Hi all, I have just returned from 2 weeks on Ethabuka Reserve (just above
Simpson Desert NP)and there are plenty of Long-haired Rats as well as other
native and non-native rodents (and other mammals of course). If you have any
food about that is accessible then they may chew through bags or swags to
get to the 'goodies'. We only had a few instances of this happening but it
is possible so keep food secured well away. They will use your swag as a
trampoline as well but that is all part of the beauty of getting out and
about and amongst it.
BTW we saw 116 species on the reserve including RC Emu-wrens, Eyrean
Grasswrens, Grey Falcon, Black, Pied, White-fronted Honeyeaters and an
assortment of waterbirds. There still a LOT of water about and the country
is looking stunning so enjoy it while it is in its current state.
Cheers,
Anthony Molyneux
Alice Springs
Message: 10
Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2011 22:09:43 +1000
From: "Len Ezzy" <>
To: "'michael wood'" <>, <>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Rats in the Corner Country?
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Hello Michael,
Warning!
If the inland rodents are as invasively hungry as our North Queensland
species can be, it may be wise to keep your car
doors closed and engine bonnet open...
We made the mistake of leaving our station-wagon rear door open whilst on
a weekend camp at Broadwater State Forest (near
Ingham) some years back. A Giant White-tailed Rat got in, built a cosy
nest in behind the internal panel forward of the door
hinge on the front passenger side and had hitched a quiet ride home to
Townsville with us...
It ate a bit of plastic and rubber and luckily no serious damage to the
electrical wiring. Our pet dog eventually killed it
2 days later after it appeared to have tried to share the dog's bone. The
dog didn't eat the rat but left it lying dead,
drenched in saliva only a couple of metres from her usual feeding point.
Our auto electrician discovered the rat's nest in
the car only recently.
Another time we were at Murray Falls (near Tully) camping. We owned a V8
back then and were lucky to escape with only 4
spark-plug leads in tact. These rats seem to like eating plastic and
rubber components on vehicles. We have since learnt
that when camped in any NQ rainforest, keeping your parked car bonnet open
day and night is the best deterrent from rats
moving into a safe and secure feeding area such as is under the cover of a
bonnet.
I've also found smaller rodents cooked under my bonnet from camps in
drier, western areas of Queensland.
Good birding and Good luck !
Len Ezzy
Mount Louisa, Townsville, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
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