It does not matter whether you have a roof rat or Norway rat at home. Both can be extremely destructive, so you need to get rid of them as soon as possible. Setting traps is more reliable and safer than using poison.
This method is recommended for schools, hospitals, homes and other sensitive environments or areas where the rat population is low.
How Long Do Rat Traps Take to Work
Rats usually avoid anything new in their environment because they are neophobic. It is common for them to wait 2 weeks before they interact with toxicants and traps.
So, if you want to catch them, you need to find out where they are hiding and then put unset traps in these areas. That way, they will get used to the traps. Once they are familiar with the traps, you can place more traps with bait to boost your chances of catching them.
How Do Rat Bait Traps Work?
Rat bait traps are devices that hold a bait block inside to prevent pets and children from gaining access to it. The rodenticide or rat bait inside the device is accessible only to rats, so it is one of the best ways to deal with your rat problems. You will not find any rodent inside bait stations because the rat usually returns to its nest after eating the bait and it will die there 1 to 2 days later.
A bait station we recommend is the Tomcat Rat Killer Disposable Bait Station. Buy it with the Tomcat Rat Killer Refillable Bait Station to keep it working for a long time.
How Do Electronic Rat Traps Work?
Electronic rat traps deliver high-voltage electricity to kill rats quickly and effectively. These devices are easy to set up and can be used to kill both rats and mice humanely. You just need to put a yummy treat inside the device and then wait for the rat to get it. Once they step on the metal plate, they will get electrocuted.
Electronic rat traps can kill rodents within a few seconds if the battery is full or almost full. You do not need to touch the dead rodent because you only need to slide the remains into 2 plastic bags and then discard them.
Electronic rat traps that we recommend are the Victor Electronic Rat Trap, Victor Rat Zapper Ultra, or the Victor WIFI Electric Rat Trap.
How Do Glue Rat Traps Work?
Glue rat traps are a piece of cardboard that is coated in the sticky glue. It can be placed against the wall or floor where rats often travel. Those who do not want to use poison prefer to use glue traps and mouse traps to eliminate rodents.
As soon as rodents meet the sticky glue, they become entangled and incapable of releasing themselves. They will eventually die from asphyxiation and dehydration. You can also place baits on the trap to attract rodents. However, glue rat traps are not seen as a humane way of eliminating rodents especially if they are left to die. Glue traps can harm pets and non-targeted animals as well.
For glue traps you can use the Tomcat Rat Glue Traps and Predator Rat Glue Trap.
How Do Live Cage Rat Traps Work?
Live cage rat traps are metal box-shaped devices that are used to catch rodents without killing or harming them. Food bait is placed inside the device to attract the rodent.
The rat enters the cage, and the door closes behind the rodent. The rodent is caught without any injury. It can then be released elsewhere or killed afterward.
Big Cheese Rat Cage Trap and Multi-Catch Rat Cage Trap are products you can try for live cages or the Professional Squirrel Trap 1 Spring Door.
How Do Rat Snap Traps Work?
Rat snap traps are placed in areas where rodents travel and bait like nesting material or food is used to attract the animal. It has a metal bar that snaps and kills rats instantly. However, snap traps are not seen as a humane method because there is only a small chance that the trap will accurately connect with the rodent’s spine or skull.
If the trap fails to connect with a vital part of the rat, the rodent will be in great pain and die slowly. So, if you want to trap rats, you should do it with accuracy and speed and avoid inhumane actions.
Snap traps that we recommend are Fresh Baited Rat Traps, Predator Wood Trap, and the Victor Power-Kill Rat Trap.
Best Bait to Use
You can use pet food, dried fruits, and unshelled nuts to attract rats to your home. Do not forget to attach the food bait to the device so that the rodent cannot remove it. You can glue the bait in place or tie it to the trap with a fine wire or thread.
Some rat traps have a tiny cup where you can place the bait. Putting some peanut butter or other kinds of bait inside the cup will force the rodent to enter the trap. This will increase the possibility of triggering the device. Here are other things that you should keep in mind when trapping rats.
- Avoid using poisoned bait. Poison does not make the trap more effective. It also increases the risk of accidental poisoning.
- Do not touch the trap with bare hands as the human scent can repel rodents. Always wear gloves or use tools when you set the traps.
- Avoid placing traps where pets or children may access them. Do not place the traps in areas that you often use for storage. You should also warn kids to avoid areas that contain rat traps.
- Reuse traps as the scent left by the rodent caught in the device will attract other rodents to the trap.
- Be patient when setting the traps. Rodents may not meet the trap for a few days or weeks after it is placed. Just place the bait properly in the trap and you will eventually catch one.
It is also a good idea to place multiple rat traps. You can put single traps in several locations to boost your chances of catching rats infesting your home. If the problem is too severe, you can call a pest control expert to help you get rid of your rodent problem.
