COLD DARK ROOM

EllieMay

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Good morning/afternoon all,
Funny old day here, frosty but sunny and now there's a big black cloud appeared and it looks like it's about to pour down - or snow - but neither are in the forecast so maybe we'll have just a quick shower. Temps about 38F.
The garden is full of birds at my feeders and Lola is still in his hide but peeping around the side of his door watching what I'm up to.
I have a few chores I need to do today so I'd best get busy but like Arnie 'I'll be back!'
TTFN
Good morning Lyn,
Handsome Lola doesn’t know how lucky he is to be an indoor tort!
don’t work too hard.
 

Lyn W

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I don't know if anyone has posted this anywhere else on the forum but my sister sent me this link
Great news. The only trouble is I think it may predate the post from last Oct about the discovery of 15 slaughtered there. :( I'll have to Google to find out more
 
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MenagerieGrl

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I don't know if anyone has posted this anywhere else on the forum but my sister sent me this link
Wonderful discovery!
In the article they talk about the Rat's that came in the 17th & 18th century, I wonder how they eradicated them.
I'm asking because on the Farallon Islands 25 mi of the coast of SF Bay, they are planing on dropping 3000# of rat bait to get rid of the rat's & mice that are decimating the bird population (Petrels, Gulls, Cormorants, Murres and Tufted Puffins).
With the rats comes the burrowing owls, that prey upon the rat's & Mice, but when they begin to subside in the winter the burrowing owls prey upon the Ashy Storm Petrels. The bait they want to use is brodifacoum and is so ecologically damaging that Gov. Gavin Newsom last year signed a law banning its use on the mainland, and the potential for secondary kill is likely.
Any way . . I was wondering, I guess I need to do more research. . .
Thank you @Lyn W for the article
 

Lyn W

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In the article they talk about the Rat's that came in the 17th & 18th century, I wonder how they eradicated them.
I'm asking because on the Farallon Islands 25 mi of the coast of SF Bay, they are planing on dropping 3000# of rat bait to get rid of the rat's & mice that are decimating the bird population (Petrels, Gulls, Cormorants, Murres and Tufted Puffins).
With the rats comes the burrowing owls, that prey upon the rat's & Mice, but when they begin to subside in the winter the burrowing owls prey upon the Ashy Storm Petrels. The bait they want to use is brodifacoum and is so ecologically damaging that Gov. Gavin Newsom last year signed a law banning its use on the mainland, and the potential for secondary kill is likely.
Any way . . I was wondering, I guess I need to do more research. . .
Thank you @Lyn W for the article
That sounds as if it will also decimate the bird population :(
I hope they don't use poison.
 

MenagerieGrl

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That sounds as if it will also decimate the bird population :(
I hope they don't use poison.
Unfortunately that's the plan, so far.
SO MANY folks spoke against it at the hearings, but it seems like the powers that be are determined to push ahead.
In any case, there is till time, as they will not be spreading the bait till some time in 2023.
 

JoesMum

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Thanks for update Ed, I hope all is well with him.
I don't think I ever had an email address for him but will check just in case.
We haven't heard from John lately either but I think Linda @JoesMum was in touch with him a while back. Maybe if she sees she's been tagged she'll let you know.
Like Ed, he pops in and out of Facebook and when he posts videos I struggle with his accent too. It’s the broadest of Glaswegian. I suspect most Scots don’t understand it never mind English folk like me ?

John went through a very bad patch, Split up with Jade. Went to a very dark place.

As far as I can make out John is doing much better now. There have been some big changes in his life. He’s living with his Mum. I have no idea what’s happened to the degus and the tortoise, but he seems very fond of his Mum’s elderly black labrador. :)
 

Snoopy’s mom

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In the article they talk about the Rat's that came in the 17th & 18th century, I wonder how they eradicated them.
I'm asking because on the Farallon Islands 25 mi of the coast of SF Bay, they are planing on dropping 3000# of rat bait to get rid of the rat's & mice that are decimating the bird population (Petrels, Gulls, Cormorants, Murres and Tufted Puffins).
With the rats comes the burrowing owls, that prey upon the rat's & Mice, but when they begin to subside in the winter the burrowing owls prey upon the Ashy Storm Petrels. The bait they want to use is brodifacoum and is so ecologically damaging that Gov. Gavin Newsom last year signed a law banning its use on the mainland, and the potential for secondary kill is likely.
Any way . . I was wondering, I guess I need to do more research. . .
Thank you @Lyn W for the article
Hereʻs a link to what they did in Hawaii

Eradicate Rats - lehua Island
 

Lyn W

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Hereʻs a link to what they did in Hawaii

Eradicate Rats - lehua Island
There is a bait you can use for rats that isn't poisonous but causes gas to build up in the gut (apparently they can't pass it) and the gut bursts. Not very pleasant for the rats but has less of an impact on birds etc..
 

Lyn W

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Good morning/afternoon all.
It's a very, cold grey day here and there was quite a frost - only 23F last night ? and doesn't feel much warmer now but is probably about 39F
I've been out to defrost the bird baths which had become bird ice rinks.
My frogs were protected by the frost shelter I put over the pond and amazingly they were still on the surface and active at 11 pm last night! They must be very thick skinned!!
The weatherman on tv said we were going to have above average temps next week but looking at the Met Office website, it still looks as if it's going to be pretty cold to me!
Better news for wildlife such as birds - we don't want them nesting too early in case the cold snap returns.
Sad news about Meatloaf dying yesterday. He certainly was a larger than life character. I saw him perform at least 3 times; he was a great singer and a fantastic entertainer. I was surprised he was 74, but he didn't look after himself so also amazed that he reached that age. RIP Meatloaf.

