Re: Rats in Figs
I hate to suggest this but it did work for me. I had a rat infestation
a few years ago and they were getting into my aviaries and killing my
birds. They took over my barns and were destroying everything including
my garden by making underground tunnels. I got this sudden influx of
rats from a 'friend' who I let store an old travel trailer here.
Unbeknownst to me the trailer was full of rats!!
I put out small bowls of antifreeze and killed them all within a few
weeks. I removed all other water sources at night and put the bowls in
corners with a box on top. I cut a small hole in the box for an
entrance and so my chickens, cats, wild birds, etc. couldn't get to the
poison.
Prior to the antifreeze I tried baits, trapping, blocking holes,
shooting them, flooding their tunnels, chasing them down with a
pitchfork, everything I could think of.
Antifreeze is deadly and will kill anything that drinks it, including
the family dog so be extremely careful if you use it. It's a slow
killer, destroying the kidneys, and a painful death. As I said, I only
used it as a last resort but if I ever get infested again, will use it
as a first resort since it is so effective. I never found any other
dead animals so my covers apparently worked out and if anything ate a
dead or dying rat the antifreeze didn't seem to persist in the food
chain. I always disposed of any dead rats I found tho just in case.
You might try hanging a small bowl (use wire so they don't chew the
hanger and spill everything) of antifreeze in your fig tree at night and
picking it up early before the birds and lizards are up. It should also
work if set on the ground at the base of the tree where they will find
it. If they are getting to the tree from overhead, I would install it
in the crotch of the tree or on their path to the tree or where they are
holding up by day.
Another suggestion is to set rat traps at the base of the tree, baited
with figs. :-)
Linda
