Author Topic: Simpson rat plague  (Read 14328 times)

0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline cootha

  • Tent User
  • ***
  • Posts: 106
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Gender: Male
Simpson rat plague
« on: August 01, 2011, 02:50:05 PM »
Anyone going to the Simpson be prepared for the plague of huge black rats there at the moment.  Got a mate just come through this morning, Eyre Ck is running about crutch height this morning and flowing fast.

The rats are running rampant, chewing all before them.   Like a sea of black fur on the ground when the sun goes down.

I'm going in a few weeks, might take one of these:


Offline Mallory Black

  • Hard Floor Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 999
  • Thanked: 5 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2011, 03:29:21 PM »
they can breed 7-8 young every month and start breeding at only 3 months old.  Lordy!
1998 3.4V6 Prado & homebuilt rear fold soft floor

Offline RWS

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 422
  • Thanked: 12 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2011, 04:32:57 PM »
1 night + 1 rat =  >:(



I don't think a sea of them would leave you much.

Offline Mav

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 264
  • Gender: Male
    • Centralian Images Profile
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #3 on: August 01, 2011, 07:32:23 PM »
The mice and rat plague is still in full swing out here in the centre, they are having to use DNA testing to ID a poor fellow who died just south of Erldunda roadhouse as the mice and rats didn't leave much.

Offline GU Rich

  • "RED DUST BOUND"
  • 2017 National Meet Volunteer
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 4368
  • Thanked: 10 times
  • Gender: Male
  • SMOKE IN YOUR EYES, NOW THAT'S CAMPING.
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #4 on: August 01, 2011, 07:35:08 PM »
Was that the bloke they couldn't find who was travelling with a caravan? I heard about that while I was away.

At Merty Merty near the corner the grasses were alive with mice but no damage and they didn't get in the GU. I was there for 2 nights.

Rich
IF YOU SEE US OUT AND ABOUT COME AND SAY G'DAY!

FOLLOW ME ON
https://www.instagram.com/offroad_touring/

Offline darren

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 3755
  • Thanked: 3 times
  • Gender: Male
  • "Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius"
    • CampingAustralia.org
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #5 on: August 01, 2011, 07:59:05 PM »
Someone really hates me....
Living the Dream.

Offline bullfrog

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 1619
  • Thanked: 2 times
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #6 on: August 01, 2011, 08:03:03 PM »
I spose all you can say Darren is..... Rats >:D :cheers:
GQ 4.2d;usual off road goodies;h/made fridge slide /roller draw system;cago barriersetc. Tows a '06 trackabout deluxe tourer with some safari options.

Offline GU Rich

  • "RED DUST BOUND"
  • 2017 National Meet Volunteer
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 4368
  • Thanked: 10 times
  • Gender: Male
  • SMOKE IN YOUR EYES, NOW THAT'S CAMPING.
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #7 on: August 01, 2011, 08:10:54 PM »
I spose all you can say Darren is..... Rats >:D :cheers:
Or Darren could take the cat along...
IF YOU SEE US OUT AND ABOUT COME AND SAY G'DAY!

FOLLOW ME ON
https://www.instagram.com/offroad_touring/

Offline darren

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 3755
  • Thanked: 3 times
  • Gender: Male
  • "Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius"
    • CampingAustralia.org
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #8 on: August 01, 2011, 09:26:45 PM »
Or Darren could take the cat along...

Dan dosnt travel well
Living the Dream.

Offline DANBRI

  • "Canvas Undies Never Die"
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 2773
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Gender: Male
  • www.campingaustralia.org
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #9 on: August 01, 2011, 09:59:28 PM »
2 rats a day is all I ask.

Offline Black Diamond

  • "IF IT HAS TITS OR WHEELS IT WILL GIVE YOU TROUBLE........"
  • 2017 National Meet Volunteer
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 5916
  • Thanked: 88 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Cruisin through Life in the 80.......
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #10 on: August 01, 2011, 10:09:26 PM »
1 night + 1 rat =  >:(



I don't think a sea of them would leave you much.

Thats unbelievable stuff.
1996 80 series Cruiser
2005 Coota Camper - The legend lives on.....

Offline Silvo

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 2646
  • Thanked: 16 times
  • Gender: Male
  • The grass is greener where you water it..
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #11 on: August 01, 2011, 10:10:35 PM »
Someone really hates me....

dig a trench around the camper, pour in some diesel, and let the thing burn all night.
Dan - 2015 Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE and Lifestyle Camper AT10 EVO

Offline rodw

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 730
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #12 on: August 01, 2011, 10:31:53 PM »
Camped out at Charleville and getting some reports from others coming in across the Simpson and camp hygiene is important. Drop some food on a groundsheet and not clean it up and there will be a hole in the morning. They say makes sure everything comes inside every night. One night one stole a marmalade coated knife. Apparently They are worse up towards Bedourie which is the way we are headed  ??? ???

Also open bonnet every night to cool engine ASAP so they don't seek out the heat and chew your wires....

Offline Mallory Black

  • Hard Floor Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 999
  • Thanked: 5 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #13 on: August 01, 2011, 11:14:23 PM »
sooo......
if you like authentic Thai cooking........
1998 3.4V6 Prado & homebuilt rear fold soft floor

Offline Mav

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 264
  • Gender: Male
    • Centralian Images Profile
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #14 on: August 02, 2011, 12:09:41 AM »
Was that the bloke they couldn't find who was travelling with a caravan? I heard about that while I was away.

At Merty Merty near the corner the grasses were alive with mice but no damage and they didn't get in the GU. I was there for 2 nights.

