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There are a few local running clubs near me that regularly put down arrows on the ground with what looks like white flour. Arrows everywhere!
Don't have a problem with that and great to see people out but what I do have a problem with is rats.... I saw three huge black rats all dipping into the flour paste on the ground today (near swinley forest) loads still left after a boxing day group run.
Would adding salt to the four prevent rats eating it or are there other options available (apart from hiding in a tree with my rifles).
Know quite a few of the various club members so would rather approach with alternative suggestions for marking as opposed to going all Nimby.
Wash-off coloured road paint sprays are readily available for marking, that's what we use. They tend to fade out within a week or two.
Round here they always use the road marking sprays. Not sure why you wouldn't, to be honest
Probably the local hash house harriers. I can't imagine that the small amount of flour left behind has any real impact on the rat population. In my experience a lot of it is eaten by snails.......
Probably cost? Not sure how much the sprays are.
Went to a parkrun in Tennessee where they used the kids coloured road chalk, they had to redraw every week so it must have washed off quick enough
Natrix... Probably no impact. Not seen any snails eating it 🙂 just huge evil black rats (I actually like rats and used to keep them)
but did it bring the rats or were the rats always there.....
around our way folk were reporting it as rat poison - one woman went as far as to say her dog had been to the vets and had to have his stomach pumped as it was confirmed rat poison.
my mate in the HHH piped up and said - yeah we had a hash right in that spot today. it was flour.
Prob always there trail rat 🙂 would you mind just not eating the flour 😉
I was in the Hash House Harriers in 1980. Used to use the paper circles that came from hole punching. Presumably standard paper so bio-degradable and wouldn't attract rats.
I would also think the rats are already in the area as doubt they would be making a 1 mile trip to eat some flour.
HHH just use white chalk here.
Former colleague laid HHH routes - he often mixed the flour with sawdust/chips (like hamster bedding from a pet shop) mainly to discourage birds as this was more rural.
Thanks for the replies... Found some cheap chalk spray and marking stuff so will make a friendly suggestion to try that.
Rats are rife round my area so don't want to encourage the little buggers closer to my house (unless they are in a cage). Don't mind them if they stay away (as I said I don't usually mind them).
The flour also goes brown and looks a bit crap everywhere! Would not mind of it was a couple of arrows but literally every 5 meters is a bit much!
Not convinced you will, or to be honest should, change their ways. Hash groups using a biodegradable dust of some form is a long tradition. Also, well, it's biodegradable! Which is a lot more than can be said for your chalk in a can. It's a load better that the zip tied plastic arrows the sportive forget to pick up round here. There is a post with 5 abandoned arrows on it up the road, some going way back.
I really don't think some flour is going to make any positive impact on the rat population. They might elect to eat it but it's existence is not going to make or break the breeding cycle.
Will make zero difference to whether rats are there or not.
Fair enough convert... Had to Google the history of hash groups (but then got sidetracked into bit coin dealing of drugs) ha.
It's all good. Would salt help in the flour do you think to prevent rats eating it?
No beer.... The rats are one thing. The brown crappy arrows all over the place are another. I would be happier if the rats just ate the whole lot overnight and they dissapeared rather than existing for weeks on the path. Like brown snow.
Never heard of hash groups either, and ran in 40 odd road races in the last couple of years, never seen arrows on the road at any of them.
Organised a couple of races too.
Hashing is alot like when singlespeeders organise a singlespeed ride for singlespeeders (and only singlespeeders )
Generally mixed ability . Very welcoming but like singlespeeding - you'll do it the way they do it.
Always used flour in the 15+ years of hashing round Wycombe, flour often doesn't last from when it's set to when the hash is run, so don't know what the OP is moaning about
Dick flour does last. 7 days so far. Don't turn this into an argument please. Ta
It sounds like a hash where nobody has shown them how much time and effort it saves to knock some holes in the bottom of a tin can and tape it to a broom handle as a trail-laying tool.
You're only going to upset yourself worrying about hashers and what they do.
I'd rather see eco friendly temopary markers.
Chalk?
as above the rats were already there if they 'suddenly appeared' to eat flour 'out of nowhere' Lol!?
Yep matty they are but as above I don't want to encourage the little fellas. Zomg not worrying at all you OK pal?
but did it bring the rats or were the rats always there…..
This I'm afraid, flour probably one of the better biodegradable, temporary marking options available.
TBF most things that biodegrade will be edible so local rodents will have a nibble.
*Googles dick flour*
*wishes he hadn't *
Dick flour does last. 7 days so far. Don’t turn this into an argument please. Ta
Between the deer, slugs, dogs, rain and concerned residents* it doesn't last long round here and besides I only came here for and argument...
*we've had the police out to reports of places being marked by neds as being ripe for burglary 😂
And it's not a cycle path, thankfully we have no such things.