We do have a service - I'll call them. But we need to make sure food if it's not in a rodent proof container is put in the fridge / other closed area.

I saw the rat wslking about by brew bay three and the stove throughout the evening. That being said, the brew house was a fucking mess. Unwashed glasses, peanut shells all over the bar, shit in the garbage cans, and a rather unpleasant smell.

It was pretty embarrassing and really no excuse for the brew house to be in that state.

When was the brewhouse in such a mess?

Last Thursday evening and Friday.

Hey guys, what is the status on the pest control? Presumably it should be accomplished before Cerveza, correct?

When Pete and I were dry hopping on Wednesday there were some pretty gnarly rats running around the brewhouse.

Also, on that note... don't know what kind of system they will use to deal with the rodents. But can someone make sure to post if they lay poison down that could be gotten into by a dog?  Thanks guys!

BTW, fairly sure the smell is coming from the open sewer pipe by Bew Bay 1(the one that weird drain pan on the ceiling goes to).  Probably dried out.  If no one objects, I was going to make a big batch of bleach solution and pour it down there and see if that helps.  Probably a temporary fix, but bleach is cheap.

Rich, go ahead with the bleach!!!  I'm pretty certain that's where the smell is coming from.

This all kinda makes me throw up in my mouth a little.

...someone has put traps down at this point, right?

If not, I will on Sun.

I haven't been to the brewhouse in a couple of weeks, but can someone just go to Walmart/CVS and pick up a couple rat kill traps and put them out?

Honestly why do we need to wait for one person to call an exterminator?

Came in early on Saturday morning and the garbage from Friday hadn't been thrown out - free food for our new pet rat, whom Rob, Hugh and I named Stinky.

Seriously, don't forget to take out the garbage.

Kris, i don't think anyone has bought traps, so go ahead and makr the buy. Just submit a copy of your receipt to Jim. Thanks!

I mention it in another thread, but I just want to let people know I put a poison trap down behind the tool boxes. It's relatively contained, so it's hard for a dog or child to get into, but I just wanted to make sure to tell people.

Also, left some "mouse" traps in the club. They didn't have rat traps at the store I went to.  MIght be best not to use them as they really aren't big enough. Can someone get some "rat" traps at home depot tomorrow or tuesday?  I don't think it'll take much time to catch our 2 rats. Peanut butter makes good bait.

I poured 7-8 gallons of bleach solution down the sewer drain yesterday.  Has anyone been there since yesterday morning?  Any improvement?  

I meant to tell you, it did smell much better when I was bottling last night.

OK, I'll pick up another gallon and choke them out then.  If nothing else, we'll turn them white and sanitary and make their eyes hurt.

Mr Jingles!

Rich, after you left last night, I saw the not-so-little bugger over by the drain pipe again.  He's scoffing at your bleach . . .

But I didn't notice the noxious odor that we had from the pipe before - woot!

Was it wearing goggles by any chance?  The bleach was really for the swamp odor more than the swamp rats, but some more flushing out should make it less appealing for them hopefully.  Then again, maybe these are pool rats...   

Can we put a screen/grate over the pipe to keep them from coming in and out that way?

I think we're ignoring the fact that they are coming in because there is abundant food for them everywhere, and they will continue to do so until that is addressed.  

I do not keep grain on my storage shelf by the ferm room AC, but I'm always surprised how much grain and shit are on my shelf. Last night was the first time I've seen enormous rat turds in the mix all over the floor. This is a big rat, and it seems to be really comfortable in our space.

We can add this to the board agenda, but in general, a sweeping rule against storing unpackaged grains would not be out of question. It's not like you want to use that rat-infested grain for brewing anyway.

This is NOT a board agenda, this needs to addressed immediately.

I was there last night, along with Mila from 5 Rabbit, she saw rats running around near our garage door and told me she was afraid to come in. Struck saw some too... Can we just dump your grain in the trash if you left it out open...? I mean grain and rat shit is everywhere by our storage spots, it's disgusting, and it's not like you can brew with litteraly... a bag of shit. The whole area needs to be vaccumed and grain bags left outside of a sealed secured container should be thrown away.

