Almost told my neighbor her yard was a rat hotel

Last Saturday I was outside spraying for ants around my foundation and my neighbor Linda comes over to chat. She starts bragging about her new bird feeder setup with like 6 different feeders and a big pile of fallen seeds underneath. I counted at least 2 rat droppings near her fence line and had to bite my tongue so hard. Instead I just said "looks nice" and walked away to finish my perimeter treatment. Has anyone else held back a comment that would've been brutally honest but totally accurate?

2 comments

2 Comments

leelewis8d ago

Man, I once told my neighbor her overgrown hedges looked like a haunted house and then spent the next hour apologizing with a store-bought pie. It's like my brain forgets the filter exists until it's too late.

park.abby8d ago

Yeah you did the right thing holding back. Bird feeders are basically an open buffet sign for rats if you don't police the spilled seed every day. I'd mention the droppings casually next time she brags about the birds, like "hey heads up I saw some rat signs near your fence, you might want to rake up under the feeders." Most people don't know how bad it can get until they see one running across their patio. Keeps it neighborly without coming off like you're attacking her setup.