They're Back...

Rat seller in Thailand. Photo Credit: Chris James White Photography. All rights reserved.

Remember this lovely picture from my dramatic rat post in August?  How could you forget, right?

Well, the rats are back.

Yuck, I know. Actually. No. Not just yuck. Uber super duper shivery grossed-out yuck.

I.don't.like.rats. In fact, I don't like any type of rodent. Not even hamsters, really.

When you live in a tropical climate, you can expect to have rats visit every once in awhile.  It probably didn't help that in August, when I first realized we had an unwanted visitor(s), we were in full-throttle monsoon mode. The rodents probably wanted to dry off a bit. I wasn't sympathetic.  And I still am not.

Down with the rats, I say! (I told you I'd be a terrible Buddhist!)

Previously, they were contained to the kitchen. Unfortunately, the other day when I opened a closet to take out Halloween decorations, the floor was totally covered in rat poo. It was also dusty to high hell and I was certain I was going to get infected with Hantavirus.

That was bad enough. But it got worse.

I learned that on the top shelf of F's closet, there were lots of rat droppings. Some looked peculiar, like bird poo instead of rat poo, but red. I don't know if it was blood (hemorrhaging from the red poison we laid down), or something else.  Perhaps poo from the playdough they were eating. WHO KNEW?!  Either way, I wasn't happy.

 This is a real rat poison in Myanmar, locally made. "HAPPY" rat killer. Yes, I will be VERY happy when these nasty things are dead!

There's been a massive bleach operation in this household for the last few days. Meanwhile, I've learned that the buggers have a distinctive palette. In addition to hankering after playdough, they love to nibble traditional Swedish straw Christmas ornaments. They wanted to eat these ornaments so badly, that they chewed through a box just to get to them. Rats also apparently like to eat wires and gnaw holes in wood. Did I mention most of this house is filled with wood?

Thankfully, the husband's organization has stepped in and organized pest control to lay traps in our ceilings, in cupboards, in F's closet, and around the perimeter of the house. I should've taken pictures of these homemade, massive discs with glue on them. They looked like pizzas. I didn't want to take pictures though because I totally had the heebie jeebies.

Anyway, it appears our house is a perfect rat conduit. We have holes in our roof and many tree limbs hang just in the right place for them to jump down and creep on into our ceiling. Once in, they have free realm over their own little inner world, scampering through our hollow, faux beams which can carry them from room to room. We also have lovely gaps and holes everywhere. None of our doors are sealed closed at the bottom.

Did you know that if you can fit a pencil through a crack, a mouse can get through it? If a hole is the size of a half-dollar, a rat can get through. Um. Well. Our house is filled will all these crevices.

I'm hopeful Operation: RAT DIE will help us control them. It's possible that with the rains being nearly over, that some of the problem will subside, too.

I hope.

Well, in case you have rodent issues, here are a few websites that can help you know how to prevent them getting worse. Big thanks to the husband's cousin, D, in England for all the links!

• From the CDC
• How to Guide
• Rodent proof your house

EEK!