Simpson rat plague

cootha · August 01, 2011, 02:50:05 PM

Anyone going to the Simpson be prepared for the plague of huge black rats there at the moment. Got a mate just come through this morning, Eyre Ck is running about crutch height this morning and flowing fast.

The rats are running rampant, chewing all before them. Like a sea of black fur on the ground when the sun goes down.

I'm going in a few weeks, might take one of these:

Mallory Black · August 01, 2011, 03:29:21 PM

they can breed 7-8 young every month and start breeding at only 3 months old. Lordy!

RWS · August 01, 2011, 04:32:57 PM

1 night + 1 rat =

I don't think a sea of them would leave you much.

Mav · August 01, 2011, 07:32:23 PM

The mice and rat plague is still in full swing out here in the centre, they are having to use DNA testing to ID a poor fellow who died just south of Erldunda roadhouse as the mice and rats didn't leave much.

GU Rich · August 01, 2011, 07:35:08 PM

Was that the bloke they couldn't find who was travelling with a caravan? I heard about that while I was away.

At Merty Merty near the corner the grasses were alive with mice but no damage and they didn't get in the GU. I was there for 2 nights.

Rich

darren · August 01, 2011, 07:59:05 PM

Someone really hates me....

bullfrog · August 01, 2011, 08:03:03 PM

I spose all you can say Darren is..... Rats

GU Rich · August 01, 2011, 08:10:54 PM

Quote from: bullfrog on August 01, 2011, 08:03:03 PM
I spose all you can say Darren is..... Rats

Or Darren could take the cat along...

darren · August 01, 2011, 09:26:45 PM

Quote from: GU Rich on August 01, 2011, 08:10:54 PM
Or Darren could take the cat along...

Dan dosnt travel well

DANBRI · August 01, 2011, 09:59:28 PM

2 rats a day is all I ask.

Black Diamond · August 01, 2011, 10:09:26 PM

Quote from: RWS on August 01, 2011, 04:32:57 PM
1 night + 1 rat =

I don't think a sea of them would leave you much.

Thats unbelievable stuff.

Silvo · August 01, 2011, 10:10:35 PM

Quote from: darren on August 01, 2011, 07:59:05 PM
Someone really hates me....

dig a trench around the camper, pour in some diesel, and let the thing burn all night.

rodw · August 01, 2011, 10:31:53 PM

Camped out at Charleville and getting some reports from others coming in across the Simpson and camp hygiene is important. Drop some food on a groundsheet and not clean it up and there will be a hole in the morning. They say makes sure everything comes inside every night. One night one stole a marmalade coated knife. Apparently They are worse up towards Bedourie which is the way we are headed

Also open bonnet every night to cool engine ASAP so they don't seek out the heat and chew your wires....

Mallory Black · August 01, 2011, 11:14:23 PM

sooo......
if you like authentic Thai cooking........

Mav · August 02, 2011, 12:09:41 AM

Quote from: GU Rich on August 01, 2011, 07:35:08 PM
Was that the bloke they couldn't find who was travelling with a caravan? I heard about that while I was away.

At Merty Merty near the corner the grasses were alive with mice but no damage and they didn't get in the GU. I was there for 2 nights.

Rich

Yes Rich that was the guy, I feel bad cause I passed his car and van that was off the road about 50 yards or so and I thought at the time that I should stop and investigate it cause it looked very odd to me. That was two weeks ago, should of, could of, but didn't and now feel bad cause I didn't.

Silvo · August 02, 2011, 06:32:37 AM

Quote from: Mav on August 02, 2011, 12:09:41 AM
Yes Rich that was the guy, I feel bad cause I passed his car and van that was off the road about 50 yards or so and I thought at the time that I should stop and investigate it cause it looked very odd to me. That was two weeks ago, should of, could of, but didn't and now feel bad cause I didn't.

how could you have known? you and probably 1000 other people did the same thing.. the moral is that you should stay with your vehicle if you are alone and let people know of your travel plans so they an raise an alarm if you don't check in.

4wd26 · August 02, 2011, 09:15:44 AM

Ruins North of Corrillo downs homestead

Birdsville caravan park
buggers are everywhere out there at the moment.
Interesting to have them running over the top of your swag all night
Traveling companion had a hole chewed in their tent at Birdsville

got a bit more aggressive toward them keeping them off the swag after the hole in the tent incident

GU Rich · August 02, 2011, 09:21:05 AM

Quote from: Mav on August 02, 2011, 12:09:41 AM
Yes Rich that was the guy, I feel bad cause I passed his car and van that was off the road about 50 yards or so and I thought at the time that I should stop and investigate it cause it looked very odd to me. That was two weeks ago, should of, could of, but didn't and now feel bad cause I didn't.

Silvo is right, many others would have passed him too.

I would have passed 1000's of vans/campers and motorhomes parked off in the scrub. I have never given a second thought to stopping. We even camp off the the sides of roads in the scrub.

It's a sad ending but at least the family can put closure to his disappearance

Rich

Mav · August 02, 2011, 10:43:13 AM

Quote from: GU Rich on August 02, 2011, 09:21:05 AM
Silvo is right, many others would have passed him too.

I would have passed 1000's of vans/campers and motorhomes parked off in the scrub. I have never given a second thought to stopping. We even camp off the the sides of roads in the scrub.

It's a sad ending but at least the family can put closure to his disappearance

Rich

True but I reckon in this instance I was one of the first if not the first to pass this particular car and van. The odd thing is that it was a AU ford falcon towing a non off road caravan, where it was is what sparked my attention as it was not a roadside stop, there were no tracks into where it was at all. In fact it looked like someone had just driven off the road and stopped in the middle of a high grassed area. I did make a UHF call to see if thre were any truckies on channel that may know about it but didn't get a response.

Markss · August 02, 2011, 11:27:26 AM

So how long do these rat plagues last? We're heading out there in 40 days and I'm kinda hopin I don't have to deal with it.

Yes I know denial is not a river in Egypt

DANBRI · August 02, 2011, 12:44:29 PM

I had them out west in April, and seeing they are still there now, I reckon they will still be there in 40 days.

They got in the car and everything... I trapped 5 from the vehicle after one night.

Markss · August 02, 2011, 01:41:40 PM

Seriously - feel free to lie to me - then I can assure the missus it's all good!

DANBRI · August 02, 2011, 01:55:50 PM

They're friendly enough, you can pat them and if you can squeak their frequency, there are most obliging.

If you squeak at 34db in an B note this is the command to make you coffee. Don't squeak at a B Sharp though, as this is a completely different command and your wife may get jealous.

The B Flat will provide good entertainment if you like ping pong balls.

GGV8Cruza · August 02, 2011, 02:09:37 PM

Quote from: DANBRI on August 02, 2011, 01:55:50 PM
They're friendly enough, you can pat them and if you can squeak their frequency, there are most obliging.

If you squeak at 34db in an B note this is the command to make you coffee. Don't squeak at a B Sharp though, as this is a completely different command and your wife may get jealous. The B Flat will provide good entertainment if you like ping pong balls.

Danbri, how long did it take to to train the ones to run up your pants leg

GG

DANBRI · August 02, 2011, 02:34:39 PM

That's the B Sharp...

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Simpson rat plague