DEAR JOAN: Please help us solve a mystery. We live in Santa Clara near the intersection of Pruneridge Avenue and Woodhams Road. About two weeks ago, for the first time in 40 years, we found the remains of a dead rat in our backyard, lying on the grass.
The only part remaining was the rat’s long tail and a patch of skin where the tail connects to the body. We noticed these remains in the late afternoon. The next morning they had disappeared.
More recently, we discovered the half eaten remains of another rat. Almost all the skin and some of the entrails were lying in the same location as the rat we discovered a couple of weeks ago. In this case, the rat appeared to have been eaten from the stomach side because the skin was intact up and down and across the back.
The next morning the remaining carcass had also disappeared.
For years we have noticed rats in the early evening, traveling on the telephone and television cables strung between telephone poles at the sides of our property; some of the rats are quite large. The dead rats we discovered seem to be a smaller kind of rat than the ones we see commuting around the telephone cables.
Any idea what animal is killing and eating these rats? We do not seem to have many cats roaming the neighborhood, but they could be there and we don’t see them.
We do have squirrels and raccoons. We have never seen or heard owls in our neighborhood. It only seems to happen during the night. What animals in this area of California hunt rats for food? Any information you can supply will be appreciated.
Frank Nigro, Santa Clara
DEAR FRANK: It’s really difficult to say what is responsible for your dead rats because a number of animals find them tasty meals. The most likely culprits are owl, coyote or fox.
The rats you see on the power and telephone lines most likely are roof rats. They are the smaller, faster and more agile of our two most common rats. The other, Norway rats, are larger and their bodies don’t look as sleek as the roof rats.
None of the raptors — hawks, eagles, falcons — hunt at night, although the hawks, for instance, hunt early in the morning and early evening. Owls, depending on their size, will happily eat rats, and just because you haven’t heard them in your neighborhood doesn’t mean they don’t visit. Most owls live in one place and hunt in another.
Cats might take advantage of a dead rat, but they seldom tangle with the live ones as a cornered rat can be quiet vicious.
You might be dealing with two or more creatures — one that catches, kills and eats part of the rat, and others that handle the cleanup.
Earth Day Wildlife Festival
The 16th annual Earth Day Wildlife Festival is set for 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Wagner Ranch Nature Area, 350 Camino Pablo, adjacent to Wagner Ranch Elementary in Orinda.
The event is perfect for families as dozens of community groups will be on hand with information and activities for children. I’ll also have a booth where you can ask questions, so stop by and say hello. The event is free.
