Mouse or baby rat?

dublincelt

Need some help to identify this guy I caught in a snap trap. Over to the experts, mouse or rat? Many thanks!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Mouse

BorneTobyWilde

No scale, is it 2 foot long or inch long ?

dublincelt

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

No scale, is it 2 foot long or inch long ?

Apologies, I should have put a coin beside it. Very small, body about 10cm..

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Regardless of size, it's the head of a mouse

exaisle

Mouse....and where there are mice there are no rats....

dublincelt

exaisle wrote: »

Mouse....and where there are mice there are no rats....

Funny you should say that beacause I have caught plenty of rats from the same part of the garden since last year. Big ones...

dodderangler

Mouse. Ears are not same as a rats.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

exaisle wrote: »

Mouse....and where there are mice there are no rats....

That's an old adage that is not true at all.

amandstu

Fatima Uneven Snowshoe wrote: »

That's an old adage that is not true at all.

I knew immediately from experience it was not true.

Is there any way of preventing rats from making off with poison blocks in one piece.?

The whole idea with the blocks is to tether them so the rats have to return to feed but my lads have found a way to break them off and eat them whole.

Should I be worried or do I just replace the blocks until they no longer take them (ie they are dead)?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

amandstu wrote: »

I knew immediately from experience it was not true.

Is there any way of preventing rats from making off with poison blocks in one piece.?

The whole idea with the blocks is to tether them so the rats have to return to feed but my lads have found a way to break them off and eat them whole.

Should I be worried or do I just replace the blocks until they no longer take them (ie they are dead)?

Not really a subject for a nature forum but they take the block to the nest and eat it there. Keep replacing the blocks until they are no longer taken.

amandstu

Fatima Uneven Snowshoe wrote: »

Not really a subject for a nature forum but they take the block to the nest and eat it there. Keep replacing the blocks until they are no longer taken.

true ,it is a bit distasteful but such is life

Caught this critter alive at 4am this morning; which one is it?

Zoo4m8

Mouse..youngster

vistafinder

Sorry to hijack this thread. A question about rat poison. I have a veg garden and have snap traps that are protected so that any birds wont get caught or any bigger animals cant get in.

I have been advised to put poison down all around the garden. i replied by saying that I dont want to kill other animals that could eat the poisoned rats. The reply I got was I give the poisoned rats I find to the cats and they are fine.

My argument is that it is causing trouble to birds of prey and barn owls.

How bad is it for other animals that would eat a poisoned rat? Kind of hard to find anything about it.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

vistafinder wrote: »

Sorry to hijack this thread. A question about rat poison. I have a veg garden and have snap traps that are protected so that any birds wont get caught or any bigger animals cant get in.

I have been advised to put poison down all around the garden. i replied by saying that I dont want to kill other animals that could eat the poisoned rats. The reply I got was I give the poisoned rats I find to the cats and they are fine.

My argument is that it is causing trouble to birds of prey and barn owls.

How bad is it for other animals that would eat a poisoned rat? Kind of hard to find anything about it.

Secondary poisoning is a very real problem with Rat poisons. There are products that don't cause it but they are not readily available, as far as I know.

Whoever said they fed the poisoned Rats to their Cats was pulling your leg, to put it mildly.

amandstu

vistafinder wrote: »

Sorry to hijack this thread. A question about rat poison. I have a veg garden and have snap traps that are protected so that any birds wont get caught or any bigger animals cant get in.

I have been advised to put poison down all around the garden. i replied by saying that I dont want to kill other animals that could eat the poisoned rats. The reply I got was I give the poisoned rats I find to the cats and they are fine.

My argument is that it is causing trouble to birds of prey and barn owls.

How bad is it for other animals that would eat a poisoned rat? Kind of hard to find anything about it.

I don't think they eat sick/dead animals very much.

On the other hand ,many will remember this (ongoing?) story about Eagles being poisoned as a result of (illegal) fox/crow poisons.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/eagle-that-was-about-to-lay-eggs-poisoned-in-connemara-1.2179652

I doubt intelligent use of rodent poison would be anything like as dangerous but I am not an expert.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

amandstu wrote: »

I don't think they eat sick/dead animals very much.

On the other hand ,many will remember this (ongoing?) story about Eagles being poisoned as a result of (illegal) fox/crow poisons.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/eagle-that-was-about-to-lay-eggs-poisoned-in-connemara-1.2179652

I doubt intelligent use of rodent poison would be anything like as dangerous but I am not an expert.

Any use of rodent poisons is dangerous. Birds and animals all feed on carrion.

Boardnashea

I try to avoid using poison if at all possible. I have had reasonable success with a one live trap (two chamber) and no success with another single chamber version.
When I do use poison I nail it to a board which means it has to be eaten on location. Storm make a sort of doughnut shaped block for this purpose.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Boardnashea wrote: »

I try to avoid using poison if at all possible. I have had reasonable success with a one live trap (two chamber) and no success with another single chamber version.
When I do use poison I nail it to a board which means it has to be eaten on location. Storm make a sort of doughnut shaped block for this purpose.

That doesn't prevent secondary poisoning though.

Boardnashea

Fatima Uneven Snowshoe wrote: »

That doesn't prevent secondary poisoning though.

I know, and that's why I try to avoid if at all possible.