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Baiting And Trapping Rats
1. Trapping is probably the safest way to get rid of rats, but may take
much longer. If you decide to trap rats in your house, be sure to place
traps along the walls. Rats have poor vision and travel along walls and feel their way with their whiskers. 2.
Baiting is probably the fastest way to get rid of rats, but you are taking a chance that one might die in your walls which may
cause a bad odor. My bait of choice was Just One Bite pellets and can be purchased in most hardware stores. If
bait is used it must be placed out of reach of children or pets. Thousands of cats and dogs die each year from rat bait poisoning.
If rat poison is used be sure to lock it in a rat bait station. Many people like to mix peanut butter in with their
rat bait but this may not a good idea since there is a good chance that the peanut butter will attract other animals to the
bait.
Homemade Humane Rat Trap
Get a large kitchen trash can with a swing top lid and lightly coat the inside bottom of it with vegetable oil or any
type of light oil. Place the garbage can in your basement, celler, or garage next to a table, or work bench. Next place
a large dab of peanut butter on the swing top lid. The rat will jump onto the swing top lid and fall to the bottom of the
can. The oil that was sprayed in the can will stick to the rodents feet and prevent it from climbing back out. Transport
the rat or rats that you have caught at least four or five miles from your home and release them.
Eliminate rats with this humane rat trap.
Be sure and check trap at least every 12 hours.
Bucket trap to get rid of rats:
Fill a large bucket halfway full of water. Place a board up the side of the bucket so the rat can get into the water
but will not be able to get back out. The rat will be drowned.. This is not a humane way of exterminating rats and should
be used only as a last resort.
HOW TO CONTROL RATS 1. Keep all dog, cat, bird and other animal feeds in metal
cans and do not leave pet food in the bowl more than an hour and do not leave it outside. Never corner or touch a wild rat.
2. It is best to keep garbage in metal containers with tight fitting lids and remove often.
3. Keep compost in contained bins made of hard plastic with air holes no less that ¼ inch in diameter.
4. Keep fallen fruits and nuts, including the pits of peaches and cherries, picked up daily.
5. Keep debris cleared. Store firewood and lumber away from your house 18 off the ground. Keep yards free
from overgrown brush, weeds and tall grass. Avoid planting juniper or ivy and keep plants away from walls.
Shake
Away Repellent For Rodents
Why do rats gnaw
Gnawing is a natural and necessary survival behavior of the rat and mouse. When rats and mice move into our
buildings, transportation vehicles, utility rooms, and electrical equipment, and gnaw on the various objects that seemingly
offer them no nutritional advantage, rats are simply following the instinctive and opportunistic behaviors they have employed
for thousands of years. The rat has learned it has little to lose, and usually much to gain by regularly gnawing on the many
objects encountered during its daily explorations. Furthermore, some researchers believe gnawing may also serve as a means
of communication, as well as a means of territory marking among rat and mouse colonies.
Roof Rats--In order to exclude roof rats from your home you must make efforts to remove the attractants that they
prefer from your dwelling and adjacent areas. You can accomplish this by harvesting fruits and nuts as they ripen. Remove
fallen fruits and nuts on a daily basis. Remove uneaten pet foods by sunset so as not to be left out doors overnight. Keep
feed in tightly sealed, steel containers. When storing bags of feed keep them no less than 18 inches above the ground, and
12 inches from the wall, 4 inch circular post will prevent the rats ability to climb up to the stored items.
The biggest rats are usually males, as typically males grow larger than females. It is also the larger male that emerge
dominant within their colonies. But other behavioral and social factors also contribute towards the status of "King Rat" in
colonies.
Rat Facts:
The first house rats recorded in America appeared in Boston in 1775.
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Page Author -- Paul Van Durme -- Certified Pesticide Applicator
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| Norway Rat Picture |
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| Rat Bait Box |
If using bait, be sure and place it in a rat bait box and place the box close against
the wall
Rat poop is almost 1/2 inch long
Fresh - Soft and squishy
Old - hard and crumbly
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| picture of rat droppings |
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| roof rat picture |
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