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PA

Yesterday, I discovered a rat tunnel going under my weighoff pumpkin which is nearing an estimated 800lbs. Rats invaded my other patch, possibly because of all the compost, but they only were living under them. They did no damage to the pumpkins. My question is what can I do about this. Poisen, a trap at the opening? I'm afraid of what would happen if it dies under the pumpkin, that can't be a good thing.I've poked a weed in the tunnel it goes at least 2.5 feet right under the pumpkin. There is a gap in the pieces of styrafoam protecting the bottom of the pumpkin. Any suggestions will be appreciated. I'm harvesting the pumpkin this Fri. night for the Altoona weighoff.

10/1/2000 11:56:33 AM

Roanoke Il

Amy I would try everything trap with peanut butter. poisen. and tape you gone far for a rat to ruin it now. best of luck at the weigh-off. mark

10/1/2000 5:37:11 PM

Amy,
I suggest the following as this has worked for me. and it was about 1 week to weigh off when it occurred also.
Tunnel under the pumpkin and take a hand mirror and see what ya got going under there. Make sure ya check the under belly, pumpkin surface for cracks or holes while your under there.
Been there done that with Mr. Pocket Gopher in 1998.
Once I had the tunnel dug under a 627 pound pumpkin I could see a concave bottom on my pumpkin and his pile of food stash of weed seeds and grass seed heads. I set a box of Decon just under the shoulder of the pumpkin in the entrance to the tunnel. Went out to check the box 2 hours later. Found Mr. Gopher dead as a doornail, with his face in the box of Decon. He was still warm .Took him in the mud room to get a good look at him to confirm he was indeed a pocket gopher and found his cheeks full of the bait.
I have pictures of the whole event if ya care to see ..let me know! I'll email them to ya.
Good kuck and keep fighting!
that's how I got my name..
Gophergirl

10/1/2000 8:45:51 PM

Swanton, MD 21561

dear amy...

being a farmer i deal with rats every day...the use of traps might just piss them off...i have seem one rat get caught in a trap and the other rats start tearing down corn stocks...this is waht i do...i mix up a batch of clorox and water and pore it down the hole and around you pumpkin that you are taking to altoona...the mix should be even...1/2 gal to 1/2 gal...i usally use 2-3 gals...the smell will make the rats leave...the poisons are ok but what usally happens is that the rats start to eat the dead rats and don't leave for a while...i had one pumpkin a few years ago that had a hole right under the punpkin into the pumpkin...they were eating the seeds and the inside...you only have a few days...see you at altoona...

papa greg

10/2/2000 7:59:28 AM

West Ky 6a

If it was me: I have a target .22 rifle with a big scope. I'd setup 50yrd-100yrds away and get him when he poked his head out. Course I'd do it at an angle that I wouldn't hit the pumpkin.

If I were you and you didn't want to go the messy route or you were closer to a big city I'd try the previous Clorox mixture. Heck, it might even help kill and mold or fungus that might get the pumpkin.

10/2/2000 12:05:31 PM

Choctaw, OK

Once you kill the rats with poison, if you do, buy some m-80's and shove them in their mouths and explode them to pieces!! they deserve it!!!! HA HA HA HAHA!!!! ANy animal near my pumpkin will be killed with athority!!!!!!!!! except my cat.

10/2/2000 3:19:22 PM

PA

Rat update: Yesterday I removed the nest and made the tunnel 3" in diameter. I soaked a rag in pure ammonia and layed it on the bottom of the tunnel not touching the pumpkin. This morning I went out and the rag was outside and it had covered its tunnel opening. The nesting stuff was very fresh green weeds and the bottom of the pumpkin was ok as far as I could reach.( no, I didn't get bitten) Today I dug a tunnel from the opposite end and met the back tunnel, I put in poison, put several glue and snap traps, and have headphones under the pumpkin in the tunnel with music going as load as it will go. You can hear it 3' from the pumpkin. Somebody told me rats don't like steel wool so I put some of that in too. I would harvest it now if I had the people but alot of my help is coming from a distance and really want to help so I'm going to have to wait till fri night to move. I'm hoping for the best, thanks for all your suggestions
Amy

10/2/2000 7:52:25 PM

Amy,
You got it all covered I would say.. your a fighter and have a good idea with the earphones too! Hope ya gave them some icky rap crap with lots of base .Get that vibration going! when they get used that then hit them with the big band marches or some polkas! LOL I can tell your gonna make it to Friday . good job and good luck keep those rate updates coming.if ya get one in a trap....celebrate!
GG

10/3/2000 4:19:09 AM

PA

I think I've won the battle. Thanks again for making this year happen for me. I couldn't have gotten this far without all of you. Some good news about my pumpkin is that is still growing a tiny bit. 3 more days till loading then weighoff Sat. Good luck everyone.
Amy

10/3/2000 2:51:59 PM

Western Pa.

Amy!

Get a funky green pointed hat and a flute (or clarinet) and start playing a "rad" tune while walking briskly to the nearest pond, creek, lake, river, or well! Not only will you become famous for the "monster" pumpkins you've grown this year, but you'll rid the town of rats! Don't pay any attention to gophergirl, she doesn't understand that Pennsylvania rats LOVE polka music! Best of luck at your first official World Weigh-off!
You go girl!

jus' me

10/3/2000 5:28:54 PM

Western Pa.

Amy!

Get a funky green pointed hat and a flute (or clarinet) and start playing a "rad" tune while walking briskly to the nearest pond, creek, lake, river, or well! Not only will you become famous for the "monster" pumpkins you've grown this year, but you'll rid the town of rats! Don't pay any attention to gophergirl, she doesn't understand that Pennsylvania rats LOVE polka music! Best of luck at your first official World Weigh-off!
You go girl!

jus' me

10/3/2000 5:29:09 PM