Builds My '78 FJ40 "44" (5 Viewers)

[lostmarbles]

Thanks Tom!! Yes, you're definitely picking up our slang!!
I've noticed, you seem to have a real affinity for sheep My daughter bought me a very nice spotting scope and I'm going to mate it to my camera and set up looking down on a Big Horn Sheep watering hole and see if I can get some pictures... but, that will be in a few months. Hope I can get some good photos!!
Did I ever send this (About the Refuge - Desert - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) to you? It gives insight into just how big the Refuge really is... and there is probably at least as much land again, not in the Refuge, that is Big Horn habitat as well.
Here's a picture of a Nevada Roo... not really a marsupial, but a native Jack Rabbit nonetheless

Did you take that amazing pic of the Jack Rabbit Danny?

We call them Hares here ... Well I always have anyway... Our language is changing. To some of us "potato chips" have become "french fries", "tomato sauce" has become "ketchup", so why not "hares" becoming "jack rabbits"?

Talking of name changes, it's not just the big countries that influence them. - When I was a kid, there were "Chinese Gooseberries" growing in peoples gardens that no-one really fussed over. Then one day some marketing guru here renamed them "Kiwifruit", made a heap of $$$$ exporting them, and the result is that the new name has over-ridden the old for a large part of the world. (I bet the Chinese aren't too happy with our hijack!)

And talking of marsupials ... While Peter has heaps of native species on his doorstep the only ones we have are introduced Aussi pests (that we'd dearly like to get rid of) namely Possums (widespread) and Wallabies (in a few pockets).

And - Yes. You did give me that link before. But never mind, I never tire of looking at that landscape.

@lostmarbles
Have you heard from Peter (@Bambi Girl) lately, Tom? Last I heard, he was heading to NZ, just before Christmas, for a new business account...

Yep. Saw him in December and I hope to seem him again later this month. (@Bambi Girl really can't get enough of our cooler temperatures, rain, and lush greenery.)




PS. Looking forward to your sheep photos. (BTW- Your committed now. You and daBoise must stake out that watering hole for as long as it takes to get a good photo.)

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Did you take that amazing pic of the Jack Rabbit Danny?

We call them Hares here ... Well I always have anyway... Our language is changing. To some of us "potato chips" have become "french fries", "tomato sauce" has become "ketchup", so why not "hares" becoming "jack rabbits"?

Talking of name changes, it's not just the big countries that influence them. - When I was a kid, there were "Chinese Gooseberries" growing in peoples gardens that no-one really fussed over. Then one day some marketing guru here renamed them "Kiwifruit", made a heap of $$$$ exporting them, and the result is that the new name has over-ridden the old for a large part of the world. (I bet the Chinese aren't too happy with our hijack!)

And talking of marsupials ... While Peter has heaps of native species on his doorstep the only ones we have are introduced Aussi pests (that we'd dearly like to get rid of) namely Possums (widespread) and Wallabies (in a few pockets).

And - Yes. You did give me that link before. But never mind, I never tire of looking at that landscape.



Yep. Saw him in December and I hope to seem him again later this month. (@Bambi Girl really can't get enough of our cooler temperatures, rain, and lush greenery.)




PS. Looking forward to your sheep photos. (BTW- Your committed now. You and daBoise must stake out that watering hole for as long as it takes to get a good photo.)

Nope, I'm happy to admit that I pinched that photo from the DNWR webpage (I think). I said I would try to get a Big Horn picture, but I doubt daBoise will be with me... they wouldn't lay still for long periods... especially Chester... we'll see.

We've had our possum adventures as well... but not in Nevada... we haven't encountered one out here... yet. Here are the 'local pests' Las Vegas Wildlife in Nevada Rodent Pigeon Rat Snake Squirrel Mouse

Good to know Peter's still moving around - say "hey" to him for me when you see him.

 

[lostmarbles]

Nope, I'm happy to admit that I pinched that photo from the DNWR webpage (I think). I said I would try to get a Big Horn picture, but I doubt daBoise will be with me... they wouldn't lay still for long periods... especially Chester... we'll see.

