Waaay back in the mid-twentieth century, the house next to the railroad track that I grew up in got an infestation of wharf rats. I mean, these boys were big enough to carry your cats off into the woods and beat the crap out of them. My sweet mumsy thought it was a good idea to buy rat traps, but when she actually caught one, she left it up to eight-year-old me to drag it--trap and all--into the woods and leave it there. I think she finally called a rat whisperer. Remind me to tell you about the copperhead infestation in a rental house we lived in during my park ranger days. Or not. I'll stop talking now.
This Wilmington newbie still has much to learn, seems. To cockroaches (yep, you folk down this way have a euphemism that goes something like, 'palmetto bug,' I know, but c'mon), add rats. Who can't control their sphincters. What I love most, though, is the khakis and polo—that right there is class through and through. One expects no less of a rat whisperer! Love your writing, Celia!
I would in fact need to stay at a hotel with my cats until I had full proof of no more rats!! They move about at night and you just don’t know. Aaaahhh!!!
Recently had one to get in underneath the kitchen sink and leave about a gazillion turds. Turns out he had chewed into a bag of Epsom salts which went right to work.
Your story actually made me feel better. For a minute. We found a couple of droppings in the drawer below the oven (you know - the one people put sheet pans and the like in). We get our house exterminated every 3 months to be proactive so I called him and he came out, verified it was rat droppings and put out some traps and took care of it. But now you're telling me “They’re also intelligent. Many elude traps just by outsmarting us humans!” Good lord.
Waaay back in the mid-twentieth century, the house next to the railroad track that I grew up in got an infestation of wharf rats. I mean, these boys were big enough to carry your cats off into the woods and beat the crap out of them. My sweet mumsy thought it was a good idea to buy rat traps, but when she actually caught one, she left it up to eight-year-old me to drag it--trap and all--into the woods and leave it there. I think she finally called a rat whisperer. Remind me to tell you about the copperhead infestation in a rental house we lived in during my park ranger days. Or not. I'll stop talking now.
HAHAHAHA!❤️
This Wilmington newbie still has much to learn, seems. To cockroaches (yep, you folk down this way have a euphemism that goes something like, 'palmetto bug,' I know, but c'mon), add rats. Who can't control their sphincters. What I love most, though, is the khakis and polo—that right there is class through and through. One expects no less of a rat whisperer! Love your writing, Celia!
THIS is the Celia that I Iove to read! Great piece!
Am I the only one having “Willard” and “Ben” flashbacks?
I forgot MY rat problem laughing 😃 at yours !!
I would in fact need to stay at a hotel with my cats until I had full proof of no more rats!! They move about at night and you just don’t know. Aaaahhh!!!
The fear is real 😱
Recently had one to get in underneath the kitchen sink and leave about a gazillion turds. Turns out he had chewed into a bag of Epsom salts which went right to work.
He deserved that.
Your story actually made me feel better. For a minute. We found a couple of droppings in the drawer below the oven (you know - the one people put sheet pans and the like in). We get our house exterminated every 3 months to be proactive so I called him and he came out, verified it was rat droppings and put out some traps and took care of it. But now you're telling me “They’re also intelligent. Many elude traps just by outsmarting us humans!” Good lord.
Hilarious, except that now I'm wondering if the chipmunks I hear skritch-scratching I hear in my all-wood walls are actually something a lot worse.