredient, Bromadilone.

The bait stations (locking boxes) that I use are made by Tomcat, the Tomcat poison sold with the trap contains bromethalin and has the added advantage of being waterproof if you need to keep bait stations outside. It does seem to be considerably less palatable than the other two, so rats with a choice of goodies may not go for it.

And that’s it. As you may understand, I have written this article with great trepidation, not wanting to be branded as the chicken breeder with the rat problem. Please be constantly aware that, if you do have to treat with poison boxes, animals may still be at risk if they eat poisoned rats. Keep a sharp watch and immediately dispose of dead or dying rodents. Consult your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet has been poisoned, and bring a copy of the package so the doctor may ascertain proper treatment.

A recent visit to two admired breeder’s facilities convinced me that I am not alone in having trials dealing with these pests. I hope that my information may prove helpful, or may at least make you feel smug that you don’t have that disgusting problem or that your cats are competent. (If so, you have my envy.) I have written this article in good faith, hoping to save others some of the trials we have been through. I would prefer not to receive a ton of hate mail from PETA members who adore their little rat friends or from naturalist believers who are sure Diatomaceous Earth and probiotics can cure rats, rickets, rabies and a rainy day.

My wish for you: May the words, “Oh, Rats!” come out of your mouth only when you drop the feed bag on your toe.

What other ideas for how to get rid of rats would you add to this list?

Originally published in Backyard Poultry June/July 2014 and regularly vetted for accuracy.

How to Get Rid of Rats was originally posted by All About Chickens

0 notes

josephkitchen0 · 7 years ago

Text

How to Get Rid of Rats

Act 1: The Discovery

Ice Storms, Power Outages, Blizzards... Are you ready?

Let our experts help you prepare for the worst. Start your emergency preparation by downloading this FREE Guide. YES! I want this Free Report »