From sustag@beta.tricity.wsu.eduTue Dec 17 00:06:23 1996
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 07:06:42 -0800 (PST)
From: "Tom Hodges (moderated newsgroup)" <sustag@beta.tricity.wsu.edu>
To: Principles of Sustainable Agriculture <sustag-l@listproc.wsu.edu>
Subject: Re: Rats (fwd)


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 11:23:08 +0000 (GMT)
From: Geraldo_Deffune <pah_gd@wye.ac.uk>
To: "Tom Hodges (moderated newsgroup)" <sustag@beta.tricity.wsu.edu>
Cc: Richard T Dailey <rtd@selway.umt.edu>
Subject: Re: Rats (fwd)

Dear Richard,

There are many locally adapted rat/mice control strategies, that depend 
very much on the specific conditions of each case.

Strange as it may sound, the only general method that can be widely 
applied without counter-indications and has proved quite effective not 
only with mammals and birds, but also with insects (Brazilian 
Cutter-Ants, my experience) is the Bio-dynamic ash control.

It consists in colllecting, skinning (in the case of mammals), burning 
the skins of the vermin and spreading it finely in a wide circle around 
the affected area. It is based in a similar principle to the homoeopathic 
"nosodia" preparations (sick tissue or exudate dilutions), but is rather 
aimed at disrupting the reproductive boom of pest populations, or 
bringing it back to balanced levels.

It must be done at a specific "astronomic" time of the year, i.e., when 
specific constelations would be triggering the "fulcrum" or so, of the 
reproductive cycle for each sub-order or so...this is the point where 
research is most needed and controversial.

For mice, rabbit, etc this year's time is between the 16th and the 23rd 
of December, SPECIALLY the Sunday the 22nd, when specimens must be burned 
in a proportion of 1:1 or 1:2 in woodchips, preferably in a closed stove, 
finely grinding and spreading the ashes soon afterwards.

This technique at least has NO counter indications or side-effects and 
doesn't involve too much labour either. The results usually show after 
two consecutive years of treatment.

All I can tell you is that i'm having very impressive results in 
double-blind field and Lab expts with the spray and compost BD 
preparations (previously posted to our list) and the pest ashes 
are going to be my next research subject in the future.

Good luck and a Merry (hopefully, Rat-Free) Xmas!

Geraldo DEFFUNE
G.Deffune@wye.ac.uk or pah_gd@lister.wye.ac.uk 
Wye College - University of London - Agriculture Section 
Sustainable Agriculture Research Group 
Wye, Ashford, Kent TN25 5AH, England, U.K.
Tel.:(44-1233)813260, Fax: (44-1233)812855
WEB http://www.wye.ac.uk/agriculture/sargintro.html
PhD Student sponsored by CNPq - The Brazilian Research Council

On Sun, 15 Dec 1996, Tom Hodges (moderated newsgroup) wrote:

> 
> 
> Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 12:25:18 -0700 (MST)
> From: Richard T Dailey <rtd@selway.umt.edu>
> Subject: Rats
> 
> To the list,
> I am a member of the board of directors of KEEP a Japanese non profit/NGO
> based in Yamanashi Prefecture. KEEP is an acronym  standing for the
> Kiyosato Experimental Education Project. KEEP started a community
> development project in Tulgao Village located in northern Luzon the
> Philippines about 6 years ago. Included in the project are some ag
> experiments, including the introduction of new rice varieties from Japan.
> I have been to Tulgao on two occasions to evaluate the project, most
> recently last month. At the farmers' meeting on this last trip they
> discussed their frustrations with the problem of rats eating the rice
> after it is harvested and still in the fields--or terraces as that is the
> way rice is grown there.
> I'm requesting any assistance you can give me on ways to reduce or
> eliminate the problem of rats in this kind of a situation.
> TIA and regards,
> Dick
> 
> Dick Dailey
> Department of Management
> University of Montana
> Missoula, MT 59812-1216             BIG SKY COUNTRY!!
> 406 243 6644/Voice-Office
> 406 549 6876/Voice-Home Office
> 406 243 2086/Fax
> rtd@selway.umt.edu
> 
> 
> 
