Pest control?

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krisblouch
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I was at the club yesterday

I was at the club yesterday and there was a baited rat trap behind station 4 (by the bottling table). I know folks said they put these down a long time ago. I moved that one because it's clearly not getting any attention. Also:

It is literally a miracle my nose oriented hound (most of you know Hailey) didn't go for that peanut butter in that very accesible spot in the 3 hours before we saw it.

I cannot say this strongly enough. We need to 1: fix this problem! and 2: do NOT put traps where pets and children can reach them.

What needs to happen to fix this? Hole patches for sure. Can we pay 200 (just a guess) for an exterminator assessment and advice? I will own that and go to club to meet them and etc. Or Chuck or anyone.

Also, I support a brewery cat and I will literally go rescue a cat get him/her set up at the club if people are down with a club cat (or two, or three).

Kyle N
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How about no pets/children at

How about no pets/children at the brewhouse? If I'm brewing, I'd rather have neither there around hot flames and glass carboys inverted on a carboy washer. 

MarkWalters
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Nice and easy way to

Nice and easy way to accomidate both concerns. We will not use the spring rat traps - we have rat poison bait stations, we can use those exclusively.

Stewpid
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Buy a cat!! I love that idea!

Buy a cat!! I love that idea!  Meow! Just make sure you get one that's hungry. 

krisblouch
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With all the leeway we give

With all the leeway we give club members, I'd say no kids or pets is pretty needlessly restrictive and only benifits those that don't have kids or pets... so not very collabrative either. Why don't we just fix the actual problem (rats).

Jim Vondracek
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No way that a brewery cat

No way that a brewery cat works in our context.  First, we're talking about rats, not mice.  Second, we leave the garage door open for hours at a time and a cat will just run away.  Third, who is going to take care of it?  I know a brewery owner, Brandon at Hailstorm, who has a brewery cat and it makes sense for them.  For us, its impractical.

Kris, Kyle's response was because you strongly (and wrongly in my opinion) objected to one of the ways we are addressing the problem.  We know from our neighbors that rats travel throughout the building.  There are multiple ways they can (and do) get into the brewhouse, not just one or two, its not just a matter of closing up one hole.  The biggest issue is cleanliness - not taking out the garbage, leaving foodstuff on the bar, not cleaning up around the grain mill, leaving stick malty wort mess on things, not keeping your storage unit clean, etc.  Being clean and putting out traps is the best way to address the problem, according to the exterminators.  I certainly don't want any dogs to get hurt or poisoned by a trap, so think it would be wise for members to either not bring their dogs or keep a close eye on them.  

Jeff W
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Everyone please be sure to

Everyone please be sure to read Mark's solution about not using spring loaded traps. They're safe for dogs and little humans to be around.   

Jim Vondracek
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Jeff, I assume that the

Jeff, I assume that the poison can affect dogs, too, but I guess I don't know that.  In any case, keeping a close eye on dogs in the brewhouse these days would be good sense - we don't want anyone to get hurt.  

Jeff W
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Oh, for sure. I wouldn't

Oh, for sure. I wouldn't bring my dog to the brewhouse, but certainly don't care if others do. I'm going with the assumption that everyone keeps an eye on their dogs.

The rat bait is enclosed in the traps, so not accessible to anything that can't enter them.

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