A meeting to better organize the battle against roof rats now invading Mesa’s Orange Grove neighborhood is set for Thursday.
A representative from the Maricopa County Vector Control will speak at the meeting hosted by Mesa’s neighborhood outreach program to better educate residents on the presence of roof rats and what to do to combat them.
The meeting is scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25 at Entz Elementary School, 4132 E. Adobe.
The city first confirmed that there was a roof rat problem in the Orange Groves neighborhood last month soon after resident Dave Grossklaus discovered the body of a rat floating inside his swimming pool in June.
Roof rats are nocturnal rodents ranging 13 to 18 inches long that are shy of people. Roof rats can cause damage to homes, including wiring around awnings and fixtures in attics as they find a place to nest in the winter months while waiting for the citrus season.
At the time, Grossklaus fished it out and didn’t think anything of it — until he spoke with his neighbor, Tom Duffy.
Duffy had written up an alert in the neighborhood’s Orange Groves Report, warning people that they could have a rat problem on their hands, or at least in their yards as he was noticing holes in the citrus in the ground
“I called my exterminator, and he told me to put a vector trap out and put a piece of a Snickers candy bar in it,” Grossklaus said. “Since June, I’ve caught six of them. It seems like I’ve been catching one every other week. We’ve got an issue here.”
The black or brown roof rats have an Asian lineage. They first emerged about 10 years ago in the east Phoenix Arcadia neighborhood after being unknowingly transported to the Valley on fruit trucks from coastal states such as California, Washington, Texas and Florida.
Last year, Tempe residents began voicing concerns about them in the Rural-Geneva neighborhood and the city hosted neighborhood meetings to educate people in how to deal with the rodents: Keep the lids on your garbage cans and make sure your trees are trimmed at least four feet away from the house. Also, keep citrus off of your roof and out of the yard.
Other signs that roof rats are taking up residence in one’s yard include torn-up places in the yard where they may nest, agitated pets, and gnawing sounds in your walls or in an attic.
Contact writer: (480) 898-6533 or msakal@evtrib.com
wellreadone posted at 5:50 pm on Thu, Oct 25, 2012.
Ah Rodentia, those sneaky little squeakers. I must admit when I saw the word tiny followed by 13" to 18" in length I was not thinking mice.
Four months ago three kittens came out of nowhere and appeared at my door. Two sisters and a big brother who are now healthy, happy and robust examples of kittyness. All three are hunters deluxe. I had no idea there be mice in my place until kittys decimated the entire population in very short order. Now they range outside and bring me mice, gophers, centipedes and even a little snake. There now exists a natural balance in my heavily wooded area in which I live.
hljmesa posted at 4:37 pm on Thu, Oct 25, 2012.
More Cats ! !.. ...Every home owner in the Grove neighborhood needs to get a cat.. Go to your local shelter and pick one up ..ehhh two, get two and the problem will disappear......aaarrrggghhh......here is a reference for the non-believers...http://ezinearticles.com/?Cats,-People,-and-the-Black-Plague---Those-Who-Kept-Cats-Survived&id=161249
aaarrrggghhh posted at 8:47 pm on Tue, Oct 23, 2012.
Just as during the plague years in Europe, those with cats will not have to worry about rats.
tededitedit posted at 7:39 pm on Tue, Oct 23, 2012.
Lessons learned from the battle in Tempe last winter: 1. You cannot prevent them. You can only control them. Take this battle very seriously! 2. The "rat poison" used in traps now is not strychnine, it's a blood thinner. Use as directed and your cats and dogs will be okay. 3. Clutter, pet food, water bowls, dripping faucets, and birdbaths are things you need to take care of now besides fruit tries. 4. Find out how the city, county, and neighborhood association will deal with vacant and rental properties; especially those with fruit trees.
Congratulations to the guy who has bagged six since June. A closing thought: Start with ONE male and ONE female in a lab on January 1st, and because of "babies making babies", you'll have OVER SIX THOUSAND in a year!