Rich

Yes Rich that was the guy, I feel bad cause I passed his car and van that was off the road about 50 yards or so and I thought at the time that I should stop and investigate it cause it looked very odd to me. That was two weeks ago, should of, could of, but didn't and now feel bad cause I didn't.

Offline Silvo

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 2646
  • Thanked: 16 times
  • Gender: Male
  • The grass is greener where you water it..
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #15 on: August 02, 2011, 06:32:37 AM »
Yes Rich that was the guy, I feel bad cause I passed his car and van that was off the road about 50 yards or so and I thought at the time that I should stop and investigate it cause it looked very odd to me. That was two weeks ago, should of, could of, but didn't and now feel bad cause I didn't.

how could you have known? you and probably 1000 other people did the same thing.. the moral is that you should stay with your vehicle if you are alone and let people know of your travel plans so they an raise an alarm if you don't check in.
Dan - 2015 Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE and Lifestyle Camper AT10 EVO

Offline 4wd26

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 566
  • Thanked: 12 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #16 on: August 02, 2011, 09:15:44 AM »

Ruins North of Corrillo downs homestead

Birdsville caravan park
buggers are everywhere out there at the moment.
Interesting to have them running over the top of your swag all night
Traveling companion had a hole chewed in their tent at Birdsville >:(

got a bit more aggressive toward them keeping them off the swag after the hole in the tent incident
'08 Mitsubishi Triton GLX/R Diesel Auto, with offroad accessories.
Windsor Rapid 472s Offroad
Not your usual camper trailer
Getting Out There<- BLOG

Offline GU Rich

  • "RED DUST BOUND"
  • 2017 National Meet Volunteer
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 4368
  • Thanked: 10 times
  • Gender: Male
  • SMOKE IN YOUR EYES, NOW THAT'S CAMPING.
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #17 on: August 02, 2011, 09:21:05 AM »
Yes Rich that was the guy, I feel bad cause I passed his car and van that was off the road about 50 yards or so and I thought at the time that I should stop and investigate it cause it looked very odd to me. That was two weeks ago, should of, could of, but didn't and now feel bad cause I didn't.
Silvo is right, many others would have passed him too.

 I would have passed 1000's of vans/campers and motorhomes parked off in the scrub. I have never given a second thought to stopping. We even camp off the the sides of roads in the scrub.

It's a sad ending but at least the family can put closure to his disappearance

Rich
IF YOU SEE US OUT AND ABOUT COME AND SAY G'DAY!

FOLLOW ME ON
https://www.instagram.com/offroad_touring/

Offline Mav

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 264
  • Gender: Male
    • Centralian Images Profile
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #18 on: August 02, 2011, 10:43:13 AM »
Silvo is right, many others would have passed him too.

 I would have passed 1000's of vans/campers and motorhomes parked off in the scrub. I have never given a second thought to stopping. We even camp off the the sides of roads in the scrub.

It's a sad ending but at least the family can put closure to his disappearance

Rich

True but I reckon in this instance I was one of the first if not the first to pass this particular car and van. The odd thing is that it was a AU ford falcon towing a non off road caravan, where it was is what sparked my attention as it was not a roadside stop, there were no tracks into where it was at all. In fact it looked like someone had just driven off the road and stopped in the middle of a high grassed area.  I did make a UHF call to see if thre were any truckies on channel that may know about it but didn't get a response.


Offline Markss

  • Swag User
  • **
  • Posts: 85
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #19 on: August 02, 2011, 11:27:26 AM »
So how long do these rat plagues last?  We're heading out there in 40 days and I'm kinda hopin I don't have to deal with it.

Yes I know denial is not a river in Egypt  ;D

Offline DANBRI

  • "Canvas Undies Never Die"
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 2773
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Gender: Male
  • www.campingaustralia.org
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #20 on: August 02, 2011, 12:44:29 PM »
I had them out west in April, and seeing they are still there now, I reckon they will still be there in 40 days.

They got in the car and everything... I trapped 5 from the vehicle after one night.  :-[

Offline Markss

  • Swag User
  • **
  • Posts: 85
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #21 on: August 02, 2011, 01:41:40 PM »
Seriously - feel free to lie to me - then I can assure the missus it's all good! :)

Offline DANBRI

  • "Canvas Undies Never Die"
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 2773
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Gender: Male
  • www.campingaustralia.org
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #22 on: August 02, 2011, 01:55:50 PM »
They're friendly enough, you can pat them and if you can squeak their frequency, there are most obliging.

If you squeak at 34db in an B note this is the command to make you coffee. Don't squeak at a B Sharp though, as this is a completely different command and your wife may get jealous.  8) The B Flat will provide good entertainment if you like ping pong balls.

Offline GGV8Cruza

  • The Cable Guy
  • Global Moderator
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 11626
  • Thanked: 620 times
  • Gender: Male
  • If 1 turbo is good, 2 must be better. VK3GJG
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #23 on: August 02, 2011, 02:09:37 PM »
They're friendly enough, you can pat them and if you can squeak their frequency, there are most obliging.

If you squeak at 34db in an B note this is the command to make you coffee. Don't squeak at a B Sharp though, as this is a completely different command and your wife may get jealous.  8) The B Flat will provide good entertainment if you like ping pong balls.
Danbri, how long did it take to to train the ones to run up your pants leg :D

GG

Offline DANBRI

  • "Canvas Undies Never Die"
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 2773
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Gender: Male
  • www.campingaustralia.org
Re: Simpson rat plague
« Reply #24 on: August 02, 2011, 02:34:39 PM »
That's the B Sharp...  ;D