Last night, the rats returned and struck the kitchen, dumping two or three packs of crackers onto the floor and hiding most of them under the refrigerator’s machinery.
They’d already wrecked a stove and were working on the refrigerator. Cracker bits were everywhere, and we couldn’t find the hole they had come in on or up from the basement.
Maria called Bud/aka Bip in, and he led us right to the spots where the crackers were heading (in preparation for a return). In the pantry, where the washing dryer is, he came and stared at the back of the dryer, where we found a newly chewed open hole by the vent dryer hose.
It was heroic, the role many dogs used to play, and then Maria stepped in and minutes took the back of the refrigerator off, picked out a score or more of new crackers from their hiding place, and drilled metal strips and brillo over the halls. We’re distributing some vinegar (rats hate the smell) and traps tonight, and Bud will sleep outside his crate. God help the rat who shows up.
(Maria crawled down behind the dryer and sealed off the hole Bud showed us the rats had dug from the basement to get to the kitchen. He’ll be out of his crate and patrolling all night. Boston Terriers were bred to hunt rats; he is the perfect dog for the job.)
He drove the rat out last time and will undoubtedly make it a gain. Maria sealed all of the holes he had led us to. I’ve said it many times, but I must repeat it: Maria is remarkable. She takes on a problem, figures out how to solve it, gets her kit out, and goes to work in minutes—my Willa Catha Woman.
I have no doubt the Rat Patrol will once more prevail. The last time Bud/aka Bip and Maria worked together, the rats vanished for a month. They are a fantastic team.
In our house in Montreal rats came into the basement through the drain hole in the cement floor. We stuffed steel wool hard into it and that seemed to do the trick.
We’re on it…
We had a Cairn Terrier who could catch and kill rats(or any smaller mammal) much better than our two cats. Cairns were bred to catch rodents in the rock piles (Cairns) in Scotland.
I’m rooting for Bud, the excellent varmint hunter! Living in the country (in the city too, but especially in the country as we do also)….rodents are a fact of life. We found holes in our dryer venting also where mice were getting in…. did the same *drill* Maria is doing……and since we no longer have cats….we just set mouse traps- several in all rooms…… rodents always seem to come in waves……. but…..I trust Bud is going to make short work of your rat/ mice! Beware, rat man! Thankfully we’ve never had a rat IN the house..but we do have them under the house (traps always set) Also keep mouse traps set in my car….as I’ve caught several in there also! Darned!
Susan M
I’ve caught 3 big ones lately with the big old fashioned wood rat traps. I swear one was as big as a possum. A mixture of bacon grease and peanut butter is the perfect bait. Traps are about $5 each at Tractor Supply.