For the last month or more, I have noticed my rhubarb and lilacs being pruned and haphazardly piled in the shed. I had no idea what the culprit could be. Asking others was no help. I had responses ranging from opossums to not so brilliant beavers. When my raspberry patch was completely mowed down, action had to be taken. We set a live trap. The next day my husband called me at work to say he had no clue what we caught. He described it as a guinea pig looking thing. Research showed it was a packrat. Actually, it was a three legged packrat. Talking to many people and showing photos not many people around here have seen a packrat. 
My students thought he was too cute and made me promise not to kill him, so he was sent packing and released at an undisclosed location. He seemed a little confused when I let him go.
I wish I could say that is the end of the story, but I'm afraid not. I have caught two much smaller versions of this fella. Still not the end of the story, because I have cleaned out the nest above and magically leaves are reappearing. It is going to be a long fall. I have caught 30 mice and now three packrats. Maybe I need to start working on a fur coat.
Have any of you had experiences with packrats?
Never have seen any. At first description I thought you had a Woodchuck. Not bad eating there.LOL
ReplyDeleteAwww it is adorable!! I wish I could have taken your three legged one. I have no idea what I would have done with it but it is cute as a button!
ReplyDeleteObviously the one you caught had had offspring that you are still dealing with. Never heard of a pack rat hoarding greens. I thought they went for shiny baubles and such. Now a groundhog would have done the mowing of the plants but they would have eaten them not hoarded. I have one of those I'm dealing with. I have voles too that pull the plants into their holes. Good luck with this varmint. Never a dull moment when you garden, is it?
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen packrats here, but we sure have our share of bugs here in North Carolina, which we didn't in Seattle. Still not getting use to that:-D I'm glad you let him go; he was already missing a leg;-D
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a packrat. What an incredible looking fellow. My goodness. I love that little tail.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many other things like that you have. I am glad you relocated him.
My Mother-in-Law was a packrat. You should see the stuff my wife is still clearing from the walk up attic. A lot more than your rhubarb prunings.
ReplyDeleteThe last shot in my last post is an Arrowroot.
ReplyDeleteI'm not fond of the rodent population in general. I've never encountered a packrat. I hope you can get your problem under control.
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