Rodent issues what to do?

disneyjoe7

I have 2 fruit trees in my backyard, one being Grapefruit the other Orange tree. The issue I have is something is eaten the Grapefruit if that bad enough it got into my propane gas heater and eaten or damaged lots of control wiring. :rolleyes::eek::(:mad:

Ok I was thinking rat poison in the heater just below the control wiring area not the burner area, but I heard Mothballs instead. But don't know about Mothballs can I place them free on the bottom, in the box? How about water? Could it cause issues if they got wet? Would the balls rust out the heater? It's either steel or aluminum not sure didn't really matter to me. Any suggestions? I'm lost.

obieone

Um, how about mousetraps? I don't recommend putting ANY kind of toxins near a source of heat.
Can you see how they're getting in to the heater? Is this a package a/c & heat unit, that sits outside on a pad?

zingo

What about just putting a piece of mesh over the opening where they come in. Should keep them out and no chemicals near your food! As far as the trees, a neighbor of mine puts nets over his cherry trees to keep the animals away and I'm impressed how well it works. By the end of season, you couldn't buy better cherries if you tried.

disneyjoe7

I agree I never place anything around my fruit trees. But ants and spiders are a PITA hate them. As far as the fruit its the best fresh off the tree. I got the Mothballs idea from a pool supply store, but thinking it maybe a way to get me to buy another one soon. Or maybe a good idea not sure.

ben62670

Moth balls do keep rodents away. We used to use them in a cabin up in VT. If we didn't put moth balls in the closets, or the cloths chests they would make homes in there. Traps work best, but if you have pets you can use those little have a heart traps. If you catch one you can drown it in your pool:eek:

disneyjoe7

How it got in there is a mystery for me... But can say slots on sides and under a small 1"x1" or so hole (part of design, not damage) by gas logs? (Not sure what they are called) He built a nest on top of them but got in by that 1"x1" hole. I would think mouse, but the droppings are larger not mouse like. I was told rats can get shrink into very small size so that at least what I think it was anyway.


If nothing else I need to fire that thing up once a week or so and spend some $$ on gas, as sitting there for months off just adds to my frustration.

Willow

Move up here, it's too cold to grow fruit problem solved...at least till May!;) guess there is one thing about being this cold

disneyjoe7

Willow wrote: »

Move up here, it's too cold to grow fruit problem solved...at least till May!;) guess there is one thing about being this cold

You know I step away and thought along the same line. Remove tree. Food and Rodents leave.

polktiger

Could be squirrels. They like to chew on things especially wires. They can also squeeze into very small openings like rats and mice 1" x 1" might be tight, but 2" x 2" would be no problem for rats or squirrels

disneyjoe7

polktiger wrote: »

Could be squirrels. They like to chew on things especially wires. They can also squeeze into very small openings like rats and mice 1" x 1" might be tight, but 2" x 2" would be no problem for rats or squirrels

Squirrels huh? I have a heavy squirrel problem they love citus :rolleyes::(:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

disneyjoe7

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

Squirrels huh? I have a heavy squirrel problem they love citus :rolleyes::(:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

That 1"x1" opening maybe 1.5"x1.5" since I looked at a ruler.;)

disneyjoe7

That's was to be part of the last message but made 2 messages? Sorry.

Phasearray

buy an army of cats

ben62670

If a rat or squirel can get their head through they can get through.

bikerboy

Hi,
When we bought our house about 5 years ago we had a family of rats in our house. I found out we have the big gray norweigen wharf rats and the medium sized vietnamese roof rats here in seattle. Our house had the roof type. They can walk on the power lines so I call them skin tailed squirrels. Both rats and squirrels can get inside something if their head will fit. The moth balls will work but they dont last long. If you plug a hole use metal screen or sheet, the thicker the better. We used the 8" long snap traps and even that didnt kill the biggest one right away. We also found a 5 gallon pail of flour in a blocked off area behind the bathroom in the basement. So after removing the food and trapping the 4 rats we have been rodent free for the most part. But now the dogs have been sniffing under the hot tub so they must be in there now. Squirrels are just as bad here. They will eat most anything in the garden. Remove any fallen fruit and those guards that stop them from climbing up the trunk that look like a cone might work. They can jump very well so good luck.

disneyjoe7

I got too admit my biggest problem with rodents and now I do think it's squirrels more then a rat is I at times have fruit on the ground at times that fallen. Something I need to fix ASAP as that is causing me CASH NOW. So as far as mothballs ok but don't last long or its best to fire it up and have a squirrel roost every week or so? Then my biggest concern about mothballs loose or in the box? Can they cause rust? I hate to make my problem bigger then it is now.

billbillw

Get a cat, or a pellet gun. Either one will solve your problem. The pellet gun would be more fun though...

Willow

What I wouldn't do to go to my backyard and collect fruit all year round!! :eek:

bobman1235

I'm pretty sure mothballs (aka napthalene) are highly flammable, so putting them in close proximity to a flame (ie your grill) might not be advised.

reeltrouble1

Go with the rat trap connected to hair pin trigger on a cannon, its going to take out everthing in a 50 ft radius and might even get rid of some of your nosey neighbors.

RT1

disneyjoe7

Ok so I left with the weekly "Rodent Roost" test firing. With propane getting so expensive I didn't fire it up much, well I see it cost me one way or the other way.

reeltrouble1

large snakes are also an option, they offer recreation as swimming partners as well.

RT1

disneyjoe7

Willow wrote: »

Move up here, it's too cold to grow fruit problem solved...at least till May!;) guess there is one thing about being this cold

I'm not sure if you're religious or not sorry if you're not...


But I think GOD heard that one. Woke up this morning to see the pool control which is in my master bedroom by a slider door was ON? Like the pump was running. I being half a sleep think WTF, but rolled over. Later I'm up and get a close look the Spa's on NOW WTF is the GAS running also :mad:....

It gotten SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO COLD last night / today, the pool controller went into "Freeze Protection" mode running the pump working values keeping the water moving. What just happen did the earth just flip on its Axis or something?

chillywilly

Just get one of these

jflail2

barn cats...

disneyjoe7

chillywilly wrote: »

Just get one of these

If I got that I would MOVE Screw the Rodents or the Heater. :eek: