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#1
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Feral Cats & Roof Rats
Has anyone got information or stories about how a feral cat colony can be
used to help wipe out or at least keep in check Roof Rats? Here in the Phoenix area (at least East Phoenix, parts of Scottsdale, and now Tempe) Roof Rats have become a problem. Despite laying down traps, cleaning up food sources like dropped fruit (from the citrus trees) and such, Roof Rats are moving into other areas. From what I have read the ideas for getting rid of them is vast. It seems predators can help at least keep the rats in check but not totally eliminate them. Predators such as owls, hawks, and cats (even though cats will often have trouble with the adult rats, they can take care of the juveniles) seem to be good ideas besides snakes. When the Arcadia area was having problems with the rats the city of Phoenix seemed to think cats were not a good suggestion but I think a feral colony of cats could be of some help. The only problem I see with using cats is because rats seem to carry disease but yet so far every rat that has been trapped by the County (Maricopa) have not had any diseases. The other problem that cats might face is the use of poisoned traps which could be very harmful to a cat if they eat a rat that has the poison in their system. Also cats tend to eat their kill so they might be a bit full from eating a good sized rat. But could a colony of feral cats (which we do have here in the Phoenix area) be a good form of rat control if the rats are healthy? I'd like to know your thoughts. -- Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs! www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com |
#2
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"Cat Protector" wrote in message news:bmWNb.5043$zy3.1808@okepread01... Has anyone got information or stories about how a feral cat colony can be used to help wipe out or at least keep in check Roof Rats? Here in the Phoenix area (at least East Phoenix, parts of Scottsdale, and now Tempe) Roof Rats have become a problem. Despite laying down traps, cleaning up food sources like dropped fruit (from the citrus trees) and such, Roof Rats are moving into other areas. From what I have read the ideas for getting rid of them is vast. It seems predators can help at least keep the rats in check but not totally eliminate them. Predators such as owls, hawks, and cats (even though cats will often have trouble with the adult rats, they can take care of the juveniles) seem to be good ideas besides snakes. When the Arcadia area was having problems with the rats the city of Phoenix seemed to think cats were not a good suggestion but I think a feral colony of cats could be of some help. The only problem I see with using cats is because rats seem to carry disease but yet so far every rat that has been trapped by the County (Maricopa) have not had any diseases. The other problem that cats might face is the use of poisoned traps which could be very harmful to a cat if they eat a rat that has the poison in their system. Also cats tend to eat their kill so they might be a bit full from eating a good sized rat. But could a colony of feral cats (which we do have here in the Phoenix area) be a good form of rat control if the rats are healthy? I'd like to know your thoughts. A cat with good hunting skills will kill more rats than it will eat. In fact, domestic cats, feral cats, cougars and other wild cats have been known to go into killing frenzies when the hunting is especially easy. In such cases they may continue chasing and killing prey even when they're quite hungry for a meal. And you're right about predators *not* hunting their prey until there are none left in their domain. What really happens is that as the hunting becomes less profitable the predator either switches to a different prey animal or moves to a more profitable area. Barn owls and screech owls are other predators that can assist in the control of rats without harming adult cats. There are web sites for the purchase/construction of owl nestboxes. However, AFAIK owls will not live in an urban area. A not too densely populated suburban area with ample tree cover can be suitable habitat for owls though. |
#3
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"Cat Protector" wrote in message news:bmWNb.5043$zy3.1808@okepread01... Has anyone got information or stories about how a feral cat colony can be used to help wipe out or at least keep in check Roof Rats? Here in the Phoenix area (at least East Phoenix, parts of Scottsdale, and now Tempe) Roof Rats have become a problem. Despite laying down traps, cleaning up food sources like dropped fruit (from the citrus trees) and such, Roof Rats are moving into other areas. From what I have read the ideas for getting rid of them is vast. It seems predators can help at least keep the rats in check but not totally eliminate them. Predators such as owls, hawks, and cats (even though cats will often have trouble with the adult rats, they can take care of the juveniles) seem to be good ideas besides snakes. When the Arcadia area was having problems with