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JH's "Darned rat" vandal

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undoctor

Joined: 21 Oct 2008
Posts: 212
Location: Bethelhem, PA

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:55 am Post subject: JH's "Darned rat" vandal

 	  Quote: 	
		  [b]Went over to Gantt International Airport anyhow.  Decided to drag the strip

       and smooth out the cow pies.  While I was down by the hanger I checked out

       my bird.  Darned rat has been back in it while I was on my trip.  He ate t

      he right shoulder harness.  Cut'em right off the bulkhead.  Also got the ri

      ght seatbelt.  Looks like it went through a buzz saw.  While he was at it, 

      he or she checked out a couple wires.  Cut the 12vdc wires to my ANR headse

      t and my Chillie Vest.  That is all I could find damaged.  Hopefully, he di

      dn't get back in places and cut wires and hydraulic brake lines like he did

       a couple years ago.

[/b] 	
 

 

 

 John, gang,

 

 I had an '88 BMW K100LT 2-wheeler which was beginning to run pretty nasty.  On my ride though AK, I took a rock from a passing semi on the Dalton Hwy around Coldfoot which broke the grill on the air intake on the front of the scooter's fairing.  I didn't see any harm, so, for years I never fixed it, until Nookers, my black lab/hound, chewed the intake trying to get at something.  

 

 When I removed that part of the fairing to have it re-glassed and painted, I found a massive field mouse's nest in my airbox!  .I use my cycles year round, so apparently he either was going along for the ride daily, or waited till I returned home and parked it back in the shed to re-enter his "home."

 

 Here's the Kolb part.  I learned that if you sprinkle moth balls on the floor around any place the mice can access your vehicle, they won't go through the smell and your vehicle's safe.  Of course the down side is enduring the smell of the moth balls.  Without regard to the imminent risk of folks asking the age-old burning question, "Do you know how to smell moth balls?", this info could prevent a lot of mice from trespassing on a lot of Kolbs.

 

 Dave Kulp

 Bethlehem PA

 

 FireFly 098

 

 SAD PS  Nookers died suddenly at 14 years old last Wednesday, leaving a huge hole in my life once occupied by a dear, dear friend!!

Nookers_and_Bubba,_thx_Chris_Aug_2007_(Medium).JPG

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cristalclear13

Joined: 19 Sep 2007
Posts: 363
Location: Southeast Georgia

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:13 pm Post subject: Re: JH's

 	  undoctor wrote: 	
		   	  Quote: 	
		  [b]Went over to Gantt International Airport anyhow.  Decided to drag the strip

       and smooth out the cow pies.  While I was down by the hanger I checked out

       my bird.  Darned rat has been back in it while I was on my trip.  He ate t

      he right shoulder harness.  Cut'em right off the bulkhead.  Also got the ri

      ght seatbelt.  Looks like it went through a buzz saw.  While he was at it, 

      he or she checked out a couple wires.  Cut the 12vdc wires to my ANR headse

      t and my Chillie Vest.  That is all I could find damaged.  Hopefully, he di

      dn't get back in places and cut wires and hydraulic brake lines like he did

       a couple years ago.

[/b] 	
 

 

 

 John, gang,

 

 Here's the Kolb part.  I learned that if you sprinkle moth balls on the floor around any place the mice can access your vehicle, they won't go through the smell and your vehicle's safe.  Of course the down side is enduring the smell of the moth balls.  Without regard to the imminent risk of folks asking the age-old burning question, "Do you know how to smell moth balls?", this info could prevent a lot of mice from trespassing on a lot of Kolbs.

 	




John,

Does this mean the valerian didn't work or did the smell/effect wear off while you were roaming the countryside?



Thanks,

Cristal

_________________
Cristal Waters
Kolb Mark II Twinstar Rotax 503 DCSI Sept 2007 - sold Sept 2012
Private Pilot Aug 2008
ELSA Repairman for N193Y April 2008
Rotax 2 stroke maintenance April 2009

grantr

Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 217

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: JH's

Last year, 

I had a similar situation where a rats or a few got under the hood of my truck and cut a few wires to the  computer shorting it out. They had a massive amount of figs piles high on my intake cover. The truck was running a 6 cylinders barely and the ABS system failed.



