utilitus Posted August 8, 2022 Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 Got a cryptic email from a neighbor on the hill in SJC suggesting that my undeveloped lot was hosting rats (just wait 'till I move in...). If this is true, the only possible food sources would seem to be animal or vegetable. Is there a 'plague' of delicious insects currently in progress? In the later category, the only candidates would be grasses and the two meter tall specimen shown below, which does seem to produce fruit of some sort. Can anyone please comment on these factors? TIA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo1 Posted August 8, 2022 Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 Your photo is of a castor bean plant. The seeds are a source of ricin. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floradude Posted August 8, 2022 Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 The plant is thought to be poisonous. They will take over if you let them. I pull the young plants whenever I see them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natasha Posted August 8, 2022 Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 rats don't eat insects, nor live plants! but they'll "homestead" wherever they get the chance, and do their food searches elsewhere 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utilitus Posted August 8, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 34 minutes ago, Natasha said: rats don't eat insects, nor live plants! but they'll "homestead" wherever they get the chance, and do their food searches elsewhere Thanks for the input. Some sources indicate that some species of rats enjoy fruit and insects, though the only published material referencing (using the local collective noun) a rodent 'plague' Lakeside I came across describes an infestation last November around poorly managed garbage in Joco, which sounds like the classic case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
econ man Posted August 8, 2022 Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 Roof/tree rats eat fruit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lardca Posted August 8, 2022 Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 I have an app on my phone that not only identifies plants but will diagnose problems. It pay $20 USD per year. Great little tool and cheap. You just take a picture and let it do it's thing. https://www.picturethisai.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beebee Posted August 8, 2022 Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 Castor bean plant; very beautiful and deadly to eat. I'd wear gloves when pulling out young plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utilitus Posted August 8, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 8 minutes ago, Beebee said: Castor bean plant; very beautiful and deadly to eat. I'd wear gloves when pulling out young plants. UC Davis cooked up a data sheet on the CB: https://wric.ucdavis.edu/information/natural areas/wr_R/Ricinus.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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