[pct-l] Rats in water tanks

[dsaufley]

Burritos.  They make burritos with them.  

On a serious note, and not meaning to be a fear monger, rodents can carry
the Hanta Virus as well as the Bubonic Plague. These diseases make giardia
seem like a cake walk.  

I just cringe whenever someone (like my husband) elects to not treat their
water.    

L-Rod


-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of AsABat
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 6:31 AM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Rats in water tanks

Last year I received several reports of dead rats and mice in several water
tanks, new for me in the 6 years I've been keeping the water reports.
Whether this is a new occurrance, an increased squeamishness by hikers about
dead critters, or someone trying to make a point about water hole
maintenance, I don't know. As noted, in the desert you take what water you
can get. Personally I carry a filter in these areas because I am skittish
about gross looking water.

On San Jacinto in front of the Round Valley Ranger Station (not a location
PCT hikers pass, but close) there is a water faucet with a sign to treat the
water. For decades I have heard two things: 1. When the spring source box
has opened dead critters have been found. 2. The rangers and most regulars
on the trail drink the water without treating it.

With water scarce in So Cal, critters are drawn to water, and most of the
smaller sources are hard or impossible for them to get out of, so I wouldn't
be surprised to see dead critters in a spring or tank.

I just post the water reports the way I get them, usually verbatim. If I get
conflicting reports I post both versions and let the reader decide until the
discrepancy is resolved. I'm not sure how I'll post dead critter reports
this year as last year the stories seemed to self-propagate, and I usually
never learned the final fate of the critter (still floating, no longer
there, or tasted good roasted over the fire).

AsABat
http://pct.4jeffrey.net
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