If you have a rat infestation, you might be thinking of handling it yourself. In this situation, it’s best to go with traps, rather than poisons, because poisoned rats may die in hard to reach areas, such as inside the walls, where they will start to decompose and become a health hazard. So how can you use traps properly in order to ensure that you completely remove an infestation?
Use a lot of traps
The number one rule for trapping rats is to use plenty of traps. This is because rat populations are often larger than expected, and because rats will be suspicious of any new objects in the area. You also want to make sure that you use traps designed specifically for rats, because mouse traps are not strong or big enough to catch them. In terms of bait, you ideally want to use peanut butter, but unsalted nuts, bananas, apples, cake icing, and raw uncooked meat such as hot dogs, will work as well. You can also find lures on the market which have been designed to be highly attractive to rats.
Proper trap placement
Proper trap placement is also important if you want to have an effective rodent control campaign. Usually, you want to place the traps in areas where there is a lot of rat activity. These areas include zones where there are a lot of droppings, darkened corners, along walls, and behind objects and appliances. The traps should be placed 15 to 20 feet apart, and they will need to stay in one location for a while so that the rats get used to their presence. Rats will tend to avoid any new objects in their environment until they become comfortable with them.
The different types of traps
There are several different types of traps available, each with its pros and cons. The most common type is the snap trap, which is fairly inexpensive and kills rats instantly.You then have glue traps, electric traps, and if you want to go with a more human option – live traps. The choice is up to you, and we have written guides on these traps and their advantages. If you would like to know more, make sure to check out or blog or you can get in touch with us directly. Also, if you need some extra help when dealing with an infestation, we can set up an appointment.
