Yep, a rat

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Just a quick FYI for folks: I've seen a rat close to where I live between Porter and Union.

I've called the city and filed a work order, of course, and I'll be putting out a trap to kill it (please no moralizing; it's not an endangered species and it is a health risk). Just FYI to any in the area with pets or who might otherwise be concerned.

Comments

[rmd.livejournal.com]

Do be careful that the rat trap is unlikely to snare, for instance, a cat investigating it. (I don't know if it's a big snap-trap or what)

(I live close to the railroad tracks behind city hall, so I assume there are rats around there as well as skunks and racoons and such. (I once encountered a skunk near my driveway - happily nobody was too surprised so neither the skunk nor I had to take any radical action.))

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I sometimes see skunks on their nightly rounds in my back yard in Ball Square. Once a mama skunk and two skunklets. Raccoons occasionally, too, though I don't stay up as late as they do anymore. Waiting for that first coyote sighting...

[keshwyn]

I saw one over on Winter Hill about three-four years ago. BEAUTIFUL animal. (I promptly warned the neighbors who had small children or small dogs that they left outside...)

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

You saw a coyote?

[keshwyn]

I did indeed. It was fairly early in the morning and I was getting my bike out of the basement, and this beautiful dog (it wasn't a dog) came running around the corner, went right past me and on down the street. Took me about five seconds to parse that it was not, in fact, a dog, and then I couldn't stop grinning the entire way to work.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I'm keeping them strictly inside away from pets, no worries. I have a small dog, so I don't want her to get whacked on the nose.

There are quite a few outdoor cats in my neighborhood; I'm a little surprised they haven't taken care of the problem.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

worrying about my own pets isn't enough. i sometimes have to worry about everyone else's pets too. :)

[i-leonardo.livejournal.com]

just one ? man, that's not even enough for a good shish-kebab. if you need extra, magoun square's got `em in spades; help yourself - i'll never miss a few. and they seem to make more at a remarkable clip.

[avjudge]

I was going to say "only one?"!

I'm not too far from Magoun Square, 5 houses up from the tracks Boston-ward of the square. There was one (or more??) living in my house, in the basement walls, when I moved in in '06; I finally resorted to poison for that (and prayed my cats wouldn't find & eat it - the rat, that is; the bait was out of reach). I saw one a couple years ago wander down the sidewalk after dark and go under my neighbor's porch.

But the one that takes the cake was the one a year or so ago, in the full daylight of late afternoon, that sauntered across my back deck, STOOD UP ON HIS HIND LEGS TO PEER IN THROUGH THE FRENCH DOOR TO MY KITCHEN, then got back down on all 4 and strolled along the side of the house to the back of the deck and then who knows where.

Ugh.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

sometimes, at night, i've seen dozens scurrying around. hardly uncommon. esp along the fences at the boston commons. they're EVERYWHERE.

now, ROUSeseses... that's something else.

#

[raysimoto.livejournal.com]

Rodents of unusual size? I don't think they exist.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capybara

Over a meter long and the biggest ones weigh more than I do.

Plus the extincct http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephoartigasia_monesi
One ton rodent!

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutria

#

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

they say where there's one, there's three, with velociraptors...

with rats, if there's one, there's probably a few dozen.

#

[medyani.livejournal.com]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRhCwefoLxg&feature=relmfuMany more than a few dozen, but it's all because we are here providing an abundance of "food."

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

I just moved into the Magoun area and was a little surprised at the rat population. Tons of birds too! But a great deal more rat sightings than I was used to in the Tufts area. Though I must say I read this post and also thought...Really? Only one?

[i-leonardo.livejournal.com]

as for the rats, there are a couple of restaurants that don't seem to manage their trash as effectively as would be nice. can't explain the pigeons, though.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Lots of rats in Union that I've seen, especially near the tracks.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Oh, sure, but this one is out in daylight. If it weren't obviously a wild animal on sight, I'd wonder if somebody hadn't accidentally let out their pet.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I guess I should have been more clear. I have seen plenty of rats in Union in the daylight. I guess I'm just surprised that anyone things that rats are news.

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

I saw a rat scurry across my front yard and then under our overturned canoe the other day, in broad daylight. Our neighbor is having construction done, and the contractor informed us he has seen it run back and forth several times, and he found it's hole in her front yard. He put out poison (well away from the kids), and my husband found it in "not a good way" yesterday and dispatched of it. I know they are part of city life, but yuck.

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DalBAPTQFF8

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Stop the hatin'.

[thesoxgap]

I couldn't believe that Rats are news, either: http://somerville.patch.com/articles/aldermen-rail-against-rats-absentee-landlords

[gruene.livejournal.com]

Guess what! You live in a city! Surprise!

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Awwwww, you're so cute with your snark fail.

Generally people need to know if you see rats, especially in daylight, near residential buildings because as noted elsewhere if you see one, there are dozens more. Also the city needs to know as it's an animal control issue. But thanks for playing!

[gruene.livejournal.com]

I agree with notifying the city. They are a pest and potentially carry disease. I found it odd that you thought it was particularly unusual or alarming, as they are endemic to urban environments. The best solution is better waste storage. Trapping only goes so far, if they have reliable food sources.

[gruene.livejournal.com]

By the way, it's not that unusual to see rats in the daytime. They are "Crepuscular" animals, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. Generally speaking, they sleep for a portion of the day and a portion of the night.