the rats the city of Phoenix seemed to think cats were not a good suggestion but I think a feral colony of cats could be of some help. The only problem I see with using cats is because rats seem to carry disease but yet so far every rat that has been trapped by the County (Maricopa) have not had any diseases. The other problem that cats might face is the use of poisoned traps which could be very harmful to a cat if they eat a rat that has the poison in their system. Also cats tend to eat their kill so they might be a bit full from eating a good sized rat. But could a colony of feral cats (which we do have here in the Phoenix area) be a good form of rat control if the rats are healthy? I'd like to know your thoughts. A cat with good hunting skills will kill more rats than it will eat. In fact, domestic cats, feral cats, cougars and other wild cats have been known to go into killing frenzies when the hunting is especially easy. In such cases they may continue chasing and killing prey even when they're quite hungry for a meal. And you're right about predators *not* hunting their prey until there are none left in their domain. What really happens is that as the hunting becomes less profitable the predator either switches to a different prey animal or moves to a more profitable area. Barn owls and screech owls are other predators that can assist in the control of rats without harming adult cats. There are web sites for the purchase/construction of owl nestboxes. However, AFAIK owls will not live in an urban area. A not too densely populated suburban area with ample tree cover can be suitable habitat for owls though. |
#4
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"Cat Protector" wrote in message news:bmWNb.5043$zy3.1808@okepread01... Has anyone got information or stories about how a feral cat colony can be used to help wipe out or at least keep in check Roof Rats? Here in the Phoenix area (at least East Phoenix, parts of Scottsdale, and now Tempe) Roof Rats have become a problem. Despite laying down traps, cleaning up food sources like dropped fruit (from the citrus trees) and such, Roof Rats are moving into other areas. From what I have read the ideas for getting rid of them is vast. It seems predators can help at least keep the rats in check but not totally eliminate them. Predators such as owls, hawks, and cats (even though cats will often have trouble with the adult rats, they can take care of the juveniles) seem to be good ideas besides snakes. When the Arcadia area was having problems with the rats the city of Phoenix seemed to think cats were not a good suggestion but I think a feral colony of cats could be of some help. The only problem I see with using cats is because rats seem to carry disease but yet so far every rat that has been trapped by the County (Maricopa) have not had any diseases. The other problem that cats might face is the use of poisoned traps which could be very harmful to a cat if they eat a rat that has the poison in their system. Also cats tend to eat their kill so they might be a bit full from eating a good sized rat. But could a colony of feral cats (which we do have here in the Phoenix area) be a good form of rat control if the rats are healthy? I'd like to know your thoughts. A cat with good hunting skills will kill more rats than it will eat. In fact, domestic cats, feral cats, cougars and other wild cats have been known to go into killing frenzies when the hunting is especially easy. In such cases they may continue chasing and killing prey even when they're quite hungry for a meal. And you're right about predators *not* hunting their prey until there are none left in their domain. What really happens is that as the hunting becomes less profitable the predator either switches to a different prey animal or moves to a more profitable area. Barn owls and screech owls are other predators that can assist in the control of rats without harming adult cats. There are web sites for the purchase/construction of owl nestboxes. However, AFAIK owls will not live in an urban area. A not too densely populated suburban area with ample tree cover can be suitable habitat for owls though. |
#5
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Burrowing owls actually have been seen in urban areas. They have a large
wingspan for such a small owl. I suggested that feral cats be used as a non-toxic natural way of killing off the rats. They'd go after the younger ones but an adult Roof Rat might be a handful. Of course since I wrote the last post I read another article which stated that a cat in Glendale, AZ had brought home a Roof Rat so the problem is not just in South Scottsdale, the Arcadia neighborhood, and Tempe. It is now also in Mesa and even North Scottsdale. I called my parents today to let them know that they need to pick the fruit off their trees (they have an orange, grapefruit and lemon tree) pretty much every day. The problem is that in the area where they live there are plenty of other neighbors who have citrus trees. I wonder if my parents will be calling be asking to use my cats should they encounter the rats. -- Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs! www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com "Knack" wrote in message ink.net... "Cat Protector" wrote in message Barn owls and screech owls are other predators that can assist in the control of rats without harming adult cats. There are web sites for the purchase/construction of owl nestboxes. However, AFAIK owls will not live in an urban area. A not too densely populated suburban area with ample tree cover can be suitable habitat for owls though. |