I had to have the ABS and computer replace at a cost of $1200.



Shortly after this they got back in a cut my alternator wire twice. 1st time I had to be pulled 16 miles to a shop to have a new wire made since it was cut right at the connector.

2nd time i made it back home and the truck died in the yard. Wire was easy to fix this time.



This year I  killed 9 mice in my attic. I have no Idea how they got there. 



The cheap victor snap traps with peanut butter on them will kill them 99% of the time.



Moth balls don't work that well. They still get in my landlords vehicle despite him putting mothballs around the truck. He has to leave the hood open with mothballs on the engine to keep them out.



If you don't have pets, Timick (spelling?) a granular pesticide used by farmers will kill the rats  almost instantly. It is however very toxic and potent in smell.



I keep my Kolb in a 8.5X 24 foot Haulmark car hauler.  No rats can get it it!



You can alway install a cat in your hangar. They are pretty efficient rat killers if you don't over feed them.



Hope you get your bird back flying soon.

John Hauck

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:53 pm Post subject: JH's "Darned rat" vandal

 	  Quote: 	
		   John,

 Does this mean the valerian didn't work or did the smell/effect wear off 

 while you were roaming the countryside?



 Thanks,

 Cristal


	




Cristal:



Don't know.  I probably should have dumped the whole bottle of valerian 

capsules in the boom tube, sprinkled several boxes of moth balls around the 

tailwheel, main wheels, and some inside.



Not a good feeling to open the door and see your airplane chewed up. 

Especially the second time around.  ;-(



I put out two big sticky pads for rats, some Decon rat poison, and a box of 

moth balls in front of and below the boom tube inside the cockpit.  Hope it 

works before I have my seat belts and shoulder harnesses replaced.



john h

mkIII - Slightly chewed on.

_________________
John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama

beauford

Joined: 25 Apr 2007
Posts: 127
Location: Brandon, FL

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject: JH's "Darned rat" vandal

Victor also makes an electronic rat assasination machine... they sell them 

at

Home Depot and Lowes... is a black plastic box with what amounts to the 

electronic

guts of a Taser built into it...runs on 4 xC cells... you smear a little 

peanut butter

on the back wall... to reach the peanut butter the prospect has to step 

across two

metal plates wired into the floor... the big 'ol capacitor then discharges 

and blows his

(or her) little rat head off...



I don't have the rat size device...I bought the mouse size...   the guy 

wearing the black

hood selling these things said the rat item makes a satisfying crack like a 

.22 short when it fires...

and if one hurries, the corpse is still smoking when one opens the top..



Given the fact that you have a score to settle with the varmits, might be 

worth sitting around

one evening and reloading it a few times...  also has a LED on top which 

gives the status

of the batteries, warns of armed condition, and tell when there has been a 

kill.



One could place it, or a couple of them, right in the floor of the Kolb...



bloodthirsty beauford

FF-076

Brandon, FL

Do Not Archive



---

John Hauck

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:10 pm Post subject: JH's "Darned rat" vandal

> Victor also makes an electronic rat assasination machine >



 	  Quote: 	
		   bloodthirsty beauford


	


Beauford:



I like that idea.



Gonna got to Lowes tomorrow and see if I can find me one of them.  Put it 

right by the tailwheel.  I am sure they are getting in the airplane via 

tailwheel and tailboom.



john h

mkIII

_________________
John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama

JetPilot

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1246

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:42 pm Post subject: Re: JH's

I have one of those electronic mouse killers.  I had a medium sized mouse that I was trying to kill, and put a camera by the trap.  He went in, got zapped, jumped back out and never went near it again.



The electronic Rat Killer is a great idea, its just not strong enough to work all the time.



