Ever tried the rat zapper?

Been lurking - have a rat zapper in the garage, but haven't caught anything yet. Borrowed from a friend who vouches for it. My DH has twice had to take his beloved Corvette in for repairs and found the damage was caused by rats eating wires - and he parks it in the garage. The last time they found a nest in the engine compartment.

Laughing at the delivery people. Mine is the plumber, who takes home plants. Still charges just as much, though. I have to make sure I'm off the clock before we begin the discussion or do the tour! LOL

CJ

my husband has been worried about the rats getting into the vehicles too! a nest in the engine....not good. i did lose an entire 2' japanese maple that i've been babying. chewed it off at the base with no signs of a limb....not nearly as expensive as the corvette though.

you would think the plumber could give you a little discount? :o))

I really would like you to post if (hopefully, when) it works for you. I don't know if the rats are just gone, or what. We've had trouble in the past when they got into the attic (went up an open pvc pipe when we had a new A/C installed). That time we used the old fashioned snap traps. Got 'em! But I have those in the garage too, and nothing.
You are certain that it was rats that ate your tree?

Does the RatZapper kill squirrels also?

i wouldn't know because we don't have any squirrels! LOL unfortunately there aren't many trees around here because everything's cut to grow sugar cane. maybe i should be thankful. can they be destructive?

Rats with bushy tails.

YARD,
I would presume that it would be indiscriminate in its lethality, as to whatever crawled inside it. But then, on of the experts that HAVE ONE might be able to tell you.

Best;
bluelytes

If you put the trap out only at night you would likely avoid squirrels. I wouldn't use the dog food treats as bait in the Zapper on the ground because I'd have an electrified Pooch Snoot poking in there for sure.

Day One: no takers have visited the Rat Zapper in the garage. Hubby is going to move it to a more popular area in the garage. I know it says it takes time and rats are weary of anything new, but I am impatient!

Hi ashleykelly, tee he... I'm a her not a him but I have a few "hims" running around here! That was my only double hitter and it happened shortly after I purhased the first RatZapper2000. I always remove the dead rats as soon as I find them and I am constantly replacing the bait. That one time there just happened to be two dead rats in there and I could see how the one rat had literally crawled over the top of the "sleeping" rat. The RatZapper2000 can evidently destroy a second one with one dead in its tracks although I don't know about the other models.

Regarding cars in the garage, my husband has a few toys too. When we store them, we park them and leave the windows and the hoods open. He plans on buying a few of the smaller zapper units designed for mice and he's going to set them right out in the open engine compartment. He'll probably bait with peanut butter and there are those who have used that compressed cheese that just squirts out onto crackers who say they get them that way. Others have used sunflower seeds in the fall and winter to bait those smaller traps used to put a stop to the thousands of dollars rodents do to cars. I do not relish the thought of having to replace the electrical system on any of my husband's toys. We change the insurance on those cars to comp only in the fall when they are no longer being driven and our deductible is $2500. Granted, repairing an electrical system is considerably more expensive than that but we'd still have to pay the deductible and I've got better things to do with my money. One thing I stopped doing that has helped is storing firewood in neat little rows in our garage. It was a lot easier on us to store it there because all we had to do was walk out in the heated garage to get wood for the fireplace when snow was swirling around outside but that stack of firewood seemed to be a magnet for critters. Since we moved the firewood outside and started stacking it right on the upper driveway, we have had considerably less problems with rodents in the garage. The other thing is that we noticed they were using our paper towels and rags to create their nests so we now put those in a sealed container on a shelf out in the garage. This must have also helped reduce the number of rodents wanting to come in once the temps start dropping.

Lauren

Sorry, Lauren. :o)) Thanks for clarifying. This might be off the subject of the rat zapper, but I was talking to someone about getting some castor bean seeds because I love the plant. Then she mentioned that she hadn't seen moles since she started planting them. (she had 20 plants.) She said she thinks the moles eat the roots and die. At first I didn't want a castor bean, because they were poisonous. Then I started to learn that my garden is full of toxins. (I just worry about our dogs that pass through. They never stay in my gardening area.) Is the castor any more poisonous than other plants? And does any one know about it killing rats?

I have no experience using castor beans to control rodents but I'd probably not be a proponent of the practice because of the horrible death a poisoned animal would die and then there is the element of that dead animal getting into the food chain and killing off the higher order predator that consumes it.

which just brings me back to my original problem. i guess there are worse things than rats eating some of my plants.

ASH,
Too bad you kids have never had a Gramma that gave you a dose of Castor OIL, you would KNOW WHY the moles HATE it so much, lol. And yes, it IS off the subj, you thread hijacker, :P :)) LOLROF.

EQUI,
Yes re: better things to do with.......money, like BUY MORE PLANTS!! lol

POOC,
I cant imagine that there is enough voltage in that thing to kill a DOG, (unless its a rat sized 'dog'), but what does the directions SAY re: what it will actually kill??

Best;
blue

I hate to say this but I could see a kitten, Tea Cup Poodle, or a Chihuahua being able to get into one of these RatZappers. Fortunately, most people don't have to use these products in their homes.

