3 ms·
We have a lot of turkey vultures here in California. A few years ago, we found a few fresh dead (poisoned) rats in our barn. The turkey vulture population imm
by hedora 3y ago
We have a lot of turkey vultures here in California.
A few years ago, we found a few fresh dead (poisoned) rats in our barn.
The turkey vulture population immediately dropped to zero at our house, and the rodent population skyrocketed for the next year.
Please use traps (electrocution or old-fashioned wood and metal spring work best. The electrocution ones are more pet-friendly), and not poison to deal with your vermin.
On a related note, we also have started to get Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles again.
Hopefully those populations will continue to recover too.
Poisoned rodents often wander around confused and screaming before they die, and if they do that in a field, they can take out a bird of prey instead of just the vultures.
Seriously, just use the traps. They are way more humane. Also, you won’t have to fish dead animals out of your vents and walls.
- pfdietz 3y agoI went birding this morning near Ithaca, NY. Five turkey vultures, a bald eagle, and a kestrel (which caught and ate a mouse while we were watching) were among the species seen (and so many kinds of warblers. Really, why are there so many kinds of warblers?) I often see turkey vultures near our house (once a swooping flock of a dozen of them riding the wind coming up from the lake). Black vultures are starting to appear in this area also, most notably at the Cornell U. compost piles.
- bitwize 3y agoRatX, MouseX, and RatRid baits by EcoClear use a combination of gluten and salt to dehydrate the rodent, rather than poisoning it with toxins. Supposedly, they work well against rats and mice while being safe for larger animals, including birds of prey, to consume. People may wish to consider using these baits as well for rodent control. https://ecoclearproducts.com/ https://ecoclearproducts.com/ One of my favorite pest-control measures is furry and purrs when I stroke him. Currently we don't have rodents, but he likes to catch insects as well.
- jncfhnb 3y agoCats generally don’t like hunting rats
- tomrod 3y agoFunny, our barn cats growing up loved hunting everything, including rats. Maybe indoor cats might not be so inclined though.
- jncfhnb 3y agohttps://crittercontroloftampa.com/blog/do-cats-get-rid-of-rats/ https://crittercontroloftampa.com/blog/do-cats-get-rid-of-ra...
- shkkmo 3y agoThat seems like a biased source given they nake money killing rats.
- tomrod 3y agoThis link speaks to a different point with regard to effectiveness, not apparent enjoyment. (And to be fair to the barn cats, they did pretty well keeping not only rats and mice down, but also snakes and scorpions)
- jncfhnb 3y agoThey don’t hunt rats because the rats are large enough to threaten the cat. They probably would win 95% of those fights cleanly but it’s risky enough to not be worthwhile. Enjoyment is certainly not a differentiating thing. These are urban rats specifically which are larger and may not apply to country rats
- tomrod 3y agoI'll grant some cats don't hunt rats. In our case it was more suburban rats, sometimes they did get big, yes.