Mike

_________________
"NO FEAR" - If you have no fear you did not go as fast as you could have !!!

Kolb MK-III Xtra, 912-S

russ(at)rkiphoto.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject: JH's "Darned rat" vandal

List

FWIW - rats & mice W ILL get 'in' anywhere, no matter what you put up  

as a barrier. Most often the tailwheel area. Electric zappers do  

work, but get the biggest one  you can. It would be fairly easy to  

make one self-resetting; there was one like that a long time ago.  

Shoved the dead ones over into a sealed & concealed container &  

readied itself for the next one. Rats are smart-- if they see a dead  

one they may stay away.

  Rat/mouse urine is very corrosive to alum. Most expensive to repair  

too.

Peanut butter is a good bait. But if you use a Havahart trap with a  

1/2" wire mesh, mice will enter, trip it, eat the bait & then squeeze  

out thru the 1/2"mesh.

I had a boa constrictor as a pet for years, NO mice/rats in the  

house. But I realize that's not a solution for everyone.

Good luck.

PS Don't let them get near Viagra! -- no telling  what would happen.

On Dec 10, 2008, at 7:09 PM, John Hauck wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

 > Victor also makes an electronic rat assasination machine >

> bloodthirsty beauford

 Beauford:

 I like that idea.

 Gonna got to Lowes tomorrow and see if I can find me one of them.   

 Put it right by the tailwheel.  I am sure they are getting in the  

 airplane via tailwheel and tailboom.

 john h

 mkIII

rlaird

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 373
Location: Houston

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 5:38 pm Post subject: JH's "Darned rat" vandal

Ok, here's my solution... worked EVERY time....   Got a large

bucket... really large, and tall... made of plastic so the sides were

slippery... Bucket has to be big enough and deep enough for about at

least 8 inches of water, 8 inches between the water and the rim, and

slippery enough so a mouse/rat can't climb out.

I stuck a chair next to the bucket, filled the bucket half way with

water, put a 2x4 that went out over the bucket and then put a weight

on the 2x4 so it became, essentially a steady diving board.

Then I took a 6" x 6" piece of plywood, put it on the water, then put

on it a couple of bits of dry dog food... the really smelly kind.

The mice/rats would climb out on the diving board, drop down to the

plywood to get the dog food, the plywood would immediately tump over,

and the mouse/rat would swim to exhaustion and drown.  Obviously,

making sure the mouse/rat can't climb back out is critical, as is

making sure the water level/plywood is far enough away so they -have-

to drop down to to get it.

Worked flawlessly, every time.  I once got rid of a whole family that

way, one each day.

  -- R

On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 7:25 PM, russ kinne <russ(at)rkiphoto.com> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

 List

 FWIW - rats & mice W ILL get 'in' anywhere, no matter what you put up as a

 barrier. Most often the tailwheel area. Electric zappers do work, but get

 the biggest one  you can. It would be fairly easy to make one

 self-resetting; there was one like that a long time ago. Shoved the dead

 ones over into a sealed & concealed container & readied itself for the next

 one. Rats are smart-- if they see a dead one they may stay away.

  Rat/mouse urine is very corrosive to alum. Most expensive to repair too.

 Peanut butter is a good bait. But if you use a Havahart trap with a 1/2"

 wire mesh, mice will enter, trip it, eat the bait & then squeeze out thru

 the 1/2"mesh.

 I had a boa constrictor as a pet for years, NO mice/rats in the house. But I

 realize that's not a solution for everyone.

 Good luck.

 PS Don't let them get near Viagra! -- no telling  what would happen.

 On Dec 10, 2008, at 7:09 PM, John Hauck wrote:

> 

> > Victor also makes an electronic rat assasination machine >

>

>> bloodthirsty beauford

>

> Beauford:

>

> I like that idea.

>

> Gonna got to Lowes tomorrow and see if I can find me one of them.  Put it

> right by the tailwheel.  I am sure they are getting in the airplane via

> tailwheel and tailboom.

>

> john h

> mkIII

>

_________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robert Laird
formerly: MkIIIc w/ 912ULS & Gyrobee
current: Autogyro Cavalon w/ 914ULS
Houston, TX area
http://www.Texas-Flyer.com

Bill Vincent

Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 84

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 6:01 pm Post subject: JH's "Darned rat" vandal

Hi Gang

 When I used to have my old T-Bird I saw a  mouse jump out of the tip of my wing while I was Taxing.

