Michael R. Barrick

As of the first frost last week there's been evidence of rats at work. A trap was placed under my desk since I had noticed some pellets on my desk. It wasn't effective Wednesday or Thursday, so Friday I moved it to the surface of my desk near where I had been seeing the pellets.

This morning there was a very dead (read: starting to smell) adolescent roof rat (rattus rattus) in the trap and evidence that her last meal was licking the sugar residue from the bottom of my coffee cup.

Now there are entertaining shrieks from around the office as a larger adult, probably male, is making the rounds.

At least we can rest assured that the ship is not sinking ;-)