Port Authority will not allow rat traps on docks?

[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.

[tbodine88]

Something like this may work. Doesn't kill rats, supposed to keep them off the boat. We used em in the navy.

[tuffr2]

Borrow a Jack Russel terrier while you are docked there. Or a bigger cat that is not afraid of rats.

I grew up on a small farm. We did have a few Tom Cats that would kill rats but that was rare.

A Jack Russel no problem. Killing any rodent makes their day.

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[Lizzy Belle]

The marina where I am isn't allowed to set traps either, only in the surrounding area.
There aren't too many (haven't found any dropping yet) but when I arrived here and asked about allowing my cat off the boat, the answer was "Yes please! Maybe not feed her too much so she'll get rid of all the rats and pigeons?".

So she was 'put to work' and has been doing a very good job so far

In season, she'll catch 2 to 3 pigeons a day (that I know of).
Rats I'm not sure as they're usually not that close to the boat. She caught one ON the boat recently, but usually she goes out looking for them. Sometimes she dumps them in the cockpit after she kills them but I'm pretty sure she's killing more then she brings home.

TL;DR version: find a boat with a dog or cat, bribe them to dock close to your boat

[zeehag]

if you are a goggie dood, get a rat terrier, if you are cat person, get a cat. put cones of shame over lines-they are also known as rat barriers, then watch a lot of tom n jerry.
best o f luck. there used to be cats in the rocks, but someone saw fit to remove em . those cats did good work.

[Bill Seal]

About 40 years ago, the Port of Long Beach CA used to give out packets of rat poison, I guess the Friends Of The Wharf Rats got a lawyer.
Down at Carlsbad State Beach, the ground squirrels are destroying the cliffs, but they can't poison them, just watch the campground slip into the sea.
Ain't California wonderful.

[Cheechako]

The poison kills cats and dogs.

[Mycroft]

Unlike naval ships, our boats are too close to the dock for rat guards to be effective. They just jump from the dock to the boat.

[TacomaSailor]

My question was:

Do other harbor or port authorities prevent marina managers and boat owners from using traps on the dock?

I understand the issue with poison on the docks but why can't we put out traps?

Is this common in the US?

[rognvald]

" 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." Tacoma


Tacoma,
Have you asked the bureaucrats why? Perhaps they feel the rats are re-incarnations of their ex-wives seeking alimony. One never knows with bureaucrats. Good luck and good ratting. P.S. There is nothing more destructive on a boat than a rat.

[Lizzy Belle]

Originally Posted by TacomaSailor

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."

Have you asked him why? Or contacted the Port of San Diego about it?

Originally Posted by TacomaSailor

So - how are we to control rats?

I responded to that question, as I can't answer your first one

[hellosailor]

Would they allow you to put Burmese pythons on the docks?
Or perhaps "feeding stations" with Purina Rat Chow (they sell it for lab rats) conveniently located in the middle of large "sticky pads" ?


You know, it isn't a trap, the poor thing just got stuck at the buffet table.


If diplomacy fails...a call to the health department and the local Nooze might get their opinion to change. Or perhaps, you could invite PETA to come down and RESCUE the poor things.

[zeehag]

for many years there were no rats on san diego's marina docks.
there were, however, pesky cats living in the rocks, making babies and being all cat like everywhere. oh the horror. they did not like humans and there was a lady who fed them. they were also all neutered, thanks to some well-meaning folks disliking cats. ok so self limiting due to failure to multiply.
now the lady is prolly dead, as she was old when i saw her, and now the cats aint multiplying nor even around anymore...you all, who hated the damn cats so bludi much, have a problem.
the best thing ye can do is find feral cats and let em out there so they can eat your freeking nasty rats. make up your mineds as to what you dislike more---rock rats or rock cats.
RESTORE THE ROCK CATS!!!!!

[JPA Cate]

Tacoma Sailor,

The last thread - or maybe the one before - that discussed this issue, mentioned a supplier of odd types of urine that you can place on the docklines that discourages rats. I forget now if it is coyote urine or what, but the poster posted both the source and said it worked.

The Jack Russell Terrier idea is good. One holds the world's record for number of rats killed in an hour (yes, people do do these things!). However, you will have hassles if you want to cruise to Oz or NZ, although, I suppose you could pass it along to another liveaboarder.

Or, if you're a cat person, I'd think a pound cat might serve you well. When I had a cat, i never had mice at home.

Ann

[TacomaSailor]

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.

The other morning, just before sunrise, my wife had a showdown on the ramp with a rat. Wife was coming down the 10-yard long ramp and rat was heading up the ramp. I guess the rat was headed home from his in-the-dark prowling.

Rat stood up on it's hind legs and hissed at my wife who backed up the ramp and let the rat go by.

I guess having fun with rats is just one of those liveaboard perks I've heard so much about?