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I have four fruit trees, and up till this summer, haven't had a problem with rats. Typically they'd be in just one tree, so I can place my bait near it. This year, all four trees have them, and are ignoring my bait! Even my spring loaded traps with peanut butter aren't working.
short of removing all the fruit, any other good ideas for bait?
What kind of fruit are they after ? Have you tried manufacturing some sort of skirt for the tree trunks... like an inverted umbrella, or wrapping the trunk with something like galvanized stove pipe so the critter cannot get past the umbrella device or get a foothold on the slick stovepipe....? I've seen the stovepipe used on plum trees in OR, to keep the 'coons out.
Sounds like you've acquired the notoriously famous 'roof rats' that are difficult to eradicate. They love fruit trees.
Here's some info about them. Roof Rats ? Control & Identification ? Orkin.com
You probably should call a rodent control company.
I have three orange trees and one grapefruit tree. The rats are coming from somewhere else, not my property, there is no place for them to hide on my property. I'm guessing from the neighboring golf course which has standing water from the sprinklers, solenareas dont drain well.
the rat trap I have is from Terminix! I will call them again. I need to be careful what they use, as I have a small dog.
they come out at night only, and the trees are close to 15 ft tall, I've seen them only once, scurrying to the top of the tree when I panned my flashlight on them.
between them and the birds crapping all over the place from sitting in the trees all day, I have my have my hands full with cleanup duty every morning!
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