A reason why rats are deterred by catnip/catmint: (link says that a chemical in catnip smells like cat urine - "trans-nepetalactone smells just like a chemical found in a dominant female cat's urine.") {quote from article linked below}
http://www.scienceiq.com/facts/iscatnipadrugforcats.cfm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
moonmamajess 
Now I'm no experienced gardener by any means, but I do consider myself quite the home herbalist. It's funny but just earlier this evening I was reading A Modern Herbal by Maude Grieve and she happened to have a tip that may help with anyones garden rat troubles as well as be a useful addition to the home herb pantry. Maude suggests planting Catnip (also known as Catmint) to ward off the rats. Maude writes, "Rats dislike the plant particularly, and will not approach it even when driven by hunger. This dislike of rats for Catmint might well be utilized by growing it round other valuable crops as a protective screen...Catmint is easily grown in any garden soil, and does not require moisture in the same way as the other mints. It may be increased by dividing the plants in spring, or by sowing seeds at the same period. Sow in rows about 20 in. apart, thinning out the seedlings to about the same distance apart as the plants attain a considerable size. They require no attention and will last for several years if the ground is kept free of weeds. The germinating power of the seeds lasts 5 yrs." The flowering tops of the catnip plant are the parts utilized for medicinal purposes and can be harvested in August when plant is in full bloom. This herb is useful for restlessness, colic, nervousness and is a mild nervine especially for children. This herb also aids in healing from colds and fevers! hope this helps someone!
love, Jess
Also, we had a raccoon problem and were recommended to buy coyote urine or bobcat urine, available at outdoor sports stores, and soak cotton balls in it and line the perimeter of our house.
And a neighbor of mine has pieces of wood about a foot wide and as long as his garden that are wrapped in a black rubbery layer that has a bazillion staples, spikey side up, surrounding his garden beds. He sprinkles the boards with salt and cayenne pepper as well. He says that the spikes and salt and cayenne all keep away different sorts of pests (slugs, mice & rats & cats {that use garden beds as a litter box}) and that his gardens only get attacked by birds sometimes. He says that he uses the birds as worm control though and he doesn't grow bird food foods anymore (strawberries, etc) b'c he doesn't want to cover his garden in chicken wire. hth!
Also just remembered reading about installing bat boxes as mouse protection... not sure if bats eat rats, or if you're not wanting bats around. We have bats here and they keep to themselves but I've read that they eat a hugs amount of pests and are very beneficial to an ecosystem. Google "how & why to install a bathouse", interesting stuff.
Edited by number572 - 5/27/11 at 4:58pm
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