Warning, Warning, Warning...
when you go to the animal shelter to bring home your next pet... do not bring home any of the above if you plan on using your RatZapper in and around areas your pets may frequent. Bring home a St Bernard, Great Dane, or a 20lb Tom cat instead.

Disclaimer, this was my attempt at humor. Call me slap happy and plant deprived since I haven't been able to purchase any new plants in a while because of limited funds.

EQUI, I mean SLAP HAPPY,
Was a GOOD attempt, keep trying, heheheh.

Best;
bluelytes

Well, those jumbo breeds do eat a lot and that costs the shelters lots of money to keep them until they can find them good homes so if you see fit to share your home with an animal that costs a lot more to feed than a tea cup poodle, please consider a jumbo breed. See, not only was I a tad bit slap happy but I was able to insert a plug for the Humane Societies of America. Glad my attempt at humor was good. I must be moving up in the world. Back to check a few threads and back outside I go to try to get some more plants from prior orders in the ground. Have fun!

Hey - Ashley can't highjack her own thread!! And y'know, even if it didn't kill a big dog sticking his nose in the zapper, it would hurt so much that you really wouldn't want it to happen. The guy we loaned ours from was testing it, and got zapped! I thought he was a goner....

And I don't think we tried to file a claim on the damage the rats did to the Corvette.... Never thought of it. How dumb is that? That is a rhetorical question, BTW.

Umm, we had to file a claim once when we flatbedded a car in to get a quote and were presented with a bill for a little bit over 4k and that was without flatbedding the car over to deal with the damage those little mice did to the upholstery which was another hefty chunk. I think I about had a heart attack so I sat down and began reading the insurance contract because the thought of having to part with that kind of money because of mice was daunting. We only had a 1k deductible back then so the sting wasn't that bad considering it could have been far worse. Given the mouse damage was to a Corvette, and considering we had the same thing happen to our Corvette so I know what repairs cost, I can't believe you ate that bill without even trying to submit a claim. Is the damage within the past 12 months or so where you could try to submit it and just tell them that you had no idea this type of damage might be covered until you were talking to another gardening friend? I would think that most reputable insurance companies would try to find a way to cover the loss for the sake of good faith. Just a desperate thought from someone who has been in the same position as you. Please know that I've done dumber... believe me... I've done far dumber things and one just happened last year.

CEEJ,
DRAT on your rhetorical ?, now I got NOTHING!!! :( lol.

EQUI,
Ummmm, So, that was LAST year, what about THIS year??? ROF

Best;
bluelytes

The car situation happened at least 2 years ago but maybe 3.

Last year was the worst drought for us in 100 years. It was like one big easy bake oven out there. I was trying my best to save my plants, both those that had been planted in subsequent years as well as those I had planted in the spring. I kept watering and watering and watering. I drained the kids' swimming pool. Kids were definitely not happy about that but I figured let them go swim in the pond or at the indoor swimming pool at the rec center. I ordered tankers of water from Wisconsin while I continued to water with my garden hoses. I hauled water to the far reaches of this property trying to save anything I could. I totally trashed our 4 year old well by running three garden hoses at once. There I was standing there watering my brains out wondering what the heck happened to my water??? I did what any wife and mom would do and ran around the house to yell at who ever it was who dared turn off all my spigots. They weren't turned off, I literally ran the well dry and by continuing to try to get water out of the three hoses, I fried the pump which added insult to injury. We had to redrill and then we had to buy a new well pump. I know the total package was well over 10k. Needless to say when you run your well dry your house gets condemned and there are costs associated with getting out of hock from the water police. What a costly mess that was and it was not covered by insurance.

Aren'tyagladya asked Blu?

Yeah, Blue - that "rhetorical" was especially for you. Always have to cover my behind when you're around! LOL!!
OOIIEE - Equi - That was a real biggie! Sure sorry to hear that. Yes, at least one of the rat incidents was this year, have to think if the other one was still within A year.... But it IS covered, eh? Under damage cause by vandals, I would presume?

The coverage was comprehensive not collision. It's that section that comes after your BI/PD limits on your declarations page. Look at your policy and look for Comp and see what your deductible is. I'd try to turn it in if it was within the past 12 months and just tell them the truth that you know somebody else who this happened to and that you just found out their insurance company covered it.

If this claim gets covered because of me... will you split the proceeds? I've got plants to replace that fried last year! Just kidding but I truly wish you the best and I don't see any reason why they shouldn't try to cover it for you.

Equilibrium, I might have to let my husband read that one. That way the next time I have some 'feat of genius' I can refer back to yours as being worse. Not to rub it in (i genuinely hope you guys have recovered), but that is one for the record books. :o))

Gee Equil, you are one devoted gardener in a drought, but to burn out your well...!!! Bummer. I've drilled a well only to have lousy silty unusable water as the result- complete waste of $12,000. It's the pits. Bet your plants appreciated your efforts though!

