Controlling rat infestations does not end with the trapping and catching of the rodents. Knowing what to do with the rats you caught especially in live traps is also important. This way, you can take full control over your rat infestations and prevent them from happening again.
You might be thinking of ways on what you should with rats you caught. Most people are sensitive when it comes to animals, so they prefer to remove the rodents humanely.
What you need to know first is that rats are less likely to survive when relocated to a new or foreign environment. They usually get accustomed to living in one environment and might not be able to find their food sources once introduced to a new one. This only means that the rats will eventually die.
Common Ways to Catch a Rat
There are several ways to trap a rat and start decreasing the rat populations on your property. The following are the common ones:
Glue Traps
Glue traps are the most common yet less effective option to trap rats. The problem with glue traps is that rodents are that a part of their body might get caught in the trap, but they will less likely be caught or get stuck in it. They might even run around carrying the trap with them if only a foot gets stuck in it.
However, you can still use it when trying to trap smaller rats that may roam around your property. Some glue traps we recommend are Predator Rat Glue Trap and Tomcat Rat Glue Traps.
Rat Snap Traps
Snap traps are considered a faster yet more humane solution than live trapping. It comes in different sizes that make it easy for you to choose which trap to use for a rat or mouse infestation. It is important that you also check the quality of the trap.
It should trap the head completely once it is triggered and can be set and reset. High-quality snap traps can ensure quick death to rats and can be reused once cleaned properly.
Some snap traps that we recommend are Tomcat Rat Snap Traps, Tomcat Rat Wood Traps, and Victor Metal Bait Pedal Rat Trap.
Live Rat Traps
For those choosing not to kill rats, using these traps is the most humane and one of the popular options in dealing with a rat infestation on their property. However, the level of the humanness of these traps depends on how frequently you check the traps. Also, the design and nesting material and water should be considered.
These traps should not cause any injury to the animals as soon as it is triggered and once it is trapped inside. We recommend traps like the Big Cheese Multi-Catch Rat Cage Trap, Professional Squirrel Trap 1 Spring Door, or the Big Cheese Rat Cage Trap. Simply set the traps on pathways that they usually take and bait them to get in the trap safely.
What to Do with Rats You Caught?
There are a couple of things that you can do when you caught rats in the traps that you have set up around your home. Be mindful of these things to get rid of the rodents in your home as humanely as possible.
- Once you check the traps that you have set and see that you have caught a rat or two, you must keep them calm. You can place a towel or any big cloth over the trap.
- Release about 100 yards from where you placed the trap.
- You can also choose to euthanize the rodents humanely by bringing them to a local animal shelter or a veterinarian.
- Another option is by killing the animal in a “humane” method with one sharp blow to its head. However, this requires an unwavering and firm resolve. If you cannot do this method, you can simply resort to the options mentioned above.
Just keep in mind that you wear gloves when handling these rodents or the traps. You can call pest control experts if you think the infestation is worse than you thought it was.
It is also important you spend some time rodent-proofing your home. Make sure that these rodents will not have any access to human and pet food and sealing all possible entry points in your property.
