Well it's been a week since I broke down and set out rat poison in my feed room. Poison is so environmentally unfriendly that it was truly my very last recourse, but circumstances had degenerated very quickly to a point of desperation. I have at least taken every precaution to be sure the baits are well contained within the feed room, so that nothing larger than a rat or mouse (sorry chipmunks...guess you fall in the rat/mouse category) can access them. I know my own cats will not touch a dead rodent, so am hoping that is a common characteristic among those nomadic cats that prowl the outer boundaries of my property. Am also hoping the black snake population can withstand the onslaught without too many repercussions. Perhaps I should elicit the cooperation of neighbors in capturing and relocating black snakes to my property -- many folk hate snakes of any and all kinds, but black snakes are the farmer's best friend! They not only eat rodents but also keep away poisonous varieties of snakes. Though sadly, I've only seen one around here this summer, and he lives a good distance from my barn, near the road at the end of the driveway. I think he is a chipmunk connoisseur.

As for the cat option, my 3 indoor cats keep the indoor rodent problem under control quite well. I do not let them outdoors because in this area, there are just too many hazards to their well-being and safety to allow them to roam unsupervised. And since they are accustomed the a life of ease and comfort in the house, I doubt they would take well to being locked up in a dark tack/feed room for extended periods of time. Traps weren't working either.

There must be an entire army of rodents that had taken over my barn. The last few days, they have been cleaning up at least a package of poison per day, sometimes more. This morning...signs of VICTORY -- a rat carcass in one of the stalls (and fairly good sized one at that). Not only was he likely poisoned, but judging from his flattened appearance, my fat little mare may have reclined upon or trampled him as well. Call me a monster if you will...I feel no mercy.