A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum The Tomato Forum RATS eating my Tomatoes

Can anyone tell me what to do rats are eating my tomatoes have traps out can't use poison because of my dogs they don't trigger my live trap. So far this years is a total loss because of the rat infestation most here are getting because of a warmer then usual winter. In fact not winter this year.

I use peanut butter baited rat traps and have pretty good luck with them, Jimmy. You would need to keep your pets away from those too. I love the newer plastic traps that open like a wooden clothes pin to set. It is just that, if I have them outdoors, I need to drill a small hole in it and wire it to something. If the rat is not killed immediately, they will run off with it. Too expensive to lose. I also have a smaller hav-a-heart trap that is good.
Animals all avoid ammonia as long as it is still wet and aromatic. Maybe filling a small dish near your plants will help.
Then I also use poison but in protected locations where my dog cannot go. Like under my house or sheds.
Good luck!

Thanks Tina I already have big traps out has not slowed them down a bit get some everyday as well as what Allie and Skippy kill. Just mixed up pepper oil dish soup and cooking oil hope that works . Got the pepper from Habenero's I cooked down and mashed up then strained the pulp out. The pulp as cut down on other varmints.