Rat Problems? This is an information article to help those who already have rat problems in their home or workplace.
It outlines the most common methods for getting rid of rats instead of going on a prevention campaign.
When it comes to traps, you have two choices, a live-catch trap (sometimes referred to as a humane trap) and a kill trap.
If a trap is of the live-catching variety, it is usually built along the principle of some cage with food in it with a one way door.
The rat enters the cage through the one-way door and can't escape.
The rat will then be released at a separate location.
The pest control market offers many options for kill traps.
The most effective one is a snap-bar, like a mousetrap only larger.
The bait should be set with a piece of apple, cheese or peanut butter and placed near a known rat hole or in the area rat droppings were found.
The snap trap should be attached to the floor in some manner so a rat won't be able to drag it away after being snared.
Make sure the rat trap is far away from anywhere kids and pets can access.
To prevent the rats from being suspicious of your rat trap after it kills its first rat, re-set it in a new location.
Bear in mind, if you put too much bait on the trap, it may just attract more rats after you catch your first one.
Other Control Options Poison is almost never the best option, since it can be accidentally ingested by unintentional targets like harmless wildlife, pets and young children.
Also, a rat may drag poisoned food into an inaccessible location which may then smell badly.
Other good options for kill traps use electric shocks to instantly kill the animal when it enters the trap.
Because they are inhumane and cause undue suffering, glue traps should not be used to catch rats.
The rat gets caught on the glue trap and then is stuck there, dying a slow painful death.