have a heart rat trap to catch rats at my house, which was free of poison so rats were safe to feed to hawks. I then took these healthy rats to a property I’ve been associated with for many decades, where a hawk will recognize me approaching then I can release the rat in the field, and the hawk will fly down and catch the rat. Rodents
This is recycling
live rats I would give to a red tail hawk I was familiar with nearby.
Whereas any rats I killed with my victor snap trap wooden Woodstream wood rat traps I would leave on a tree stump, and these would be adopted by a family of red shoulder, hawks closer to my home in a different field. I would never do this for rats if I thought they had gotten into anticoagulant rat poison, as that would be unfair to the Hawks
California law allows you to either release the captured animal where you trap it or kill it where you trap it regarding rats.
Squirrels obviously I release on site ASAP immediately
although some neighbors transport squirrels to larger open oak woodlands with water acorn and other nut, berry seed and food supply
Birds, I obviously release immediately and for this reason, I always check the traps throughout the day and especially before sunset so that the bird has a chance to get water, food and find its way home before sunset, before darkness
I highly suggest to anyone if you’re going to use a have a heart live animal trap, check it frequently or place it in view of your kitchen, window or living room, bay window, or some way you can monitor it throughout the day as it is very cruel and traumatic for any animal, whether squirrel or bird to be trapped in a cage
I would use both have a heart rat size traps, and squirrel size traps to catch rats. One benefit of the larger squirrel size traps is for families of rats or catching more than one rat at a time. As they feed together
possums are highly beneficial, do not carry rabies. In fact, they can eat 1000 ticks per day, so possums protect humans from Lyme disease as they reduce the population in our yards and fields. Possums might bare their teeth or pretend to be vicious, but they truly are not
Possums are highly beneficial animals which offer no threat or harm to humans or pets.
Raccoons are a different story
Squirrels are a different story
Homeowners should not top their trees. A.k.a. chop off the top of their trees as this causes the tree trunk to split or sprout into many directions, offering excellent squirrel nest perch basket support.
Any homeowner who tops their trees may have many squirrel nests in future years.
Squirrels can do tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars damage to a house chewing through wiring electrical starting fires and more. Best to let squirrels stay wild. Best not to feed squirrels or allow squirrels to access birdfeeder.
My intent is to act within the spirit of the law law, which is designed to prevent cruelty to animals, as well as transfer of disease, vectors
This conversation could branch in dozens of directions
I take actions which most humane society voices would approve of.
HTTP://planttrees.org 2025.02.20
Rat Management UCIPM
Wood rat traps Victor
Have a Heart Rat Traps
HTTP://planttrees.org 2025 1.00 Lemon Water
https://x.com/planttrees
https://munsonscott.substack.com |