Not A Good Idea....

[StarLite]

to throw bird seed out on the ground. Guess what I seen out there today eating the bird seed, a nice big RAT. So that's the end of that idea. It ran away when I opened the door and I hope it never comes back

[LadyKestrel]

My dogs often eat the birdseed on the ground. Maybe they need more fiber in their diets.

[Rosaboobie]

I hate rats - I am actually quite scared of them. StarLite, shall I send my champion rat-catcher Maloo to you?

[Stella]

Awww, what a cutie!

[Rosaboobie]

Affectionately known as Big Ears lol

[draclvr]

Maloo's ears are the best thing about her!

I don't have rats on my farm... I have dogs in the yard and barn cats in the barn. I get the occasional possum and as the weather warms up, we will be on the watch for black snakes in the chicken house as there are lots of mice in there. We never harm black snakes as they are very beneficial, but they will also eat our eggs. We catch them and release them down by the river.

[Rosaboobie]

So the black snakes are not poisonous or otherwise harmful, other than egg thieves?

How are they beneficial? For keeping the vermin down?

[draclvr]

They are beneficial for keeping down rodents, but they are also very good at keeping away Copperheads which are mildly venomous.

[Rosaboobie]

Two things I do not miss about Kenya and that is the snakes and the dudus. So many of the snakes were venomous.

[draclvr]

And your snakes weren't just a LITTLE bit venomous, they were REALLY venomous! We have the rattlesnakes which are very dangerous, but they are seldom encountered around here. Our bad one is the water moccasin. Not only are they extremely venomous, but they are also very aggressive.

[Rosaboobie]

I am a bit of a wimp re harmful wildlife etc. and looking back, I really dont know how I lasted 10 years out there, the last few years completely on my own in the house!

[mbday630]

I don't intentionally throw bird food on the ground, but my blackbirds and starlings will get on the feeder and throw it to the ground. but, in a way that is a good thing as the cardinals seem to like it on the ground more. but, at night I have raccoons that eat all the seed and also, when I have my baltimoriole food put up, will get into that and drink all the juice! I love the raccoons and they are so cute, but, what a pain in the butt they are!

[mbday630]

and RB, what a cute picture of maloo! He looks like he is on top of everything that is outside. You don't have to worry about vermin outside your house - he is always watching!

[JKEerie]

I have a couple of ducks that routinely come up into the yard from the pond and feed off of the bird seed that falls from the feeders. Occasionally, I'll go out and throw some seed on the ground for them. They'll watch from a distance and as soon as I go into the house, they come up and feed.

[Stella]

Canadian Geese come from the pond to get any leftover seed, and also so they can poop on my little sidewalk! My little chipmunks and morning doves, which are ground feeders, get most of the spilled seeds.