Atmosphere Concern

[hope2bdoc]

Hi, my name is Samar. I am wondering, is it easy to end up seeing any rodents in housing or anywhere outdoors in the caribbean? Just wondering, because rodents scare me to death and disgust me so much. And if this is the case, then on which island..would I encounter these nasty creatures?

[stephew]

Hi, my name is Samar. I am wondering, is it easy to end up seeing any rodents in housing or anywhere outdoors in the caribbean? Just wondering, because rodents scare me to death and disgust me so much. And if this is the case, then on which island..would I encounter these nasty creatures?I had one in my house once but the landlord got rid of it. It was pretty nasty. But its not been an issue overall.

[snitzle]

I'd be more worried about the mouse-sized cockroaches and the huge, nightmarish "swamp crabs" that come out when it rains!!! :wink:

[stephew]

I'd be more worried about the mouse-sized cockroaches and the huge, nightmarish "swamp crabs" that come out when it rains!!! :wink:

none of those. just rat-sized cockaroaches. Acutally no. But they do have the big palmetto roaches. the good news abuot these is they dont "infest" like regular roaches do. You see one and it doesnt mean there are more lying in wait.

[lera]

WE had a couple in our room and it was freaky, couldn't sleep for several nights

[drnick07]

I had one of those cockroaches in my room one time and i shrieked like a little girl :shock: (but don't tell anyone). There are alot of cats on the true blue campus and dogs at grand anse, so hopefully you don't have a fear of those animals. I haven't seen any mice, rats, rabbits, voles, or squirrels, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Be careful where you eat and where you store food. I've had more than one box of cereal ruined by ants. They go where there's food, so if you can keep from eating in your room (as in an apartment or suite) then i would. Bringing down some tupperware bins to store food in might be good too. The best way to prevent encountering an animal or insect is not to invite them in the first place.

[stephew]

I had one of those cockroaches in my room one time and i shrieked like a little girl :shock: (but don't tell anyone). There are alot of cats on the true blue campus and dogs at grand anse, so hopefully you don't have a fear of those animals. I haven't seen any mice, rats, rabbits, voles, or squirrels, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Be careful where you eat and where you store food. I've had more than one box of cereal ruined by ants. They go where there's food, so if you can keep from eating in your room (as in an apartment or suite) then i would. Bringing down some tupperware bins to store food in might be good too. The best way to prevent encountering an animal or insect is not to invite them in the first place.
oh the are mon..geese? mongooses? whaterver on the island. some genius brongt them in years ago to get rid of the snakes. (I did see one little baby snake once dead on the road). But anyway they dont want to see you and you dont want to see them. What you do want to stay away from are centipedes. My roomate got bit. ouch.

[seagoddess]

I've lived in SD1 and have never had any roaches in my room. However, one day one did crawl up my toes while I was studying at the 2nd floor in the library. Just kill it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[geoff]

I had one of those thumb sized grasshoppers in my apartment in grenada. It'd been in for a few hours... I don't know what I was thinking....maybe exam stress or something... but I got a piece of bread and 'fed' it as it hung on to the wall. I swear...it left a distinct half circle bite mark in the bread. It was huuuge... I let it out anyway... oh... you can hear some of the cocroaches on tiled floor.... heavy little dancing feet..

[Hburg]

What annoyed me more than anything was the crickets. I lived on the ground floor of the superdorms and I guess they would come in under the door. You get a couple of them in your room and it makes it impossible to sleep.

[stephew]

you'll come to miss the crickets and tree frogs; they're really evockotive of the era in grenada for me.

[monstergirl]

I cannot believe I am reading these posts. Can i say that though I am DEATHLY afraid of Palmetto Bugs. This conversation is a definite negative towards my adjustment to living there. I REALLY dont like this flying habit they have. And I dont like how you can hear them eat.

I had one in my room in Malaysia, and it Freaked me out. Ugh. All the other insects I can deal with. Roaches are a whole other animal.

[stephew]

I cannot believe I am reading these posts. Can i say that though I am DEATHLY afraid of Palmetto Bugs. This conversation is a definite negative towards my adjustment to living there. I REALLY dont like this flying habit they have. And I dont like how you can hear them eat.

I had one in my room in Malaysia, and it Freaked me out. Ugh. All the other insects I can deal with. Roaches are a whole other animal.
ya know, its a life lesson. you face a cadaver, you face ugly bugs. its really a just cope situation and not that bad.

[5th Termer]

Because I felt sorry for them. They are all easy to catch with a glass and a piece of paper. No cleanup unlike with a big squashed bug.

Except for those "thumb sized grasshoppers." They come in through open windows with no screens and fly about crazily. Everyone will be slamming doors to get away. Once after several slams there was no more flying. The grasshopper got squashed in the door jamb and that was the end of it all.

I can't tell you how many spiders I let live. They ate most bugs. One stayed in the same place all term, until the exterminator came and didn't know not to spray the spiders. Spiders are better than the roaches, ants, and grasshoppers.

[monstergirl]

Does that mean these bugs are large enough to consider them pets, can they be trained (fetch, roll, etc...)?

I know, cadavers and roaches... the test will be tough. I am less worried about the first than the second, for which I may have to learn some bio terrorism or the art of dart throwing to manage! I'm up for the challenge.

Oh, should I add glue traps to my 'bring list'?

[5th Termer]

The best thing was the fly paper. It came in a container about the size of a big bullet. You pull off one end, and inside is a long length of coiled paper coated with a molasses like substance. You just hang it up and the flying bugs stick to it. It can catch a lot of bugs. But don't let it touch anything because the sticky stuff won't come off.

I burned coils too (Bay-gon, not the suspicious brands). You can ask for your very own coil in a restaurant to put under the table. That's where the mosquitos are and it keeps them from biting your ankles.

I knew I wasn't in the Caribbean any more when I asked for the OFF! while dining on the patio of a fancy restaurant the other day. (The mosquitos were really biting). Sorry lady, no OFF! You will be pleased to know that you can ask for OFF! in Grenada restaurants in case you forget yours.

[stephew]

Does that mean these bugs are large enough to consider them pets, can they be trained (fetch, roll, etc...)?
\
I taught mine to surf VMD.

Monstergirl, two words: mosquito coils.

[drnick07]

Can't handle bugs in Grenada? Just wait until you get your first patient in your ER rotation with maggots crawling inside their skin folds. And remember, you still have to act professionally, even if its gross and repulsive. I guess my question is, if you can't handle bugs in grenada, how do you expect to deal with and treat that ER patient?