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QED

(3,147 posts)
Tue May 27, 2025, 05:18 PM Tuesday

I'm so disappointed - I need to pull out my huge and productive tomato plants.

I found a rat feasting on the plants this morning. We've had an issue with mice and rats in the neighborhood although I've never seen them until today. I hate to do this but I can't let the rats proliferate.

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I'm so disappointed - I need to pull out my huge and productive tomato plants. (Original Post) QED Tuesday OP
. BoRaGard Tuesday #1
Put Out Live Traps... They Really Do Work... MayReasonRule Tuesday #2
oh yeah. roadwork scared themn out of the sewers + took residence in old chippy tunnels. also trappped a squirrel. pansypoo53219 Wednesday #8
We had rats when we lived in the Houston area SARose Tuesday #3
This is why I need to get on this.... QED Tuesday #6
They got in our travel trailer and ate everything. It was ugly. Srkdqltr Tuesday #4
Live traps Keepthesoulalive Tuesday #5
I had mice ruin the clutch on my pickup twice. rickford66 Tuesday #7

pansypoo53219

(22,256 posts)
8. oh yeah. roadwork scared themn out of the sewers + took residence in old chippy tunnels. also trappped a squirrel.
Wed May 28, 2025, 03:18 AM
Wednesday

SARose

(1,465 posts)
3. We had rats when we lived in the Houston area
Tue May 27, 2025, 05:42 PM
Tuesday

Even in broad daylight! Ugh

Fair warning - could be triggering for some



Here’s what we did:

No more gas grill - they were inside the grill and feasting on grease.

No more bird food. They were running up and down the damn feeders.

They were eating dog food left out by neighbors.

They were also eating fruit in several neighbors yards. Fruit like bananas, strawberries, etc.

And, yes, we found they were nesting under a small deck. So we put rat bait there and watched our doxies carefully.

It took almost the whole street working together to get rid of them.

And then the Big Mama Possum moved it. Omg! My husband used a live trap and relocated 15 possums until he caught Big Mama, finally!

Ahh yes suburbia with the wildlife! Thank goodness it wasn’t skunks or coyotes.

Good luck!

QED

(3,147 posts)
6. This is why I need to get on this....
Tue May 27, 2025, 06:58 PM
Tuesday

Some of my neighbors are hoarders and I know there are rats in their stuff - I'm seen a large, feral cat stalking prey around their place. I don't want them here around my dogs. Of course, rats don't observe property lines.

Keepthesoulalive

(1,345 posts)
5. Live traps
Tue May 27, 2025, 06:35 PM
Tuesday

Getting rid of tomato plants might work. We had to get rid of a car because they would get in the engine, chewed through the gas line on another. I’m trying to say they will just find something else. You have to get rid of the mice or they will find someplace else to eat or nest.

rickford66

(5,865 posts)
7. I had mice ruin the clutch on my pickup twice.
Tue May 27, 2025, 07:06 PM
Tuesday

They built nests in the bellhousing. So much grass and straw the pressure plate couldn't touch the clutch disc. About $1,000 each time. I was able to get about $500 out of my auto insurance by claiming comprehensive. It's a shame to miss out on the homegrown tomatoes.

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