Spots: 10, 12 and 29 had open and pouring out grain bags... I have photos.

Only storing grains in hard plastic or metal containers has been a rule since the old brew house, it's just not being adhered to.  Mice have torn into the opened sacks people have on their shelves.  If it was up to me, I would toss any grain not secured.  We won't get rid of them until that is done.

I agree with Rich. These bags need to be thrown out immediately. No questions asked. The grain is ruined anyway so there is no reason to save it out wait more days for a board to address it.

If I have time tonight, Mike and I will try to find time to deal with exposed grains.

You know it's bad when Nancy and I are in agreement.  I'm fine throwing these out tomorrow if no one objects.  Some of the people are on this thread, so stow it or throw it.

Great, Thank you. If you can toss the open/exposed bags. I will vaccum up the area on Wednesday afternoon, I'll be there to meet Goose Island who is picking up their kegs and equipment.

Thank you!

The bags open/exposed aren't even worth saving... there are turds all over it. If you didn't care enough to secure you're grain, it's total loss now. There is no saving it. BUT if you do run to save it... please tell me who you are so that I never drink your turd beer.

Let me also just clarify myself here... I will vaccum up obvious areas that are messed... The storage spaces still need a complete, all-hands-on-deck, rub down clean from top to bottom, but I will attempt to vaccum as much as I can while I'm there for the short time to meet the Goose guys.
Thanks again!
 

Thanks to those who are doing the clean up and throwing away.  I'll get ahold of exterminators and get them into the brewhouse *after* the cleanup - so on Thursday or Friday.  In addition to the open grain - don't leave food out and toss out garbage, everytime. 

Agreed. Thanks Jim!

I added a number of traps before the last event - 2 poison rat traps and two contained spring mouse traps. 

I also saw numerous piles of rodant poop cleaning before the event. I agree - you may dispose of any grain that is not secured from pest damage. I'm going to send a not to all brewer level members about not leaving grain in the brewhouse that is not in a pest proof container.

Saturday morning, Jeff, Chris and I saw that one of the traps had caught/killed a mouse and I disposed of the dead rodentia.  

I looked through the storage areas and it looked like others had done a good job of getting rid of any grain that was not secured in containers.  Thanks to Nancy, Rich and whomever else was involved in that.  

On Tuesday I'm scheduled to bring another pest control person over to the brewhouse to show him our situation and get recommendations.  

I met the squeeker tonight.  I think he is living inside of the yellow pipe that opens up under brew table 1.

That's where I've seen him/them, too, Joe.  Rich poured gallons of bleach water down there - apparently they have scuba masks.  I'm showing it to the pest control folks and see if they think closing that pipe up somehow might be a good option.  

Is this our brewhouse?

(also, Brock - is there a specific "code" to embed videos in forum posts? Or is that not allowed?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohXEOpgAh-Y

OMG... I am so grossed out!

I gave them another good bath again last night.  I think that pipe is going to have to be capped.  Even without the critters, the smell isn't going away.  

Dude, that video…

(and Brandon: the site strips out some HTML from comments to prevent abuse)

Word of advice: make sure to wipe down your stations or any sticky surfaces w/PBW water. I came in today and the table at my station felt like the floor of a movie theater. It might not be food, but I'm pretty sure our rodent friends are attracted to the smell of sugar.

Also can you please clean out the grain bucket that you use. I brewed yesterday and there was one bucket that  had some milky solution in it. Most of the buckets are filthy, even looks like one has mold growing in it and the there maybe a few rodent droppings in the area. I didn't have time to clean the buckets yesterday so I'm heading over to the BH this afternoon and clean the grain buckets.  

Also Master Splinter is still around!

http://www.billyytz.com/701/cats-earn-their-keep-at-chicago-brewery?utm_...