We've had our possum adventures as well... but not in Nevada... we haven't encountered one out here... yet. Here are the 'local pests' Las Vegas Wildlife in Nevada Rodent Pigeon Rat Snake Squirrel Mouse

Good to know Peter's still moving around - say "hey" to him for me when you see him.

Will do Danny.

Birds are our forte in this country. We get Kereru, Tui, Kaka and Kakariki in our backyard now thanks to recent pest eradication work (and we do our part here by setting rodent traps etc). If we could control domestic cats better, not only would our environment become far more beautiful but our tourism numbers would soar dramatically (because these sorts of beautiful birds and other much rarer ones would be seen absolutely everywhere).

I'm a great fan of the work of Gareth Morgan:
Cats To Go - Learn about the damage cats do in New Zealand

 

[Weber Sarge]

We have the same issues in the States - domestic cats to an incredible amount of damage to the songbirds here .
Sarge

 

[Coolerman]

The only real solution to this world wide problem? Get rid of people!

 

[Weber Sarge]

I've been a proponent of eradicating the humans for a very long time - we are the worst disease to this planet .
Can't blame the cats completely - they are a natural predator domesticated to our liking - same as dogs .

Sarge

 

[Solace in Solitude]

The only good cat is an indoor cat (house cat)... In someone else's house.

We had cats when our daughters were young, but the cats went the way of our daughters. Ours were indoor, yet our front door flower beds always smelled like cat piss.

 

[lostmarbles]

Breaking news:

Just got another bastard this morning.

This isn't even the trap that had bait in it so it's a bit odd that the rat went inside that one...

And the reason I knew the trap had got something was because the whole box had been dragged away about a metre (due I'm sure to one of the neighbours cats having its wicked way with the rat after finding the poor creature lying prone with it head stuck in the trap).

So much of our garden smells of cat piss despite having no cats of our own.

Now ... off to reset the human trap..err humane trap.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Breaking news:

View attachment 1189794

Just got another bastard this morning.

This isn't even the trap that had bait in it so it's a bit odd that the rat went inside that one...

And the reason I knew the trap had got something was because the whole box had been dragged away about a metre (due I'm sure to one of the neighbours cats having its wicked way with the rat after finding the poor creature lying prone with it head stuck in the trap).

So much of our garden smells of cat piss despite having no cats of our own.

Now ... off to reset the human trap..err humane trap.

Oh mighty hunter!!

 

[lostmarbles]

It's actually a rare event to get one. I'd average less than one a month because locally we have the rats well under control (largely due to having a large area of bush nearby where brodifacoum bait is laid)..

Maybe I should stuff it and mount it on the wall with all my clocks?

And on a technical note ... I might just try and get a new WOF (road-worthy certificate) for my BJ40 today because the old one is expiring...

 

[Solace in Solitude]

It's actually a rare event to get one. I'd average less than one a month because locally we have the rats well under control (largely due to having a large area of bush nearby where brodifacoum bait is laid)..

Maybe I should stuff it and mount it on the wall with all my clocks?

Just blow the picture up to three times the size and frame it... Sans toes of course.

 

[lostmarbles]

I stuck my foot in the pic so you'd know it was really my pic and not one I'd borrowed...

 

[Solace in Solitude]

I stuck my foot in the pic so you'd know it was really my pic and not one I'd borrowed...

Oh yes... I was sure that was YOUR foot

 

[Solace in Solitude]

And on a technical note ... I might just try and get a new WOF (road-worthy certificate) for my BJ40 today because the old one is expiring...

IIRC You encountered problems last time... Was it brakes or something?

 

[lostmarbles]

IIRC You encountered problems last time... Was it brakes or something?

Yep.. Your memory is good. It was indeed brake unevenness. But I'm going to try a different inspection centre this time because of the experience I had later on trying to get my wife's old 1995 Nissan to pass. (She's getting a new car in the next few days so at least we won't have to worry about that one again.)

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Yep.. Your memory is good. It was indeed brake unevenness. But I'm going to try a different inspection centre this time because of the experience I had later on trying to get my wife's old 1995 Nissan to pass. (She's getting a new car in the next few days so at least we won't have to worry about that one again.)

Good luck Tom!!

