Critters in your vacation home???

[equinox]

Marcia, that is a hysterical story! Thank you for the late afternoon laugh.

Regarding tarantula disposal, we use the same method for most large bugs. Trap it under a good sized glass or bowl (preferably clear glass, so you can keep an eye on the bug in question), slide a piece of paper or (preferably) cardboard underneath to create a trap, take it outside, and fling the bug (not the dish or the cardboard) off the deck.

Scorpions always get squashed though.

Thank you.

[PA Girl]

Now if ya'll only lived in the south you wouldn't mind one or two....they're not roaches, they're Palmetto Bugs...

When we were on our STJ honeymoon, there was a another honeymoon couple from NJ. We rode the ferry together and ran into each other all over the place. We had dinner together one night and ended up on the same day trip.

They weren't feeling the STJ vibe at all (and that is an understatement) and she mentioned seeing a roach on the patio and that management said it was a palmetto bug.

She said "palmetto bug my @ss, I'm from NJ and I know a roach when I see one!"

After buying a cabin that came with snakes in the basement, there isn't a critter on STJ that would freak me out. (We are now snake-free, thank goodness)

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

Marcia, that is a hysterical story! Thank you for the late afternoon laugh.

Knowing you had a horrid day on "retreat" I'm glad I could give you a chuckle.

Follow up:
The flying rat was not rabid (per the UW-they loved having a "fresh" specimen to work with that day).
Amber used the experience as fodder for college application essays.
Kyla (the one who slept through it all) still doesn't get it.
Sam still rows crew and has a whole new appreciation for the weapon an oar can be.
Hannah still gets nose bleeds but we don't take her to the ER every time...unless there is a blood sucking bat in the house.
Pete and I still don't play tennis but we know where the racket is.

Good times, good times. It's all fun.

[HughA]

I had always thought that the rental agencies generally have their homes exterminated monthly to avoid any significant problem developing. Is this not true?

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

I had always thought that the rental agencies generally have their homes exterminated monthly to avoid any significant problem developing. Is this not true?

The villas we have rented have been exterminated on a regular basis. All things considered, we really haven't seen many bugs inside the villas. The tarantula that Marcia mentioned actually was outside on the pool deck.

[liamsaunt]

I do think that all of the houses are regularly exterminated. At least the houses we have rented have been. Stuff makes its way in from outside sometimes though. The houses are so open, and there are just lots of critters on St. John. It's not a big deal, really.

[stjohnjulie]

Gerald posted a video on his blog...The Ghost from Jost is demonstrating how to catch a ground spider/tarantula (big fat hairy spider). http://seestjohn.com/st_john_life/

[Illyse]

Holy cow - thank god I didn't see this post before I went to STJ!! Just got back on Saturday after spending 4 nights at the Cinnamon Bay Campground. I am a real baby about bugs and we actually "upgraded" to a "cottage" from a platform tent when I read that the tents don't zip closed!

Anyway - 4 nights in a cabin and didn't encounter a single critter indoors! Many lizards and one creepy millipeed on the wall outside of the cottage next to ours - but, like I said, thank god I didn't read this last week!!

[mindehankins]

I agree, Ilyse! I'd be really, really creeped out to find a scorpion or tarantula. The others wouldn't bother me, but I'd have a hard time sleeping if I found one of those. We saw a little spider in our bed one night at home, while pulling down the sheets, and had to tear the whole bed apart to make sure there wasn't another one!
We've only stayed at two of the cheapest places on St. John; Cinnamon Bay Campground and Cruz Views and had no critters in either.

[BuffaloGal]

We had a couple scorpions in the first villa we rented on St. John -- and it was a nice clean villa. One was in the laundry hamper and another on the bedroom floor. They're easy enough to dispose of but a little unsettling when you're used to ants and spiders. Also, we always have iguanas at the pools. Some can be a little aggressive but nothing major. I agree that the goats at Miss Lucy's are a little pushy (literally) when you get your food. Cute though!