Thanks for all the welcomes!
Ya, if on long island you'll always have an outside rat population. Just to many people and food sources.
Living with a resident snake is a great idea! Wish all people could learn to do so.
And outdoor cats are scientifically show not to reduce rodent numbers. Yes the do eat a lot (but more songbirds than mice) but there are studies that show a increase in the mouse population when there are 'outdoor' cats. You may not see them but they are there and can reproduce far faster than the cat can eat them. I'm also a cat lover and hate how much the 'outdoor' cat suffers. But alas I'll not rant. :P But I wish I had a resident snake...or gecko! That would be cool....but I'd be afraid of stepping on the poor thing (if it was indoors).
Also a great idea for the city to give out rodent proof garbage cans!
