Pest Control

[Greywolf]

Hello all.

Since this forum seems to have a lot of semi rural and rural folk getting around, I was hoping to find some answers to some questions I have.

We live in the Hunter Valley and are within 2 blocks of scrubland and farms from our home. I've noticed in the last couple months at least 1 member of the larger rodent family out near the pool deck, and we've caught about 5 mice in traps inside the house. I've blocked off the entry points (mainly in cupboards where wiring once ran or the wood has detoriated), and so far I've not seen evidence of anymore inside the house bar one which got in about 2 weeks ago.

The larger one is the one that's been bothering me because I don't particularly want to live spring traps around due to the fact that we not only have kids, but have a couple good sized lizards around the yard. Tonight I bit the bullet and set 3 large spring traps near the garage and seprate carport, where the larger bugger has either been sighted or we've found droppings. 5 minutes after I lay the traps I hear a snap outside, I'm in the bathroom near there so once I wash up I go outside and there is one with it's left hind leg stuck in trap. Not sure if went in to inspect the food and got caught turning around, or if ran across the trap not seeing it. But by the time I had gotten there he had crawled/hopped a good 3 metres from where that trap was laid.

So the questions are :

* In everything I've read so far it's the rats that are the extremely cautious ones, sometimes needing baits to be unset and left for a few days to encourage trust before setting. Has anyone had traps go off so quickly and successfully before ?

* Where there is one, how many more can I expect ? Will I get lucky and it's only be one this whole time ?

Honest truth I was surprised to find a rat because again everything says that the mice should have dinner for this guy and there was at least some overlap in sightings of both types of rodents. The again I know it was a mouse I saw heading under the decking from the pool pump housing a few weeks ago right into a sport I know a big blue tongue to be.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experiences in advance.

Dave

[SAISAY]

I have no idea about the difference in feeding habits of rats and mice.
I do, however, know that Ratsak etc. works.
Before you get too worried, I have never seen reptiles go anywhere near the Ratsak and we have at least 1 large goanna here.
Only problem we had was a snake eat a baited rat but it only got a little bit sick for a day or 2.
We put it in a metal container with a small hole cut in the side and anchored to the spot with the chain buried and where children had no access.
Worked very well, haven't seen rodents for ages.