Whitewater Woman's Equipment Maintenance and Repair

[Forest Cat]

And another simple trick for keeping rats and other rodents away - go to your local wildlife park and ask if they sell bags of snake poo. Sprinkle a bit of that around and rodents will disappear for about 3 months. It doesn't hurt to throw a few chunks up in to your ceiling cavity either.

I have done something similar, using wolf urine to keep deer away from gardens. It's just very stressing to collect the urine. Sneaking up on the wolf at the right moment and positioning yourself just right with a bucket is not an easy task and wolves don't like it.

 

[Outdated]

I have done something similar, using wolf urine to keep deer away from gardens. It's just very stressing to collect the urine. Sneaking up on the wolf at the right moment and positioning yourself just right with a bucket is not an easy task and wolves don't like it.

I have a very graphic imagination, I can almost see you there with bucket and milking stool in hand. Maybe take the horned helmet off.

 

[Judge]

I have done something similar, using wolf urine to keep deer away from gardens. It's just very stressing to collect the urine. Sneaking up on the wolf at the right moment and positioning yourself just right with a bucket is not an easy task and wolves don't like it.

Sounds like something right out of Jurassic Park III. But it was about T-Rex urine.

 

[Judge]

I'm guessing from the tone of this thread that no one wants to deal with rodents in a more "final" manner. Something professional pest control personnel and homeowners have made quite public on YouTube.

Their methodologies being shall we say, quite final. Though at times I have a difficult time considering them "humane". Stunning to consider how much "air guns" have evolved...compared to gas-operated rifles.

However I suspect under our local laws they are still illegal. It wouldn't be a comfortable feeling of hearing a neighbor using such methods in the instance they miss their target. Of course here in Nevada I suspect most ranchers and farmers with large parcels of land still use rifles legally.

Personally as a renter I enjoy observing wildlife, but then I don't have to directly pay for the damage they may occasionally create. Increases in rent here being inevitable, only for avarice.

 

[Forest Cat]

But this is 8 feet square and I probably would need it to be more like 16 ft square to fit my mango trees. Also I have now 7 producing mango trees and doing it for all would be prohibited. But I'd like to try it. does anyone have any ideas how I could make something like this only much, much bigger?

Looks like all you need is a big tarp and some poles. But it could be a little fiddly to attach the tarp to the poles in a good way. A strong gust of wind could rip the whole thing apart.

 

[Judge]

But it could be a little fiddly to attach the tarp to the poles in a good way. A strong gust of wind could rip the whole thing apart.

Large staples? I guess that depends on the material to serve as a tarp. But if the poles are deeply embedded into the ground....why not?

Though Google Earth might complain...you'd be blocking THEIR view!

 

[Forest Cat]

Large staples? I guess that depends on the material to serve as a tarp.

I'm thinking it would have to be a thick, solid tarp that can take a beating. I think wind could be a problem with that setup.

 

[Judge]

I'm thinking it would have to be a thick, solid tarp that can take a beating. I think wind could be a problem with that setup.

Then again if you're in Florida, you're talking about some "over-the-top" wind speeds. Where the tarp won't take a beating, but likely end up in another county.

 

[Forest Cat]

Then again if you're in Florida, you're talking about some "over-the-top" wind speeds. Where the tarp won't take a beating, but likely end up in another county.

Maybe a mesh would be better? A fine mesh would hold the fruit and let the wind through.

 

[Mary Terry]

Maybe a mesh would be better? A fine mesh would hold the fruit and let the wind through.

Mesh would allow water to drain out, too.

 

[Judge]

Maybe a mesh would be better? A fine mesh would hold the fruit and let the wind through.

Sounds more practical...being lower to the ground.

 

[Forest Cat]

Sounds more practical...being lower to the ground.

I think something like this could work. Lightweight so it's easy to handle, re-inforced edges, copper grommets making it easy to tie it to poles and it lets air and water through. But you'll have to cut it to get the tree in the center of it, so it has to be stiched together with staples or something.

Mesh tarp

 

[Outdated]

Looks like all you need is a big tarp and some poles. But it could be a little fiddly to attach the tarp to the poles in a good way. A strong gust of wind could rip the whole thing apart.

Shade cloth and star pickets. Venetian blind cord is the best for tying up shade cloth, I've gone through cyclones and it never lets go. Incredibly strong and UV resistant.

Tie a knot around a corner of the cloth, then fold that over itself and add another couple of half hitches, it never comes undone. Use truckie's hitches to stretch the cloth tight between the pickets.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

A common Aussie trick to keep possums out of particular trees is to wrap a sheet of perspex around the trunk. Very few animals can get past it.

View attachment 130659

This does not work for certain types of fruit trees because the branches go all the way to the ground. And the ripening fruit drags the branches down.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

And another simple trick for keeping rats and other rodents away - go to your local wildlife park and ask if they sell bags of snake poo. Sprinkle a bit of that around and rodents will disappear for about 3 months. It doesn't hurt to throw a few chunks up in to your ceiling cavity either.

I’ll have to look into that. Thank you.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I have done something similar, using wolf urine to keep deer away from gardens. It's just very stressing to collect the urine. Sneaking up on the wolf at the right moment and positioning yourself just right with a bucket is not an easy task and wolves don't like it.

I have used fox urine. You can use a soup ladle to catch the urine.

 

[Shevek]

There is a lot of effort going into humane trapping and re-location of pests. Almost no effort goes into finding a place to release them that is not already at its carrying capacity for that species. After relocation, an animal might be able to take over a territory, but is more likely to wander until it is killed or starves. When you hear a lot of bird song, it is because every single branch is someone's turf. The same rules hold true on the ground and in the water. Most animals have large litters, but a stable population. The odds of survival are low.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I'm guessing from the tone of this thread that no one wants to deal with rodents in a more "final" manner. Something professional pest control personnel and homeowners have made quite public on YouTube.

Their methodologies being shall we say, quite final. Though at times I have a difficult time considering them "humane". Stunning to consider how much "air guns" have evolved...compared to gas-operated rifles.

However I suspect under our local laws they are still illegal. It wouldn't be a comfortable feeling of hearing a neighbor using such methods in the instance they miss their target. Of course here in Nevada I suspect most ranchers and farmers with large parcels of land still use rifles legally.

Personally as a renter I enjoy observing wildlife, but then I don't have to directly pay for the damage they may occasionally create. Increases in rent here being inevitable, only for avarice.

View attachment 130662

I have no problem killing pests, but I have a hard time getting to pose for me while I aim my shotgun. I recently found out I can shoot an armadillo if it is a pest, but not if I want to eat it. Armadillos are the only pests that move slowly enough for me to hit.

I don’t mind sharing the harvest, but most of the sneaky eaters take a few bites and then move on to take a few bites of another. In the process they knock the fruit to the ground with an opening in the skin and the ants get into it almost instantaneously.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

To everyone, your responses in this thread are not only practical and useful, they bring smiles to my face and tears to my eyes. You are all wonderful people.

 

[Hypnalis]

Try a "constrictor knot" around a short rod to shape the fabric for the 3-D corners of that tree thing.
Fast and reliable. Outdated's suggestion for the line sounds good: some line doesn't last in strong sunlight.

Note: tied tight in suitable line you can't untie them: use a knife.
A couple of short rods and marlinspike hitches to tighten them.
There's a pic in the wikipedia article.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constrictor_knot
Boa knots are for ultra-slippery modern line. Use line that works with a constrictor.