Bucket trap, Harvey.... Bucket trap.

For now I'm sticking with efforts of catching him in this trap since he/she seems to be comfortable with it and likes bananas.  Bob, I'm pretty sure the fruit was far enough away from the back that it did not access it that way plus the back was hanging over the edge of the shelf so it would have to be holding on at the same time.

So, after reading some ideas here, at 3:30am I've made some changes! :)

 

I helped trap/neuter/release a feral cat colony last spring and learned the way to get the smart ones was to cover the bottom of the trap with newspaper so they couldn't see the trigger plate. I think Mr. Rat is probably smarter than a cat and has more experience with traps but if you lined the sides and top also wouldn't that keep him from climbing?

Mix the golden Malrin with a banana and watch what happens.  He won't make it out of the cage!

Hi harveyc,
How is your trigger ?
On mine, it is a rod coming out of the roof .

I think maybe I need to get a fresher banana for this guy he isn't touching the soft banana.  I like your idea, Dennis!  jds, the latch trigger is the silver rod on the left of my last photo.  The rod has a 90 degree turn at the door that holds the door open and then extends towards the back of the trap and has another 90 degree turn facing downward towards the ramp inside the trap. There is a rod connected to the ramp that extends up towards the other rod and the two connect by a slightly larger tube until something steps on the ramp and pulls them apart.

I'm leaving for the rest of the day and will buy some fresh bananas on the way home. If I haven't caught him by the time I get back I'll reload the trap and also mix some GM poison with some banana and also make a bucket trap.  Then I'll put my ninja warrior suit on and wait.

Harvey - Set up a trail camera near the trap.  At least you'll know what your dealing with.  Probably more than one critter in there too.

Danny, I was just going to suggest a camera (motion triggered). It would be fun to watch the acrobats this guy goes thru to get the banana.

Danny, I already told my wife the other night I was needing a surveillance camera!  I had hoped I would have caught him before it would even have arrived but I was overly optimistic, apparently.  I'm pretty sure it is just one rat.  I've seen him 3 times in about 3 weeks and we have the eye out for one another.  I don't know if he is hiding behind the cabinets now or what.  He used to hide behind some old wall heaters stacked up in the corner of the larger room of my shop.  I rattled the heck out of them once and he went running but then he apparently took up residence in the old cabinet drawers.  My shop used to be a "cook house" for a labor camp, thus the different rooms.  It is nice and cozy as I get free natural gas for my home from a gas well on the farm (I'm not entitled to use the natural gas outdoors for my greenhouse, etc., only "residential indoor lights and stoves").

That's one smart rat!  If you catch it live you should keep it as a pet since you're already feeding it.  Just kidding.

This is AWESOME, it's better than TV!  Will Harvey catch the rat...will the rat get more of Harveys banannas? Tune-in tomorrow to find out!

Woohoo! :D

 

Nice work Harvey! Congrats!

Omg! Yay Harvey! I've been cheering for ya from the sidelines since post #1. Now what are you gonna do with the fig munching little bugger?

Maybe you should sell it on EBAY. Someone would buy it

 

The Rat makes one last visit with the Col de Dame Gris he chewed on two weeks ago while acquiring a taste for fine figs!

Sell the rat or the CdDG? LOL  This CdDG is a survivor!  Wonder if it's prepared for sub zero winters??

Plant the rat, there may be enough plant material in it to grow.

I hope this rat has no buddies. I had a friend who threw a stick at a racoon. The racoon came back with his gang and
wreck his vege garden.

Not sure I would be touching that thing even dead.  Rats carry a lot of diseases.

Come on, mom!  Just having some fun after a stressful 3 weeks! :)

Congrats Harvey!

Now what are we gonna do for entertainment?  At least another month of winter here...

Congrats, Harvey. That's a cute little rat. I expected to see a "rodent of unusual size" after all the buildup.

I'm with Ed, what are we going to do for entertainment now?

Harvey, a successful hunt. Bravo.

Congrats,
keep up your guard, he may have "friends"
;o)