Posted on: Tuesday, February 22, 2005

ABOUT WOMEN
Gaining a foothold in rodent war

By Tanya Bricking Leach
Advertiser Relationships Writer

Woman vs. Rats: Part II.

It would be premature to say I've won the battle with the rats that I wrote about in this space last month. There may still be more lurking around my house.

But advice readers bestowed on me has definitely given me the edge in the rat race, so I have to share it.

Exterminators called. Friends and strangers (the ones who didn't taunt me) told me their horror stories. Locals asked how long I've lived here and cautioned me it was just part of life. My mother had more ammunition for "Reasons Why Her Far-Away Daughter Should Move Closer to Home."

Rats even crept into my dreams.

My phone kept ringing and my e-mail filled up with all things rat-related. It seemed like breaking news of a rodent epidemic.

To add to my disgust, a few people let me know they can personally attest that rats coming up the toilet is no urban legend. I'm sorry to hear that.

My favorite response was the woman who suggested powdered coyote urine (with a reputation that apparently reeks in the cat world) as a remedy. Never knew I could actually order that stuff online. I haven't done that yet.

Nor did I get a cat of my own.

But I did plunk down $39.99 at City Mill for a "Rat Zapper" after three people called and raved about the battery-powered electrocutor. Mine has yet to be lethal.

I've had more success catching my dog going after the bait on sticky traps and snap traps than the creatures for whom the peanut butter and Slim Jims were intended.

The maintenance crew in charge of my rented house finally paid attention and patched holes, trimmed trees and set a trap in a wall where we suspected rats might be nesting. No foul smell yet. ...

But there is the faint smell of moth balls (suggested by readers who said the little buggers don't like the odor).

On the advice of others, I've plugged holes around the house with steel wool.

I've been educated in Rodent 101 (thank you, Charley) about how rats always travel along walls, mark their territory and wise up to traps quickly.

I've walked around the house looking for stains from the oily fur of the little beasts. I've imagined how I'd break into my house if I were a sneaky pest.

I've pictured life as a "Tom and Jerry" cartoon, where I'm Tom, shaking pepper around baseboards or trying crazy schemes to make little creatures sneeze and go away.

The most effective thing has been taking away my dog's bowl of food I used to let her graze from whenever she wanted. Now she's on a diet, and so are my rats.

The rats may have moved on, but you can never be too careful. The coyote urine is only a few clicks away — which reminds me, I will have to remember to keep flushing the toilet first thing upon entering the bathroom.

Reach Tanya Bricking Leach at tleach@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8026.