Port Authority will not allow rat traps on docks?

[leftbrainstuff]

Originally Posted by TacomaSailor

We and several other tenants at a marina on Harbor Island, San Diego have seen rats on the docks during the last month. Several of us have seen rat droppings in our cockpits or cabins.

The marina dock master has put rat traps at the top of the ramp to the docks but, can't place them anywhere else. He says the Port of San Diego will not allow anyone, boater or marina management, to place any kind of rat trap on a dock "over water."

We can put traps on our boat but are not allowed to do anything on the dock or dock lines to kill or discourage rats.

So - how are we to control rats? It appears the Port of San Diego is telling us that we must wait for the rat to get on the boat before we can do anything about it.

The ramp leading down to our docks (four in total with 180 slips) is surrounded by lush vegetation, palm trees, and rip rap - the perfect breeding ground for rats.

Typical stupid bureaucratic do nothing so typical of local government.

+1 to the get a cat solution. But get two cats. One male and one female. The rats will soon dissapear.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[sailorboy1]

best to train the rats to eat other rats

[Salty Mike]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iinx...D24921&index=5

[Salty Mike]

Or watch some of these.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Time...ing&gws_rd=ssl

Then get yerself one of them dogs or a mink.

[Celestialsailor]

[QUOTE=TacomaSailor;2016107]We have several feral cats that live at the top of our dock. One of the liveaboards who has seen the rats also owns a Jack Russel terrier who roams freely about her boat and the adjacent docks.


Yet, we have rats on the dock.

QUOTE]
Stop feeding the JR!

Originally Posted by Joel E Felt

Don't hate the rats, with a little garlic, salt and pepper there not to bad!
Joel E felt

Ratatouille?

[Sea Dreaming]

My basset hound was a great mouser. I think half his diet was made of mice. (old house). I wonder what he would have done with a rat?

[Jdege]

Originally Posted by leftbrainstuff

Typical stupid bureaucratic do nothing so typical of local government.

+1 to the get a cat solution. But get two cats. One male and one female. The rats will soon dissapear.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

Feral cats would clear the rats. Fed cats aren't usually effective ratters.

Terriers, on the other hand...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tff9l4r9NTo&t=142

[bsurvey]

I use bait and leave it in the cockpit sole. that way they will leave to look for water bloat and die elsewhere.
put the bait in a shallow plastic container that has a lid. put the lid on when you go sailing and stow it away, leave it in the cockpit with the lid off when you are away from the boat, I have it under an awning so it won't get wet.
don't rely on the harbor for anything they are generally useless

[Sailing55]

Originally Posted by bsurvey

I use bait and leave it in the cockpit sole. that way they will leave to look for water bloat and die elsewhere.
put the bait in a shallow plastic container that has a lid. put the lid on when you go sailing and stow it away, leave it in the cockpit with the lid off when you are away from the boat, I have it under an awning so it won't get wet.
don't rely on the harbor for anything they are generally useless

So any animal or bird that eats the "bait" will suffer the same fate? You attract animals with bait and kill them?
Is that what I am reading? Please tell me I am getting the wrong idea here...

[rognvald]

Tacoma,
With all kidding aside, you should immediately set two rat traps with peanut butter on your boat. Keep them set at all times. If you discover that they have been tripped or if you get a rat, you and the marina have a real problem. Sometimes, the best alternative is to move to another marina if your marina is not willing to seriously address the problem. The destruction they can do in a short period of time is nothing short of unbelievable. Sometimes every tactic will be unsuccessful if there are too many in the area. You and your neighbors need to get proactive with the marina. You have much to lose. Good luck.

[Sailing55]

Originally Posted by rognvald

Tacoma,
With all kidding aside, you should immediately set two rat traps with peanut butter on your boat. Keep them set at all times. If you discover that they have been tripped or if you get a rat, you and the marina have a real problem. Sometimes, the best alternative is to move to another marina if your marina is not willing to seriously address the problem. The destruction they can do in a short period of time is nothing short of unbelievable. Sometimes every tactic will be unsuccessful if there are too many in the area. You and your neighbors need to get proactive with the marina. You have much to lose. Good luck.

How do rats get into a boat that is secured? I lived in a marina when I bought my first boat, and knew that there were rats around, but always kept my boat secured when I went to work or the store etc. Doesn't there have to be some attraction for rodents to want to get inside?

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by cp1

I know a fair bit of nautical trivia after 40 yrs at sea.

One I just learned recently:
Wharf = Warehouse at the Riverfront. Duh lol

Maybe a recent fun definition.

Online Etymology Dictionary

late Old English hwearf "shore, bank where ships can tie up," earlier "dam, embankment," from Proto-Germanic *hwarfaz (cognates: Middle Low German werf "mole, dam, wharf," German Werft "shipyard, dockyard");

[svmariane]

Since all the good answers have already been given -

poison & traps, dogs & cats -

thought I'd add this because no matter what she may have told you, size does matter.

Besides, since you'll need four of them for your mooring lines, when anchored with your (less than 60-metre private yacht) two each hung port & starboard side might make excellent "rocker stoppers". Note the new cone vs old flat design.

Just remember to polish that brass, sailor!

[svmariane]

Originally Posted by TacomaSailor

We and several other tenants at a marina on Harbor Island, San Diego have seen rats on the docks during the last month. Several of us have seen rat droppings in our cockpits or cabins.

Jesting aside..... Tenants? Is this a permanent or semi-permanent location for your vessel? If so, maybe have a look at this: How It Works

Apparently, "It applies to "Pleasure" boats and yachts from 18 to 85 feet."

Only a thought that might help you or others, as you DID point out that the shape of your vessel precluded on-the-lines rat guards in that they could merely climb aboard. But rat-guards would work on this (or a similar) system. Rig your gang plank so it's hoist-able, say, a few feet (okay... 3.5 ft) above the dock with line(s) that allow easy raise/lower from dock or deck.

[Snore]

Originally Posted by TacomaSailor

We and several other tenants at a marina on Harbor Island, San Diego have seen rats on the docks during the last month. Several of us have seen rat droppings in our cockpits or cabins.



The marina dock master has put rat traps at the top of the ramp to the docks but, can't place them anywhere else. He says the Port of San Diego will not allow anyone, boater or marina management, to place any kind of rat trap on a dock "over water."



We can put traps on our boat but are not allowed to do anything on the dock or dock lines to kill or discourage rats.



So - how are we to control rats? It appears the Port of San Diego is telling us that we must wait for the rat to get on the boat before we can do anything about it.



The ramp leading down to our docks (four in total with 180 slips) is surrounded by lush vegetation, palm trees, and rip rap - the perfect breeding ground for rats.

Forgive me for not reading all the posts so this may have been covered.

The apparent reason is fecal coliform. You see when the rat is captured (s)he will relieve themselves in the trap. This waste will drop into the water. This is a very technical violation of the Clean Water Act for the Uber-anal retentive

Good thing you guys don't pee off the rail there!

Suggest someone talk to the local environmental team about traps with solid bottoms that will hold the waste for 12-15 hours between visits.

Please post back here, professional curiosity.


Sent from my iPhone- please forgive autocorrect errors.