Rodent Report - Cooper
Submitted: Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 14:00
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MEMBER - Darian, SA
Heard on the ABC this am - rats driving tourists out of their camps around the Cooper crossing on the BV track - quoted Patsy at Ettadunna station. Must be true - it's the ABC :-o).
Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 14:22
Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 14:22
Hi Darian
I did not hear the report, but have been speaking with Patsy first thing this morning.
Yes there is a rat plague at Mungeranie and Mulka but not sure how far south they have come from Mulka. Like Patsy said they are not at Etadunna and will not be there for one very good reason.....the flooded Cooper.
We are up there in a few weeks and if they are at the northern side of the ferry site, we will have to
camp on the southern side.
Fiona and I are now counting down the days..
Cheers
Stephen
AnswerID:
459916
Follow Up By: muffin man - Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 16:12
Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 16:12
Rats or mice.
Mice I can handle but big fat rats are another thing.
Am heading down that way in a few weeks so better bring the repellent.
MM
FollowupID:
733522
Follow Up By: Member Al (Sunshine Coast) - Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 16:14
Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 16:14
What's the repellent MM? A shotgun?
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 18:56
Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 18:56
Hi MM
Unfortunately it is the bigger of the two
pests, both native and feral rats.
We are heading up there also very soon and the last thing we want is holes in our tent. Like I said if they have reached the Cooper, we will
camp on the southern side.
Hi Allan
From what I was hearing, shooting them would be just about impossible as there are just that many.
Cheers
Stephen
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733535
Reply By: ABR - SIDEWINDER - Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 22:33
Thursday, Jul 14, 2011 at 22:33
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Yes they are a big problem.
I have just returned from a 3 week Simpson Trip.
We had to patch the tent in about 10
places, the worst being Poeppels Corner.
At
William Creek we killed a few around the
camp fire by simply stepping on them by mistake.
(If you hear a noise like a twig against the tent it is a rat trying to get in !)
Regards
Derek from ABR
AnswerID:
459961
Follow Up By: Member - John R (cQld) - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 09:24
Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 09:24
Hi Derek, do you know if there was food inside the tents, or were the rats just trying to get out of the cold?
Cheers,
John
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Follow Up By: ABR - SIDEWINDER - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 10:00
Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 10:00
No food, just two sleeping bags, torch etc.
They must like the taste of plastic, they even took a few chunks out of our boots that were outside the tent.
Regards
Derek
FollowupID:
733666
Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 11:08
Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 11:08
Plenty of rats still about in the Daiamantina Lakes area, and across towards
Lake Machattie too. Might be an idea to
check any coolant hoses on your vehicle each morning if you've been in rat country, but that's another story, and I'll post it shortly
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We camped at Moongarra Channels, on Clifton Hills, in June, and there were a few rats there. Apart from chewing the shade cloth we had under the tent, and leaving numerous "calling-cards", they did no damage.
A couple of nights later, at both Muloorina & Clayton's campsites, the mice were pretty thick, but other than entertain us, did no damage. Did get a bit annoying, during the night, when they'd climb to the top of the tent, then "ski" down the sides!
Bob
AnswerID:
460072