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Coconut tree fumigation

Rats & Mice begone!
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In many regions, you will see metal cylinders placed onto the trunks of coconut trees. These prevent rants and mice from climbing up the trunks and infesting the tree. That is, until it becomes eroded and abused enough for the rodents to climb up there. Now what? Fumigate, of course! A large plastic bag is paced over the entire tree, creating some that looks like a large mushroom. It is then fumigated, killing all the rats and mice. Remember to replace the metal ring around the trunk, though, or you will have to fumigate again soon!

<added> to clarify and improve my idea, make sure that when they replace the metal ring, they use better quality rings. Higher gauge stainless steel. Doesn't rust, doesn't dent.

twitch, Sep 20 2010

Longer http://www.thefreedictionary.com/longer
The thing you could make the metal ring [doctorremulac3, Sep 23 2010]


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       //Remember to replace the metal ring around the trunk...//   

       What for? I didn't work in the first place...
Boomershine, Sep 20 2010
  

       It's a vicious cycle I tell you! Nah, get a better quality one. The best ones are higher gauge stainless steel. Doesn't rust, doesn't dent. They've learned their lesson.
twitch, Sep 20 2010
  

       You do realize that these metal rings will put you out of your fumigation business, right?
Boomershine, Sep 21 2010
  

       They actually make a stainless steel super thin foil, similar to aluminum foil, for industrial purposes. Seems to me that would conform to the contours of the tree a little better.   

       15 ideas today, [twitch]? Your keyboard must be smoking...
Grogster, Sep 21 2010
  

       A rant infested tree.... must a hoarse chestnut then?
xenzag, Sep 21 2010
  

       Coconuts are only one of the nut crops you might harvest, twitch.
infidel, Sep 21 2010
  

       //These prevent rants...//   

       I completely missed this (amongst all the other terrificness of this idea).   

       Would a smaller version fit around, say, a neck?
Boomershine, Sep 21 2010
  

       So, the essence of the idea is:   

       1) Standard rodent barriers fail and let rodents in.
2) So, kill the rodents and then
3) Replace the barrier.
  

       Far be it from me to suggest that this isn't an ingenious, earth-shattering and life-affirming example of the brilliance of the human mind when faced with a seemingly intractable problem, but this isn't an ingenious, earth- shattering and life-affirming example of the brilliance of the human mind when faced with a seemingly intractable problem.
MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 21 2010
  

       I'll assure you that most of life's problems are small ones. Yes, this is a small problem to deal with, but it's one less! A thicker gauge is needed because of vandalism. People climb the trees, shoot at the rings, and generally beat the crap out of them. If your ring is thicker, it won't dent at all.
twitch, Sep 22 2010
  

       [bigsleep] I betcha the cockroaches get there first.
mouseposture, Sep 22 2010
  

       Wow, why didn't I think of this?   

       Man's conquests:   

       1- Fire 2- The wheel 3- Writing 4- Electricity 5- Space travel 6- Killing rats in coconut trees.   

       I assume you're teasing us T, hence the counter tease.
doctorremulac3, Sep 23 2010
  

       I think it's entirely possible that both of [twitch]'s neurons are working as hard as they can on these apparentlly ingenious, earth- shattering and life-affirming examples of the brilliance of the human mind when faced with a seemingly intractable problem.
infidel, Sep 23 2010
  

       According to [twitch] only certain ideas go to the Halfbakery; the others are normally reserved for some posher venue.
mouseposture, Sep 23 2010
  

       Ohh ohh oh, I've got an idea, how about making the metal ring around the tree even LONGER so the rats would have a tougher time climbing up? (see link)
doctorremulac3, Sep 23 2010
  

       //metal ring// not a ring, a spiral tube which wends it's way 'round the trunk until at the very top it drops downward and shoots the rant/mouse/whatever, which has been climbing up, inside, across the yard.
FlyingToaster, Sep 23 2010
  

       Nah. Divert the rant into a rail gun and launch it into the sun.
infidel, Sep 23 2010
  

       I've seen longer rings, and about 18 inches is as long as they get, without running into costly and prohibitive problems. For one, Attaching the metal to each other is troublesome after a certain size. The amount that the trunk narrows as it grows creates an unsightly warp. The difficulty in getting a proper seam increases with the hight of the collar, decreasing it's efficiency. I've been around these things my whole life.
twitch, Sep 23 2010
  

       Have you ever managed to get past one of these barriers, to infest a coconut tree with others of your kind, [twitch]?
infidel, Sep 23 2010
  

       well, for the thicker gauge ones, it acted as a toe- step, buy we were kids then. These things have been around for decades.. The thinner ones can make a cleaner seam, but they get damaged a lot either by vandalism, or landscapers taking care of the tree (although technically, it would bring them more money to damage it, it needing to be fixed afterwards).
twitch, Sep 23 2010
  

       There is a more environmentally sound way of tackling the problem effectively. Simply remove a 2ft-long section of the trunk, somewhere near the bottom. The removed sections can be used as firewood, while the gap will prevent even the most tenacious rodent from climbing the tree.
MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 23 2010
  

       Can I post my idea to pull up crabgrass at amusement parks?   

       Sometimes amusement parks have lawn areas, like between the rides or in the outdoor eating areas. But sometimes the lawns have crabgrass. So here's my idea: Pull up the crabgrass. Then plant some kind of seeds that don't have as much crabgrass in it. If the crabgrass grows back, hey, pull that crabgrass too. The lawns will look better and it's good exercise.   

       I like ideas.
doctorremulac3, Sep 23 2010
  

       //I've been around these things my whole life.//   

       Raised by coconut trees. This explains quite a few things, yet leaves some questions curiously unanswered.
MaxwellBuchanan, Sep 23 2010
  

       //This ... leaves some questions curiously unanswered.//   

       Man, there's an understatement, if I ever heard one.
Boomershine, Sep 24 2010
  

       happy to answer any questions that might pertain to the defense of my claims to sanity.
twitch, Sep 24 2010
  

       How would we know if you weren't telling lies about it?
infidel, Sep 24 2010
  

       I would get that guilty feeling, so I wouldn't lie. I'm very honest about my thoughts, even sometimes about some temporary fetishes.
twitch, Sep 24 2010
  

       Will the coconut milk kill rats later?
kevinthenerd, Feb 29 2012
  


 

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