O.K. ladies and gents, as promised, here are some pics of the job I'm working on. Since you guys have been so helpful, I felt like you might want to see some of the results.
Here are some pics of the damage typically seen around the golf course pond edges. If you get a job like this and don't see this in a pond, keep moving to the next one.
Fresh damage. Notice the slick is black, all the grass roots are gone and it looks wet, mostly because it was visited in the last 12 hours.
This damage is a couple of weeks old. Notice the roots are actually coming back. You can judge the age of the damage in this manner. Next step, the roots will start shooting off blades of grass.
Here is some older damage. Notice the roots are actually starting to shoot little blades of grass. This spot is actually large enough to lie down in.
This is pretty typical, especially where there is more of a rolling hill into the water. The rats burrow a hole up onto the hill, then eat a around the hole in a circular shape, staying close to the hole for a quick escape. As the circle becaomes too large for the rats to stay close to the hole, they become uncomfortable with being so exposed out in the open that they abandon the hole and start a new one.
Thats' how it winds up looking like this. I caught 5 rats in this pond. You can leave a bushel of carrots on the edge of this pond now and they'll spoil before anything eats them. The rats are history...for now.
More damage. I thought you guys might like to see a few more pics in that it might help you more esily identify the target critter when quoting these jobs. Remember, our area biologist actually couldn't tell them wether this was muskrat or nutria damage.
This is how it typically starts. First, they mow down the grass to get to the tasty roots. They don't actaully eat teh grass. Usually, it's piled up right in the edge of the water where they're working. They're after the roots. Remember, pre-bait the pond with carrots 2 days or so before inserting the traps. Be generous. They can't get enough of the stuff!
Here's a float with a rat on it. Notice how it's dipping int the water on the back side.
Not only will the float tip to one side, but with this float design using conibears, you can tell which traps have been tripped becuase the srping stick out of the sides of the runs.
Here's the money shot you have all been waiting for-I don't think this muskrat is as excited about my float design as I am. This is # 10 in this pond. These traps in this pond catch 1 every day, sometimes 2 or 3.
All baited up and ready to rock 'n' roll. Make sure to set the trigger VERY light. You want it to wiggle so he either has to push on it or grab it with his paw to take a bite. If you set the trigger tight, they can eat the carrot right off.
Make sure there is plenty of bait around the float so they can see it. Remember, you have been baiting them for a couple of days when the floats go in. They are looknig and smelling for that orange muskrat crack! This one is still sagging a bit form being tipped in that direction from the wieght of the rat. Don't worry, the sun will dry it out and it will float back up properly. However, if you have a long rainy, windy spell, taking the flaots out for a few days to dry is always an option. You can add more floatation, but I like them to dip a little when they catch a rat so I think I have the right amount on mine.
Speaking of floatation...
This is a different rat. This is actually the first rat I caught on the floats. Thanks be to whomever suggested the carrots. I have caught about 50 rats and am only 3/4 of the way through this job! The resident who took this picture was so happy, he actually invited me into his home for a few beers!!!
I've had a few doubles and tripples with these floats, but didn't have the camera when it happened. We just got a new battery for it off of the internet. Next time I get a double or tripple, I'll try to get a pic and post it up. By the way, I only put 3 traps on the float so as to give them one access point to get on it. I think they like it being covered because they feel more secure.
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