Rodentia
- Michael Jay Tucker's explosive-cargo
- 8 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Okay, so when I left off last time, it was early 2020, and I had just discovered that we had rats in the attic. Which makes a nice change. Usually people accuse me of having bats in the belfry. But we shan’t listen to such base canards. Or even malevolent mallards. No. Not even once.
Anyway, that meant we had to put the Casita project on hold while we figured out what to do with the Beasties Above. At first, I thought I might try to take care of them myself. I went to the hardware store and got a bunch of traps -- both the old, reliable kind that are just a wood platform and a spring-driven neck-breaker, and some brand-spandy, high-tech new ones that are made out of plastic and look sleek and cool. (Special note, the plastic ones didn’t work worth a hoot. The rats just munched on the bait and then went off with a chuckle.)
About the pictures: I’ve not got many photos of rats to share (thank goodness) but here are some others. First, here’s a shot of Martha on the beach in Clearwater, Florida. Thought it turned out well. Second, here’s a cactus flower with a friendly visiting bee at the park not far from here in Georgetown. Third, the sun and sand at a lakefront we visited in January of last year.
I avoided poison for a couple of reasons. First, because I didn’t want the animals going outside, dying, and then being eaten by any local fauna and then getting sick themselves. I’ve learned that is a real problem, and I wanted to leave as little an impact on the resident wildlife (and domesticated animals) as I could.(*)
And...second, I had selfish reasons. To wit, I didn’t want the animals dying in the attic, and then rotting someplace for a year or so. Stinky, you see. I also avoided the glue traps. If you’ve not run across these, they’re basically just big pieces of sticky paper, like fly paper. The rat or mouse gets into them and just can’t get loose. Unless a human discovers the animal, and kills it quickly, it then dies of hunger and/or dehydration.
Which seems cruel to me. Breaking a rodent’s neck is not, of course, something of which St. Francis might warmly approve. But, at least it’s quick. And, besides, I get all these flashbacks to those old movies where somebody gets caught in quicksand or tar pits or something and dies a horrible lingering death. Ah, the sweet nostalgic memories of childhood.
Thus, properly armed, I returned home, scampered up the ladder into the attic, and set out my traps. Then, with fiendish glee twisting my face into a sinister grin, I awaited results...
...which were pretty darn paltry. I did manage to get a couple of rats in the old fashioned traps. But, like I say, the cool, high-tech, new-and-improved ones didn’t so much as catch a whisper of a whisker. And the sound of little clawed feet romping about in our attic continued unabated. (Phooey.)
Finally, I realized I would have to give in to the inevitable. I wasn’t going to be able to manage this by myself. So, I called up a service--American Rodent Control, in Austin. And, a short time later, two gentlemen with a truck appeared out front, ready to do what I had not been able to.
How was I to know, though, that things were about to get even more interesting than they were?
If such a thing is possible.
More to come.
Footnote:
*See “SAFE RODENT CONTROL,” Center For Biological Diversity, https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/Safe-Rodent-Control/#
Copyright©2026 Michael Jay Tucker
Care to help out?
I provide these blog postings for free. That’s fine and I’m happy to do so. But, long ago and far away, I was told that if you give away your material, that means you don’t really think it has any value.
So, to get beyond that, I’ve decided to make it possible for you to leave me a “tip” for my posts.
If you like what I write or the videos I produce, and feel you could make a small contribution to support my efforts, please go here:
That will take you to a Gumroad page where you’ll have the option of leaving me a few pence by way of encouragement.
Again, I don’t mind if you don’t. I just want to provide you with the option so that I won’t feel quite so much like I’m just tossing my works into the wind.
Either way, thanks hugely for dropping by the blog :-)
~mjt