Ninja composting , the perfect accompaniment to Guerilla gardening!

Seriously though, finding rats in my yard, neighborhood of half-acre lot suburbia, has given me pause. They are living in or under the neighbor's shed. He knows it and has removed his bird feeder but no other direct action. My cat apparently has killed at least three and brought them home.
I had been throwing kitchen waste on my open piles of dry leaves over winter. And spilled bird seed from a feeder not too far from that..

I guess rats could be seen as simply extra-jumbo voles, but I'm skeeved more at rats. and we also have a BIG problem with 'deer' ticks which actually live on rodents, so for me rodent control has gone much higher on the priority list.

None of this is to accuse anyone of fostering rodents or any other problems. I guess my point is, just be aware those other problems might creep up at times, with ANY system.

RickCorey said:Thanks!

Sometimes I resent one neighbor for being such a trouble-maker, but letting her SEE my compost heaps would give her ammunition for a JUSTIFIED complaint about me. And there is already enough mess ...

It's hard to be a farmer when you live in an urban area:

I've been out in the boonies so long I can't even imagine living there...

@sallyg I agree rats are disgusting! There are key times for catching rats in traps. Around cold snaps and just after dark. Usually in warmer weather they are comfortable and have plenty of food. They will not go near a trap. Make sure to keep your kitty in. Rub flour all over the wood of the trap and smear and mash in peanut butter on the bait holder. Set out just before dusk near where you think they are. If you have not caught one in two hours, you can be pretty sure you are not going to get one that night. Use a stick and set off the trap. Repeat nightly. If there is a rat throw the whole thing away. Prying the rat out is not worth it. You would have to set the used trap outside in the weather for awhile. Do not know how a rat knows but they know the trap is used.
May you have a wonderful safe weekend!

sallyg said:Ninja composting , the perfect accompaniment to Guerilla gardening!

Seriously though, finding rats in my yard, neighborhood of half-acre lot suburbia, has given me pause. They are living in or under the neighbor's shed. He knows it and has removed his bird feeder but no other direct action. My cat apparently has killed at least three and brought them home.

None of this is to accuse anyone of fostering rodents or any other problems. I guess my point is, just be aware those other problems might creep up at times, with ANY system.

good kitty!
My cats have been bringing in rats and rabbits too....
And then they eat them...
Sometimes I have to toss a rat head or something out the door... Those things attract fire ants...

Not sure that compost really attracts rats... As much as nut trees, grain bearing grasses and the like...
Was watching something on public television about the rats in the four corner area having population explosions after the pinion trees had a good crop... And then the people getting sick from the rat poop.

Personally, I just bury the wet household compost next to, or under a weed pile... The wet stuff attracts the kind of insects that I'd rather not see.... So...bury it and maybe add a bit of wood ash to discourage larger animals from digging...

Good point, stone Rats/rodents take advantage of 'extra' food, which in their minds shouldn't go to waste. And I suppose when those rats had a good year, so did the snakes, hawks, owls, or whatever preys on them.