#6
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Burrowing owls actually have been seen in urban areas. They have a large
wingspan for such a small owl. I suggested that feral cats be used as a non-toxic natural way of killing off the rats. They'd go after the younger ones but an adult Roof Rat might be a handful. Of course since I wrote the last post I read another article which stated that a cat in Glendale, AZ had brought home a Roof Rat so the problem is not just in South Scottsdale, the Arcadia neighborhood, and Tempe. It is now also in Mesa and even North Scottsdale. I called my parents today to let them know that they need to pick the fruit off their trees (they have an orange, grapefruit and lemon tree) pretty much every day. The problem is that in the area where they live there are plenty of other neighbors who have citrus trees. I wonder if my parents will be calling be asking to use my cats should they encounter the rats. -- Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs! www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com "Knack" wrote in message ink.net... "Cat Protector" wrote in message Barn owls and screech owls are other predators that can assist in the control of rats without harming adult cats. There are web sites for the purchase/construction of owl nestboxes. However, AFAIK owls will not live in an urban area. A not too densely populated suburban area with ample tree cover can be suitable habitat for owls though. |
#7
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Burrowing owls actually have been seen in urban areas. They have a large
wingspan for such a small owl. I suggested that feral cats be used as a non-toxic natural way of killing off the rats. They'd go after the younger ones but an adult Roof Rat might be a handful. Of course since I wrote the last post I read another article which stated that a cat in Glendale, AZ had brought home a Roof Rat so the problem is not just in South Scottsdale, the Arcadia neighborhood, and Tempe. It is now also in Mesa and even North Scottsdale. I called my parents today to let them know that they need to pick the fruit off their trees (they have an orange, grapefruit and lemon tree) pretty much every day. The problem is that in the area where they live there are plenty of other neighbors who have citrus trees. I wonder if my parents will be calling be asking to use my cats should they encounter the rats. -- Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs! www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com "Knack" wrote in message ink.net... "Cat Protector" wrote in message Barn owls and screech owls are other predators that can assist in the control of rats without harming adult cats. There are web sites for the purchase/construction of owl nestboxes. However, AFAIK owls will not live in an urban area. A not too densely populated suburban area with ample tree cover can be suitable habitat for owls though. |
#8
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Burrowing owls actually have been seen in urban areas. They have a large
wingspan for such a small owl. I suggested that feral cats be used as a non-toxic natural way of killing off the rats. Natural predation to kill off unwanted species is fine, but I don't understand how the human intervention part comes in. The ferals that exist now in the rat-infested areas will kill some of the rats on their own. But what are you suggesting, trapping additional feral colonies and releasing them in the problem areas? Sherry |
#9
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Burrowing owls actually have been seen in urban areas. They have a large
wingspan for such a small owl. I suggested that feral cats be used as a non-toxic natural way of killing off the rats. Natural predation to kill off unwanted species is fine, but I don't understand how the human intervention part comes in. The ferals that exist now in the rat-infested areas will kill some of the rats on their own. But what are you suggesting, trapping additional feral colonies and releasing them in the problem areas? Sherry |
#10
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Burrowing owls actually have been seen in urban areas. They have a large
wingspan for such a small owl. I suggested that feral cats be used as a non-toxic natural way of killing off the rats. Natural predation to kill off unwanted species is fine, but I don't understand how the human intervention part comes in. The ferals that exist now in the rat-infested areas will kill some of the rats on their own. But what are you suggesting, trapping additional feral colonies and releasing them in the problem areas? Sherry |
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