Janet Kaiser on mon 17 jun 02
In answer to the original question: NO!! Ceramic work could not be
seen as a source, attraction nor encouragement for rats. It provides
no food or nurture such as bedding or warmth. If anyone says anything
different, they are simply wrong.
I suggested ferrets, because they are the most effective way of
getting rid of rats known to man. Poison can contaminate ponds, pools
and puddles. I witnessed a dog die a lingering, dirty and very painful
death after drinking from a puddle which rat poison had leached into
from nearby garages (50 feet away). It was most distressing, so I
would do anything to avoid using poison, however "safely" it has been
set.
Introducing animals into a foreign environment is never a good idea,
however it is rather late in the day to do much about that in most
countries. If exotic animals are kept and then "disposed of" without
letting them lose into the wild, it could not do any harm.
Unfortunately people often do not act responsibly when it comes to
getting rid of unwanted pets. Mink is an example of an introduced pest
in our countryside in the UK. Another much worse threat is a worm from
New Zealand and vine weevils from the continent...
However, I am sorry to hear ferrets are illegal in California. They
obviously have bad press too. They do NOT attack infants and they do
not multiply like rodents such as rats or mice. Nor do they live in
packs. They are solitary animals, which are kept here in the UK
specifically to hunt and kill rats. They are true "working animals"
and are quite affectionate -- or so ferret keepers say. They are a bit
of a joke these days, and associated with backward Northerners... If
you watch Last of the Summer Wine, then there you will see the
archetypal Ferret Keeper... Bill Owen (the actor) is never seen
actually handling a ferret, but there is a lot of reference them.
They have a very definite odour, which even we insensitive humans can
smell. That is what warns rats they are around and it is quite
dramatic to watch when a ferret is let loose in a drain, house or
barn... Rats run out in absolute panic and keep running for their
lives. A weekly check by a friendly ferret will be enough to make sure
non slink back. .
Like any wild animal, ferrets are not pleased when they are cornered
or handled roughly, especially by people they do not know... probably
the source of silly "ferret attack" stories. They are easy to keep as
pets and are a great deal more "productive" than some other fur or
feathered friends we humans like to keep. Sure beats the pet rat
craze.
But if there is an infestation from a local source, such as a rubbish
heap or poorly stored garbage, the environmental health people would
be responsible. City or county council and/or authorities. I would be
inclined to set one department after the other... One way of curing
the problem permanently.
Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art / Capel Celfyddyd
Home of The International Potters' Path
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth LL52 0EA : GB-Wales
Telephone: ++44 (0)1766-523570
URL: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
postbox@the-coa.org.uk
Deborah Thompson on tue 18 jun 02
Well, a quick clear-up here. The reason many U.S.
states have enacted regulations against ferrets (as I
was told when my ex-husband and I had a pet shop MANY
years ago) was that there is a native ferret species
in the western part of the continental U.S. called the
black-footed ferret, which is currently an endangered
species. There are general regulations against owning
native species of animals as pets, especially
endangered species, and lawmakers (who often don't
know their head from a hole in the ground) enacted
laws to keep people from having these "endangered"
animals as pets -- despite countless individuals that
could prove that pet ferrets are a different species
from the endangered black-footed ferret. Oh, well. In
the few states they still have ferrets for sale as
pets, unless you have a permit to breed them, they are
sold neutered, unable to breed and unable to establish
as a population if they do escape. Well, it does keep
down the musk (as they are related to minks, otters
and skunks!)
Back to lurking mode... ;)
Deborah Thompson
AKA SunDogDeb
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