make that 5' high branches. they climb onto the low hanging branches via the abutting peonies and peony rings; they descend that way and down the main trunk. they eat the fruit. i got one good photo but haven't learned how to post yet so that can be your winter entertainment someday .woowww!
best,
mindy

Rats certainly climb. In California, where I have friends and family, rats are a real problem because of all the fruit trees everywhere. Oranges etc. dropping everywhere for a rats' feast. They call them fruit rats but they are just plain old disgusting rats. They are also called roof rats because they climb and then move into your attic crawl space.

When you live in California, you have to have an "exclusion specialist" who comes and seals up every tiny hole and crack into your house. It's a standard part of life out there. Otherwise, the rats move right in with you. GROSS!!

I have to say that's why I never put kitchen scraps in my compost--just leaves, grass clippings, weeds and so on. I think (hope) it is too countrified here for rats but we have many other animals I don't want to encourage by feeding. I don't even feed the birds anymore. Seed and suet attract too many uninvited guests.

Haven't seen any climbing rats here, in fact haven't seen any rats at all. Some of the squirrels though have rather skinny tails (somewhat hairy, but not fluffy). I'd love to see your photo.

Back in my lab days I acquired two white lab rats for pets. They used to ride on my shoulder and chitter in my ear. They would play with string like kittens. Nice pets until I developed a severe allergy to them.

I wouldn't want to hang around with the big wild ones that lived in NYC though. Come to think of it, there were a lot of big wild creatures in NYC that I wouldn't want to hang around with....

Claire

HOLY CRAP! I'm freaked out for you....i'm pretty good with a bb gun...let me know if you need a hand...;p

carolyn

Mindy,
What you are describing is typical of roof rats, while extremely prevalent in the south and west they are in fact found in MA as well. Consider rats are nocturnal so for every rat you happen to see there are ten to twenty more that you can't see. Left untreated with your dense arboretum/habitat youÂre going to have BIG problems before you know it and keep in mind they don't like the cold so they will be looking for warmer quarters aka your house within a few short weeks. I would call your local rodent control guy and get on top of this immediately. Frankly if you have seen that many out in the day light you have a bigger problem than you know. kt