I just found a family of roof rats in my compost. It's as if calling them roof rats is healthier or less disgusting than RATS. Do I have to throw away the whole bin? Take away the top 10 inches or so or what. HELP!
Rats in compost
Why do you have to do anything to the compost? We have mice running around outside in the woods with all the other critters. Once you put the compost out - the mice will be gone. Is there something about mouse droppings that is harmful to plants?
These ain't no mice. They are rats. Just trapped 2. Hope the whole family likes peanut butter.
Oh I get it. Sorry for your dilemma. Don't let them die in there - you can't put meat in the compost!!
2 more dead. Hope that's the family. Anyone know if the fact they were in there for a while caused possible health problems?
a couple of small dead rodents won't hurt your compost. No cows, though.
Rats feed on garbage - strong stomachs. Doubt that was the cause.
i had one rattie living in mine a few weeks ago - it was a great way for him to fatten up for the benefit of my cat.
Oh, there have now been 10. I really think this is disgusting bagging them and tossing them into the garbage can. What about their excrement in the compost, which I'm sure is there!!!!
That is a good question -- but strictly as a guess-----I don't see that it would matter. We use compost all the time....it is exposed to the elements.... mice, rats, squirrels, birds, dogs, cats, are all leaving little 'presents' on it all the time. I don't think it would matter.
The thought of eating veggies grown in rat poop is pretty gross, I agree. Not sure I could eat those tomatoes. Even though rodents undoubtedly prowl the garden and poop there... when you know it's there it could definitely be an appetite suppressant.
Why not just use that batch now on a flower garden or the lawn. Then the compost won't go to waste.
What you need is that snake I found in my compost last week.
Karen
Karen, I have mice in my compost and I would love to have your snake!! Wonder how I can entice some into my Biostaks (heck, if the mice can get in I'm sure a clever snake could.)
Ha! I don't know how you get them, CapeCod. It was actually the first I've ever found there in many years of composting. The weather was hot, but the compost was hotter. He didn't seem to mind.
Karen
I need a snake charmer.
Look on the bright side, at least you have roof rats (Rattus rattus) instead of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) which are much larger.
Rat droppings will compost just fine with the rest of your pile and will contribute to the soil. You may want to buy a bottle of EM1 and use it in your garden and compost to boost the beneficial microbe population. I would recommend that you plant mint around your compost pile. Rats, mice, chipmunks etc usually don't like mint. Mint essential oil is good way to keep them out of the house/ducts/attic as well.
"Plant mint around it." Then in a year or two you'll be asking how the heck to get rid off all that mint!
Karen
peppermint oil moat: minty fresh compost.
I have grown mint in the ground for decades and it has never taken over my garden or spread to my neighbours garden. The bad rap is unjustified. Pull it back to its designated border and cut it off at the roots. Cut back the blossoms before they seed.
It will stay put. Most people just cut mint off at the soil surface and leave the roots, or let it go to seed.
I let the mint grow around my tomato plants. It keeps the rats & mice from snacking on them.
I like the idea of a mint-moat! I'm also going to set some pots of it around my 'maters. Wonder if mint would also deter chipmunks, of which I have a bumper-crop this year?
Here's a product that I found that is "natural" and not poisonous (also biodegradable.) I've just started tossing a little packet into each Biostack--I'm going to inspect my compost to see if mousies are still there when/if it EVER stops raining around here!!
Makes the Biostacks smell good, anyway!
http://www.bonideproducts.com/lbonide/backlabels/l865.pdf
Does the Mouse Magic product smell like mint?
Cute chipmunk.....I notice he's *not* sitting in a pot of mint. :)
Quoting:
Does the Mouse Magic product smell like mint?
Yes, it does, Garden Mermaid--very pleasantly so, at least to me (a human being!)
I didn't see ingredients listed on the Bonide website. I wonder if fermented plant extract made from EM or AEM and mint would do the same?
garden_mermaid, what is EM1? Is it sold under a particular name?
EM is an acronym for Effective Microbes. The product is a cultured solution of naturally occuring beneficial microorganisms. The "mother culture" that you buy can be activated or extended to create a larger quantity of solution to use around the house and garden. It's actually very economical to use.
EM/EM1 is the same culture that is used in Bokashi composting. The Asia Pacific Natrual Agriculture Network (APNAN) handbook mentions using weeds in a solution of AEM to make a fermented plant extract (FPE) that extracts the nutrients from the weeds and prevents them from sprouting/rooting. The FPE is then used as fertilizer for the crop.
We've had a few discussion threads on the Soil and Composting forum.
Here are some links to these threads:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/802294/
http://davesgarden.com/tools/tags/tag.php?tag=bokashi
Quoting:
I didn't see ingredients listed on the Bonide website. I wonder if fermented plant extract made from EM or AEM and mint would do the same?
The only ingredients I see on the label are "natural essential oils," which I assume include peppermint oil 'cause that's that what it smells like.
I think it would be very interesting if you would try this with EM or AEM, and some of your mint!
What about bloodmeal,it will deter rabits.But definitly does not smell nice.I have used it in my tumbler to help get it cooking,its just smelly nitrogen,wont burn plants,its natural.
coffee grounds may work, since they also deter squirrels.
The biggest problem you may face is that the breeding rats put out a pheremone that attracts more rats. You may not smell it but the critters will.
I like the idea of a friendly blacksnake.