 

[handcannon]

Tom, if that pic represents what your rats look like, they are definitely underfed. You need to do a better job of feeding them. I HATE RATS!!!!

Teasing aside, I am interested in your trap. So far I've not been able to figure out how it works. We are in a rural area and have a major problem with rats. Three years ago the three acres on our north side got new owners. They run horses and wanted to remove all the blackberry briers that the prior owners had allowed to take over. My Dad had also allowed briers and poison oak to take over under our fir trees. So, I worked with them to clean up back there. Consequently, all the rats that lived there found a new home, in our attic. The house is old, and built with easy access to the attic for the rats, and I don't have easy access since I'm much bigger than they are.

The traps I've tried don't work as the rats are too smart and won't touch them. The only thing I've found that works is poison bait, and that is hard for me to get into our attic.

Don

 

[lostmarbles]

Thank you Danny. Your good luck wishes had the desired effect.

My wallet is $82.40 lighter but both my BJ40 and trailer are now sporting new WOFs as of this afternoon...

 

[Chungas Revenge]

My wallet is $82.40 lighter

 

[lostmarbles]

Tom, if that pic represents what your rats look like, they are definitely underfed. You need to do a better job of feeding them. I HATE RATS!!!!

Teasing aside, I am interested in your trap. So far I've not been able to figure out how it works. We are in a rural area and have a major problem with rats. Three years ago the three acres on our north side got new owners. They run horses and wanted to remove all the blackberry briers that the prior owners had allowed to take over. My Dad had also allowed briers and poison oak to take over under our fir trees. So, I worked with them to clean up back there. Consequently, all the rats that lived there found a new home, in our attic. The house is old, and built with easy access to the attic for the rats, and I don't have easy access since I'm much bigger than they are.

The traps I've tried don't work as the rats are too smart and won't touch them. The only thing I've found that works is poison bait, and that is hard for me to get into out attic.

Don

Hi Don.

No wonder that rat looks anemic. It's lost most of its entrails after being chewed by a cat!

I'll gladly give you the benefit of my extensive pest control experience...

I've tried the most powerful electronic traps and I don't like them because the batteries are too expensive (being six or eight size D with quite limited lifespan). Furthermore, when a rat is zapped they lose their bladder contents and that stuffs pretty stinky and also corrosive to the traps electrical wires. Not only that, they have to be positioned in a sheltered enclosure otherwise the rain destroys them! (although this is not a problem to you using them indoors of course.)

Then I tried CO2-powered units that inflict a blow to the head when the rat knocks a hair-trigger mechanism while going for the bait. They were no good because the bait paste (sold with the trap) wasn't attractive enough to rats, snails and slugs decided they liked the bait instead, and the mechanism was poorly designed with a slow leak ensuring each Co2 cannister lost pressure well before the bait container ran empty. (And I feared young kids may find the trap, poke their fingers inside, and then further rumours would spread about "the crazy old man in the street"). I tried this type for months and never made a single kill!

So I'm now back to the basics.. That box is there simply to limit the kill to rats and mice only. And since a rat can get through any hole it can fit its head through (and if you don't believe me on this there is a U-tube video that proves it), that entrance can easily be made small enough to stop birds, cats paws, and childrens' fingers etc from getting "whacked".

In my photo the trap is lying on its side and the rats head is caught in a relatively cheap plastic traditional-style rat trap that was placed inside. (At the other end of the box is another mesh screen that sits in slots so it's easily removed for clearing and setting purposes.)

The bait I prefer at the moment is bread smeared in peanut butter and stuffed tightly into the bait-receptacle in the centre of the trigger-pad area.

But I'm always learning... With the larger trap I'm now experimenting with using an whole fresh egg for bait. I know this attracts ferrets and stoats but I'm a little unsure how good it is at attracting rats.. Time will tell. This trap is pushed right under some agapanthus plants to stop birds from going inside (because it has a larger entrance and can kill hedgehogs which are another introduced pest, although many gardeners like them because they eat snails and slugs).

Rats are very timid, cautious and intelligent. But they're also inquisitive and, if a trap is on their normal route and made attractive to them they will eventually summon the courage to explore it. The more they become familiar with its presence, the more they're likely to enter and trip the trigger mechanism.

Hope this helps..