Anyway, I hope you're all having a good Friday .
See you later
 

MenagerieGrl

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Good morning/afternoon all.
It's a very, cold grey day here and there was quite a frost - only 23F last night ? and doesn't feel much warmer now but is probably about 39F
I've been out to defrost the bird baths which had become bird ice rinks.
My frogs were protected by the frost shelter I put over the pond and amazingly they were still on the surface and active at 11 pm last night! They must be very thick skinned!!
The weatherman on tv said we were going to have above average temps next week but looking at the Met Office website, it still looks as if it's going to be pretty cold to me!
Better news for wildlife such as birds - we don't want them nesting too early in case the cold snap returns.
Sad news about Meatloaf dying yesterday. He certainly was a larger than life character. I saw him perform at least 3 times; he was a great singer and a fantastic entertainer. I was surprised he was 74, but he didn't look after himself so also amazed that he reached that age. RIP Meatloaf.

Anyway, I hope you're all having a good Friday .
See you later
Hi Lyn, would you happen to know what that "bait" is called? or could you find out . . ?
I'd appreciate it. .
And YES, Sad news about Meatloaf, your right to say he was larger than life. The life of a rock star I believe can take a toll on the body. . . God bless his soul...✝️
 

Lyn W

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Hi Lyn, would you happen to know what that "bait" is called? or could you find out . . ?
I'd appreciate it. .
And YES, Sad news about Meatloaf, your right to say he was larger than life. The life of a rock star I believe can take a toll on the body. . . God bless his soul...✝️
I've had a quick look on Google and I can't find anything that claims to do that, but I've definitely seen it somewhere because I remember thinking it wasn't really any more humane than poison but safer for wildlife.
I'll carry on looking.
 

Yvonne G

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Hi Lyn, would you happen to know what that "bait" is called? or could you find out . . ?
I'd appreciate it. .
And YES, Sad news about Meatloaf, your right to say he was larger than life. The life of a rock star I believe can take a toll on the body. . . God bless his soul...✝️
So many stars, etc. have died recently. I was saddened by Betty White's death. I was rooting for her to make it to 100. I never cared much for her when she was younger, but I really liked the parts she played as she got older. . . Louie Anderson, Bob Saget, Ed Asner, Cecily Tyson, Ned Beatty. . . to name just a few.
 

Lyn W

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There is a bait you can use for rats that isn't poisonous but causes gas to build up in the gut (apparently they can't pass it) and the gut bursts. Not very pleasant for the rats but has less of an impact on birds etc..
Well from what I've just read all of that is a myth - rats can't burp but they do pass gas the other end! So the idea of eating something that will fill them with gas and make their stomach explode seems unlikely too.
I must have just read it online and believed it - because if it's online it must be true :D.
Most of the baits I've seen use a poison :(
So I'm sorry @MenagerieGrl but I don't think such a product actually exists. I wonder where I saw that though??
 

Maro2Bear

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We just took a quick drive over to the local wildlife refuge that we normally walk about. The other day we spotted a few pine logs that were cut down and thought maybe we should go pick a few logs up for some wood turning.

We drove down the lane & found 20-25 wild turkeys skipping down the lane. So large & fast.

Look closely. We were lucky to catch a quick photo

8F2B4838-2B0B-484C-8C0A-38881F7FCA1D.jpeg
 

Snoopy’s mom

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There is a bait you can use for rats that isn't poisonous but causes gas to build up in the gut (apparently they can't pass it) and the gut bursts. Not very pleasant for the rats but has less of an impact on birds etc..
Oh my goodness! What a way to go! Donʻt you wish husbands - or partners, couldnʻt pass gas? ?????
 

Snoopy’s mom

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Good morning/afternoon all.
It's a very, cold grey day here and there was quite a frost - only 23F last night ? and doesn't feel much warmer now but is probably about 39F
I've been out to defrost the bird baths which had become bird ice rinks.
My frogs were protected by the frost shelter I put over the pond and amazingly they were still on the surface and active at 11 pm last night! They must be very thick skinned!!
The weatherman on tv said we were going to have above average temps next week but looking at the Met Office website, it still looks as if it's going to be pretty cold to me!
Better news for wildlife such as birds - we don't want them nesting too early in case the cold snap returns.
Sad news about Meatloaf dying yesterday. He certainly was a larger than life character. I saw him perform at least 3 times; he was a great singer and a fantastic entertainer. I was surprised he was 74, but he didn't look after himself so also amazed that he reached that age. RIP Meatloaf.

Anyway, I hope you're all having a good Friday .
See you later
Yes, RIP Meatloaf. Iʻm sure most people know the words to Paradise By The Dashboard Lights.
 

MenagerieGrl

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Well from what I've just read all of that is a myth - rats can't burp but they do pass gas the other end! So the idea of eating something that will fill them with gas and make their stomach explode seems unlikely too.
I must have just read it online and believed it - because if it's online it must be true :D.
Most of the baits I've seen use a poison :(
So I'm sorry @MenagerieGrl but I don't think such a product actually exists. I wonder where I saw that though??
Hi @Lyn W, Thank you for taking the time to look into it for me, I appreciate it. I personally do not like taking a life (Hypocrite here, I eat meat). I have trapped Rat's using a Havahart trap, and released them out into the local field, to make their way there. But in the area of the Farallon's, I don't think that would be quite possible.
Once again, thank you for looking. ;)
BTW, I'm Marsha, and I assume your Lyn (W)
 

Lyn W

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Yes, RIP Meatloaf. Iʻm sure most people know the words to Paradise By The Dashboard Lights.
I love all the songs on the Bat Out of Hell album.
Jim Steinman - his partner in crime - died last year too.
Hopefully they'll soon be making the angels rock!
 
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