Rats
I think in total in my life in the UK I have seen wild Rats close up and personal a dozen times only, although we are told they are only yards away from you. In my home country if you see a Rat you chase it, kill it and it seems to make the Rats less obvious, or even they prefer not to be around such an atmosphere.
Now of course living in a tropical location I very much expected to see more Rats, but I have been so surprised the amount I see and how they seem to have less fear or concern from the human population.
I walk through local villages and they are walking across the path or even watching me from a corner. I have seen a huge Rat walk pass me in a friends house jump into the kitchen sink and every few seconds pop its head up to see if I am still looking. It judges me no threat and continues as the maid seems to work around it.
Here in my home I have had some hairy friends who at night regardless of lights or human noise pop in for free dinner and have the nerve to walk around even if you make a noise to frighten them.
Do not get me wrong its not everyday, but maybe once a week and I kill most with Rat poison and a great device called a Rat blanket.
This operates like a fly catcher sticky pad, as the Rat walks over the mat to eat my dinner, as soon as it stays still for a few seconds its feet get glued to the position and the more it struggles the more body mass touches the glue. Eventually its trapped solid and I just roll the mat around the Rat and take it to the bin. JOB DONE.
WELL THAT IS UNTIL ITS FRIENDS COME BACK NEXT WEEK OR IS IT A FORM OF REINCARNATION!!!!
I live on the ground floor and before that I lived on a first floor apartment and never saw one come up the stairs for lunch. Now I know why the nipper huts are built on stilts, its not just the rain its the pain of Rats too.
Hi John,
It sounds like the friendly cat you wrote about a few weeks back needs to start earning his/her keep at your place!
Cheers!
reincarnated rats, moaning cats with gps skills … i think it’s time to get a dog. specifically one with supernatural powers
your becoming davao’s go to guy for the wildlife paranormal.
i look forward to your article on psychic carabaos
john
you think the rats are bad? i hope you sleep under a mosquito net so the roaches don’t feast on you at night. YIKES!!!!!
That rat blanket sounds interesting. We had a terrier in our house in Gensan. Actually she was an ascal, but such a great dog – knew lots of tricks, a good watch dog and handsome too. People would ask what breed, and I’d say Filipino Terrier – then they’d just kind of stare at her with a confused look on their face (I always got a kick out of it). Anyway, the reason I bring her up, she was one hell of a ratter – man I wish we could’ve bred her!!
Martin
So sad the news on the Cat. Its never come back, but sometimes late at night as I try to sleep I think I hear from my gate calling my name.
Macky
I love dogs but it would have to be a silent dod lol, as all the other dogs bark all day and night and I am sorry I would not want him to join in the conversation.
Maria
When I firsy came here I was Mosquito food but now I hardly seem to get bitten one of he reasons is probably an old wise tail. I drink four cans a day of TONIC WATER which the British drank in India and contains quinine which is alleged to have anti mosquito qualities.
True or not it seems to work for me.
Gary
Do you have any of her DNA we can use lol
Hello John, I remember a few years ago I had a friend who kept a ferret as a pet. It took care of the rat population that were inhabiting his storage shed.Just the mere presence or scent was enough to send the rats running out of the house,if they didn’t run the ferret would have hunted it down and dead in minutes.What was truly nice was that the ferret got along exceptionally well with the other pets in the household,mainly the dogs.
Nowadays, most petshops actually sells rats as pets.truly unbelievable..
Have a nice day John. :
Hi John: I’m sorry about the cats and the rats. I do hope you don’t have as much problems with mosquitoes. They can be quite bothersome. They bite, and then leave all these red marks on your body. Plus they can cause some kind of hot fever.
Anyway, I’m sure that, while living in this tropical country, you have an ample supply of insect spray and tonic to ward mosquitoes off. If that’s not the case, let me know.
Juius
I was surprised to know from a friend here that Ferrets actually exist here in the Philippines, although I have not seen any yet. But with my luck its only a matter of time.
Migs
I have no problem with Mosquitoes, I love the sound of buzzing and the fact they share my bed. What could be better.
First of all, it was very nice to meet you at the seminar.
Thanks for the tip on tonic water. I think I will try that.But 4 cans a day? I’ve heard of beer, but I am not a beer drinker. Also heard of Vitamin B1, but I always forget to take my vitamins everyday.
There is a saying that if you can see a mouse, then there is a dozen behind the walls you cannot see.
Hi John
In Ireland I used to live by the water and I used to hate the sight of those water rats when I was a kid, dirty scary things.
Then when I came to Philippines it seems that rats are just ignored and left to themselves. Well no way for me, I would wake at night and hear the scurrying around in the roof or in the walls and that would be me awake for the night.
My wife was afraid to kill them, plus they never bothered her anyway and she couldn’t understand why I was so against them. She, and it seems to be a belief here that all the rats in the area would come and eat all your clothes and house if you killed one.
Anyway we settled for cats, and within a day or two we were rid of them and now I can sleep like a baby. But they are an animal that I could never, and will never get used to. Those cats are a great invention, no house should be without one.
Jack
Jack
WHAT A CHOICE STINKY RATS OR EVIL CATS
See my recent article on Cat invasion
Hi John,I recently read an article about eating Rats in India.In some rural areas rat meat is regularly eaten,now the Indian gov’t is promoting it,for more people to eat it as its high in protein.The gov’t in their wisdom say,eating rat meat would prevent malnutrition in people,control the rat population,and save thousands of tons of grain in warehouses being eaten by rats.They are also considering having it on Resturant menu’s.I bet you think i’m joking,but its all true,regards Chas.
Chas
I assume Rat is edible, but sorry to say for some reason It think i will have to past.
Although lets be honest my country loves dog, but some countries still eat dog as here in some parts of the Philippines