 Since then I always put moth balls around my  Firestar but I think the mice like to eat them.

 A few years ago I had a Pine snake in my hangar  which was good because I didn't see any mice around ... but...I was always  afraid the snake would be coming out of the tail boom while I was flying; so I  always checked the tail boom with a flashlight before I took  off.

 Someone on the List said to use Bounce strips to  keep the mice away, I had them scattered around the plane and in the plane; not  sure if they really worked.

  

 Bill Vincent

 Do Not Archive

    [quote][b]

_________________
Bill Vincent
Firestar II
Upper Peninsula of Michigan

ElleryWeld(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:51 pm Post subject: JH's "Darned rat" vandal

That's funny,  the mice don't even want to fly  with you 

  

                                    )

 Ellery

 do not archive

  

  In a message dated 12/10/2008 9:02:18 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  emailbill(at)chartermi.net writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  When I used to have my old T-Bird I saw a mouse    jump out of the tip of my wing while I was  Taxing 	




Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one plac=emlcntaolcom00000010">Try it now.

  [quote][b]

russ(at)rkiphoto.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:36 am Post subject: JH's "Darned rat" vandal

FWIW I never found Bounce strips much good as a mouse-deterrant. But they do prevent/eliminate musty odors in closed spaces. Whenever I go on  a new boat I put one in every drawer. Makes the boat smell much better, and the owner  his wife like it too. More pleasant all around.do not archive



On Dec 10, 2008, at 9:01 PM, Bill Vincent wrote:

[quote]  Hi Gang

 When I used to have my old T-Bird I saw a mouse jump out of the tip of my wing while I was Taxing.

 Since then I always put moth balls around my Firestar but I think the mice like to eat them.

 A few years ago I had a Pine snake in my hangar which was good because I didn't see any mice around ... but...I was always afraid the snake would be coming out of the tail boom while I was flying; so I always checked the tail boom with a flashlight before I took off.

 Someone on the List said to use Bounce strips to keep the mice away, I had them scattered around the plane and in the plane; not sure if they really worked.

  

 Bill Vincent

 Do Not Archive

  	  Quote: 	
		  

href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/contribution

href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List

href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com

	
[b]

beauford

Joined: 25 Apr 2007
Posts: 127
Location: Brandon, FL

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:39 am Post subject: JH's "Darned rat" vandal

Brother Jet...

..with the smaller mouse box the body count in my attic stands at 2 so far 

this week....not sure how many got away... or how my mice stack up against 

your "medium" mouse.  Data plates on mine say "mouse, field, brown, general 

purpose" but there is no size given.... The mouse-size unit runs on AA 

cells... the rat unit feels a lot heavier and uses C cells... I assume from 

the weight that the capacitor in the rat unit has substantially more punch. 

You might consider trying a small damp door-mat at the entrance of yours...



Believe that if I were faced with the major problem John has in that 

barn-shed-hangar of his, I would definitely go for the bigger unit.

..even if the shock doesn't kill them outright, they will likely have 

trouble remembering where his airplane is afterwards....



Now you have me wondering... This matter may require some bench testing with 

the Bride's sissified  cat to see how good this thing actually is...  will 

go look for the welding gloves...  Report to follow.

curious beauford

FF-076

Brandon, FL

Do not Archive



---

John Hauck

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject: JH's "Darned rat" vandal

The mouse-size unit runs on AA

 	  Quote: 	
		   cells... the rat unit feels a lot heavier and uses C cells... I assume 

 from

 the weight that the capacitor in the rat unit has substantially more 

 punch.

 You might consider trying a small damp door-mat at the entrance of 

 yours...

 >
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   curious beauford


	




Bro Beau:



Went by Lowes on the way home from MGM.  All they had was the little bitty 

mouse zappers.  Had they had the Rat Zappers, I would have gotten one or a 

couple.



