Those packrats! ("white-throated woodrat" is their real name)

People probably think that we are nuts: live-trapping packrats. But I have a difficult time killing an animal that large, and that cute, just because he wants to have a nice place to live too. Besides, who moved into whose territory anyway?

We have been very successful catching them recently: we are 5 for 5. We are setting the trap in either the tackroom or the potting bench, which ever shows signs of having been visited. The best way to entice them to step into the trap is with a mesquite bean or two, although the one this morning did not turn up his nose at a homegrown carrot.

However, Dan thinks he recognized our catch this morning. Until today he has walked them out to the end of our 20 acres and released them on state land, but if they are tracing their way back... One suggestion has been to cover the cage while he is being transported, maybe turn around a couple of times...

This morning we had to run an errand, so we took him in the car and released him way down the road. Next step is to mark our catch so we know that we have trapped a repeat rat. I will just put a drop of specially-bought nailpolish behind their head. Now what to do when we do find repeat offenders; perhaps take them out to the National Forest (0.25 mile away)? So what exactly is the range for a packrat?