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Rats, a Raccoon, and a Squirrel

Rats moved into the courtyard again. Relocated a large rat. Then saw at least three small rats visiting the bird feeder and several plants were eaten. Removed all food from the bird feeder. Sorry birds.

Baited the trap, but for some reason the little rats were able to snag the bait and not spring the trap. I suspect it was their size, or lack of.

Trap 2 with Rat

Tried adding weight to the spring and bound the bait into the trap. The rats still managed to clear out the bait.

About the bait. I tried fresh fruit. I tried saltines smeared with peanut butter and sprinkled with seeds. Something interesting happened. One of the rats snagged the bait from the large trap. Apparently the rats really love cheese covered beef flavored Snausages.

Back to the trap–placed a block of wood in front of the trap.
Trap 3

The rat stood on the block of wood and removed the suspended bait.

Trap 4 with Rat

Trap 5

I moved the block of wood closer to the weighted spring with the hope that the obstacle would force the rats to jump onto and stay on the spring while grabbing the bait.

Trap 6 with Rat

Success

Rat 1 August 9 8:12 pm

Rat 1

Rat 2 August 9 8:40 pm

Rat 2

Rat 3 August 10 9:50 am

Rat 3

Rat 4 August 11 9:16 am

Rat 4

Just when I thought we were done with furry ones eating everything in the garden, I found one of my bromeliads shredded.

Bromeliad Shredded

Bromeliad Shredded

Bromeliad Shredded

That night a raccoon ran across the roof and onto the wisteria covered deck. Pretty sure the raccoon was the culprit. Hope there is only one and that it is not living under the deck.

Today, after cleaning the courtyard patio, I moved several Datura and Milkweed seedlings to a protected area to prepare them for transplant to the garden.

Datura and Milkweed Seedlings

I looked out to see this little one. It gave my Datura and Milkweed seedlings a long sniff and then disappeared.

Squirrel

It would be great if it doesn’t find my pots of kale, basil, beans, peas, carrots, and parsley that I am growing for my house bunnies.

If I am lucky the squirrel was passing through. More likely it will move in and invite its friends.


Lovely Gift of Succulents

Dioscorea elephantipes

Dioscorea elephantipes

Dioscorea elephantipes

Dioscorea elephantipes

Dioscorea elephantipes

Wikipedia–Dioscorea elephantipes

South African National Biodiversity Institute

World of Succulents

Lapidaria margaretae

Lapidaria margaretae

Lapidaria margaretae

Wikipedia–Lapidaria margaretae

World of Succulents–Lapidaria margaretae

Lecanopteris luzonensis

Lecanopteris luzonensis

Lecanopteris luzonensis

Wikipedia–Lecanopteris luzonensis

Wistuba–Lecanopteris luzonensis

Sansevieria fischeri
Sansevieria fischeri

Sansevieria fischeri

Garden.org–Sansevieria fischeri

Sansevieria grandis
Sansevieria grandis

Sansevieria grandis

Planting Man–Sansevieria grandis

San Marcus Growers–Sansevieria grandis

Sansevieria pinguicula

Sansevieria pinguicula

Sansevieria pinguicula

Wikipedia–Dracaena pinguicula

Plantophiles–Sansevieria pinguicula/

Sansevieria rorida

Sansevieria rorida

Sansevieria rorida

Wikipedia–Dracaena hanningtonii

World of Succulents–Sansevieria ehrenbergii

Bryan’s Plants Potted