However, I did buy two big old rat traps at 1.97 ea.  Gonna bait'em up with 

a little peanut butter and see what I can catch.



I haven't had time to get back over to Gantt International Airport to see 

how my glue traps have done.  I also left them 4 trays of Decon to munch on 

while I was gone.  Too dark and too cold to set the traps tonight.



I might ought to tack a 1/16" cable to the rat traps in case I catch 

something that is too big for them and decides to walk off with one on its 

nose or paw.



I am gonna get'em.



Take care,



john h

mkIII pilot and rat killer!!!

_________________
John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama

russ(at)rkiphoto.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:52 pm Post subject: JH's "Darned rat" vandal

John

Wiring the traps down is a good idea. If the rat itself doesn't bug  

off, any prowling cat/dog/coyote/bobcat/whatever may well cart off  

the trap & rat & you'd never know what had happened.

Do not archive

On Dec 11, 2008, at 6:10 PM, John Hauck wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

 The mouse-size unit runs on AA

> cells... the rat unit feels a lot heavier and uses C cells... I  

> assume from

> the weight that the capacitor in the rat unit has substantially  

> more punch.

> You might consider trying a small damp door-mat at the entrance of  

> yours...

 >

> curious beauford

 Bro Beau:

 Went by Lowes on the way home from MGM.  All they had was the  

 little bitty mouse zappers.  Had they had the Rat Zappers, I would  

 have gotten one or a couple.

 However, I did buy two big old rat traps at 1.97 ea.  Gonna bait'em  

 up with a little peanut butter and see what I can catch.

 I haven't had time to get back over to Gantt International Airport  

 to see how my glue traps have done.  I also left them 4 trays of  

 Decon to munch on while I was gone.  Too dark and too cold to set  

 the traps tonight.

 I might ought to tack a 1/16" cable to the rat traps in case I  

 catch something that is too big for them and decides to walk off  

 with one on its nose or paw.

 I am gonna get'em.

 Take care,

 john h

 mkIII pilot and rat killer!!!

DAquaNut(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject: JH's "Darned rat" vandal

In a message dated 12/11/2008 5:11:14 P.M. Central Standard Time,  jhauck(at)elmore.rr.com writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  

However, I did buy two big old rat traps at 1.97 ea.  Gonna    bait'em up with 

a little peanut butter and see what I can  catch.

	
  

            John,

  

        If that doesn't do it, try getting  some corn kernels, like they feed deer. Take a 1/16 th inch drill bit and drill  through about six kernels and wire them together on the rat trap trigger. It is  hard for them to get it off without tripping the trap.  Another option is  to get some bird seed that has sunflower seed in it. Put a small amount into a  piece of plastic window screen, making it into a little ball  and wiring it  onto the trap trigger. Another choice is to wire a peanut in its shell ,to the  trigger  If necessary you can modify  the trigger to where it  will trip easier. I have had rats lick all the Peanut butter off and not get  caught!

  

        Ed  Diebel       FF 062

  	  Quote: 	
		  

 	


Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010">Try it now.

  [quote][b]

John Hauck

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject: JH's "Darned rat" vandal

Thanks Ed D:

  

 These Alabama rats are big and clumsey, I hope.  They are  field rats with teeth like bolt cutters.

  

 I'll try peanut butter first.  If they can get the peanut  butter with out getting caught, I will try some of your suggestions.  We  will prevail.

  

 john h

 mkIII

  

  

  

 [quote]           If that doesn't do it, try    getting some corn kernels, like they feed deer. Take a 1/16 th inch drill bit    and drill through about six kernels and wire them together on the rat trap    trigger. It is hard for them to get it off without tripping the trap.     Another option is to get some bird seed that has sunflower seed in it. Put a    small amount into a piece of plastic window screen, making it into a little    ball  and wiring it onto the trap trigger. Another choice is to wire a    peanut in its shell ,to the trigger  If necessary you can modify     the trigger to where it will trip easier. I have had rats lick all the    Peanut butter off and not get caught!

    

          Ed    Diebel       FF  062

[b]

_________________
John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama

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