We have spiders and pill bugs in our basement. I want to spray for them, but I also have pet rats that I like to let wander around on occasion, and don't want them to get sick. Is there a natural bug spray that is rodent safe? (I know, our basement sounds like a fun place) [more inside]
posted by mecran01 on Oct 15, 2009 - 11 answers

[Book/Story-filter] Trying to place a book or maybe short story from my youth (child of the late 70s-80s). The only thing I can remember is a guy going swimming at the Y. He thinks he sees a towel stuck in the drain at the bottom of the pool, but once he gets down there he realizes it is a rat coming out of the drain. It could be a really popular book for all I know. I just know that it scared the crap out of me and still freaks me out to this day a bit. Any ideas?
posted by speeb on Oct 5, 2009 - 2 answers

Something strange is going on in the kitchen...What has done this to the label on top of my recycle bin? Went to the recycle bin under the sink. in the picture you can see the lid with the label on it. Is it a mouse, a rat....something else? picture here No human in the house has done this!
posted by razzman on Aug 13, 2009 - 13 answers

My garage has been a rat motel for the past year. Now that the rats are gone how do I clean it and make it usable again? [more inside]
posted by phixed on Feb 24, 2009 - 3 answers

Should I get pet rats? Will they pee all over and eat all my wires and crawl into my walls? [more inside]
posted by greendress on Jan 24, 2009 - 10 answers

I'm considering getting a pair of rats. My AskMe and internet searches didn't have answers to my two questions regarding cats and vacations. [more inside]
posted by deborah on Jan 22, 2009 - 18 answers

Need advice on a cage for 2 pet rats [more inside]
posted by wretched_rhapsody on Jan 21, 2009 - 7 answers

What do I do about the rats living in my roof? Without leaving decomposing rat corpses above my ceiling? [more inside]
posted by Netzapper on Jan 13, 2009 - 16 answers

How do I properly tattoo a rat’s tail? [more inside]
posted by demon666 on Nov 21, 2008 - 5 answers

I've been searching Metafilter for humane solutions to our rat problem and, while a couple sound promising (hmmm...so lighter fluid is really ether??), I haven't seen one possibility mentioned: sticking the little bastards in the freezer. I've tried it, and it works great. For some reason, though, my wife isn't too thrilled at the prospect of Brother Rat nestling, even briefly, next to the frozen peas. What do you think? [more inside]
posted by Olden_Bittermann on Nov 8, 2008 - 38 answers

Several questions about rat infestations, including this one: If I use poison on the giant rats who are suddenly infesting my house, what are the chances of a poisoned rat deciding to die where my dogs can get it and then, if they do get it, will they die too? [more inside]
posted by mygothlaundry on Jul 3, 2008 - 13 answers

Is there anything I can do to prevent rats from nesting under my rose bush? [more inside]
posted by LizardOfDoom on Apr 2, 2008 - 9 answers

What is the safest (my health comes first, preserving the photos comes second) way to clean photographs contaminated with cockroach eggs and rat droppings? [more inside]
posted by Cog on Mar 12, 2008 - 10 answers

Rats!? Found some droppings at home, freaked out. Now what? [more inside]
posted by drpynchon on Jan 7, 2008 - 17 answers

Anyone know what a 'neuroscore' or neurological status score is based on (in rat studies)? [more inside]
posted by wumpus on Mar 11, 2007 - 4 answers

Twice in 2 months rats have chewed the transmission cable in my girlfriend's car, how do we get them to stop! [more inside]
posted by zaphod on Mar 5, 2007 - 14 answers

Will minor cat allergies translate to rat allergies? [more inside]
posted by lpctstr; on Nov 21, 2006 - 10 answers

We definitely have mice in our garage. I'm worried they may be in our attic or our house interior and I need some advice. [more inside]
posted by RustyBrooks on Oct 22, 2006 - 14 answers

OK, so I'm sitting here with one of my buddies, talking about his research, and we realized that we know the word for "of or relating to mice" (murine), and the word for "of and related to cow" (bovine), but have no clue what the word for "of or related to rat" is. And after what we thought of as a pretty comprehensive web search (including this very good Google Answer), we're no closer to an answer. Anyone know what the word we're looking for is?
posted by delfuego on Sep 16, 2006 - 14 answers

Rats/mice. I seem to have a new friend living in my flat. It's small, brown and furry and I'd like to dispose of it (them?) quickly and effectively. I have absolutely no intention of giving it the humane treatment as I simply don't have any way of removing a living creature from my flat in london to somewhere else (no car etc.). How can I kill it? Kill it up good. [more inside]
posted by iamcrispy on Jul 25, 2006 - 33 answers

All diplomatic efforts at a peaceful solution have failed. I have no choice but to invade and depose the ty-rat-ical government in my roof. But I don't want to injure the canine civilians. Can I do this myself or do I need to bring in the elite forces?
posted by zaebiz on May 14, 2006 - 16 answers

Why does my bulldog ignore dead critters in the house? [more inside]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy on Apr 28, 2006 - 10 answers

I just picked up a pair of rats and have some general rat-based questions as well as rat&cat co-habitation questions. [more inside]
posted by Imperfect on Oct 17, 2005 - 8 answers

Do Ultrasonic Pest Control devices really work for mice and rats? When we moved into our current house there apparently was a bad problem with rats that we only found out about by one dying in the walls. We have since gotten rid of them but I have this fear that they will find a way back in. So, if I set a couple of these devices up in our crawlspace and attic would that work to deter them? And will they really not bother my dogs?
posted by GrumpyMonkey on Oct 7, 2005 - 12 answers

One of my rats is suddenly very lethargic. Normally she is very excitable, but now she moves slowly and falls asleep when I hold her. She is 18 months old. What can I do? Should I call a vet? I am very worried.
posted by malpractice on May 28, 2004 - 12 answers