DAY 2: RAT ZAPPER. The Rat Zapper sat zapless again overnight having been moved to a more popular ( we thought) area of the garage attic. The Rat Tale, a long corded 'catch' indicator with two little eyes on a rodent shaped thing similar to a computer mouse, sits with the cold dead eyes of a shark instead of the fanatic red blinking lights/eyes indicating a "guest" is zapped.

Overnight, something or some misfortune managed to take down a 2x2 post which was nailed to our big yard light post and from which hung about 4 lbs of sunflower seeds. Rat Zapper directions say you should remove other food sources while trying to Zap so this did not help our efforts at all.

Stay tuned for further developments.

Go ahead ashleykelly, I let my husband read a lot of posts here too. He is now convinced that all people who garden are certifiable.

Yes Pooch, we recovered but a third hit wasn't the greatest. When we first built this house about 4 years ago, we had to redrill because we hit sludge at about 450'. We ended up having to redrill in another location also. And, as you know they don't redrill for free. Sucks, doesn't it.

Sucks really badly Equil! We are in a notoriously poor area for well drilling. 1 gpm here and that was unusable for the house. Our neighbors, young doe-eyed yuppies moved out to their dream home built on 5 acres years ago. A month after moving in, their 500 ft deep well number one went dry. They and one other neighbor drilled again- 520 ft: not enough water to support two households. They redrilled a 3rd time to 480 ft and got nothing and quit. Since then they've been hooked up to another water source down the road for about 16 yrs and I hope they've finalized the legalities to make it theirs now. Such an important thing people take for granted!

DAY THREE: RAT ZAPPER-- The Rat Tale indicator thing hangs limp, lifeless and unlit knocked from its former perch atop the garage door openener housing. I don't know what knocked it down so there is hope that there is life in the upper reaches of the garage. It's just that I'd prefer death inside the RAt Zapper at this point! LOL

Have faith and a little patience. Your rats will find the unit sooner or later.

Maybe you need to put up a sign: Rats Room.

CEEJTOWN,
LOL, hehehehe.

Best;
blue

My neice in California had a problem with rats getting into her cars engine and eating the wires. I told her that I had cleared all the rats from my house with a liberal dose of Cayenne pepper, blown all over the attic. They even abandoned their young, and never returned. She sprinkled some in her engine compartment, and end of problem. Outside, this would be a problem if it gets wet as re-application would then be necessary.

trois

I wonder if it would smell like tacos as he drives down the highway....

Do not use Chili powder!

CEEJAY,
LOL, you are on a ROLL!! Too funny!!

Best;
bluelytes

ceejay, that was good! i think i might try sprinkling a little cayenne pepper tonight. my friends will think we're eating mexican next time i give the garden tour. lots of people grow cayenne peppers around here....Avery Island is just down the street. i wonder what would happen if i tossed peppers around the yard? for that matter, maybe just sprinkle some tabasco?

It needs to be the powder. They sniff with their noses and a snootfull of cayenne is like mace to a human. It also needs to be dry. I have made a passage through an empty oatmeal box and they will start through that, then erupt.
When they were in my attic in Houston I bought several very large snap spring rat traps, and almost every night one would go off followed by a lot of thumping and bumping all over the attic. It never killed a one.

trois

rats beware: there will be a magic red dust sprinkled in the garden tonight!

I have been watching this thread carefully waiting for results as I pass another night listening to the tree rats who have gotten into (brace yourself) my kitchen!

I used to watch them from my upstairs window come down the trees at night and as long as I didn't have them inside it didn't bother me. Unfortunately, I have old crank type windows with no screens and it was hot so had the kitchen ones open. I normally would close them at night, but the day I broke my leg we didn't get home from the hospital until after midnight and I could tell by the "gifts" left for me and the bites out of my peaches sitting on the counter that I had been visited. They now seem to be working on a hole in the wall behind the stove and I don't think they've made it all the way in yet, but they sound awfully close. I think they are picking on me now because I have the cast and they know I can't run after them. Mean critters.

I will try the cayenne - great idea! Cinammon has worked on the ants....so why can't cayenne work on these guys? My kitchen will just be covered with spices.

ps. re: fedex/ups delivery folk...mine is the mail delivery woman....since I broke my leg, she has been (nicely really) just walking in the door with my mail (and my e-bay purchases - I've been bored)...and she does like to hang around....

Sounds like you need a whole line of rat zappers! I fear that they may be attracted by cayenne rather than repelled by it. Maybe you can order the rat zapper on the internet -- even ebay-- and your USPS mail lady will deliver it!

ha! that was funny! :-))

Ashley - I visited Avery Island. Probably drove right by your house. ;-) It was very interesting - and I loved the egret nesting area... I'm kinda nuts about egrets, herons and cranes....dunno why - I just think they are way cool.
We heard you could put cayenne in the bird feeder - wouldn't hurt the birds, but the squirrels would learn to stay away from it fast. My squirrels would eat, jump down, rub their faces on the ground and go right back to eating.
trois - We've had rats in the attic, too. We learned we had to tie the traps down to keep them from walking away. DH attached a wire to the trap, then put a nail in the beam (or whatever it's called) and twisted the wire around the nail. That way he could just untwist the wire to dispose of the carcass. It worked....