Rats are an unwelcome guest in many households and you must take precautions to ensure that you don’t become a rat food yourself.
The most common way rats enter your home is through a hole in the wall or through a roof. When you install a rat trap, you need to seal up the openings in your house so that rats can’t get in.
Rat traps are as ancient as man himself.
They’ve been used since the dawn of civilization and have been used to deal with vermin for thousands of years. As long as there are rats, there will be rat traps.
Nowadays you need 10-20 traps to catch them all.
Rat traps and trapping rats guide
In the UK, there are a lot of rats in the sewers. Over the years, they have built up a fear of humans, and they do not like being startled.
They will come out of the sewers in the dead of night to do their business and then retreat back into the sewers before daylight. To prevent having to do this again, they need to be trapped in the sewer.
To lure a rat, you need a lockable bait station The best type of bait stations are those which contain peanut butter. This attracts both rats and mice.
You also need some sort of trigger mechanism on top of the bait station. A simple tripwire works well.
If the rat trips over the wire, he gets caught by his foot. He struggles around until he finds something soft enough to bite down on. Then he’s stuck!
You should place these baits at strategic points throughout the area where you want to trap the rats.
Rat trapping tips and idea’s
Rats have taken over the UK lately, and to be honest, I don’t blame them.
Rats are clever, adaptable, and opportunistic, which means they will scavenge your food, chew through electrical cables, and even take over your house.
However, I have a solution to this rat problem, and it’s a little bit of DIY.
- Food rat trap
Peanut butter can be used to lure rats away from your property. It has a high fat content, making it very attractive to rodents.
Place small amounts of peanut butter along the perimeter of your garden, driveway, garage, etc., and watch how quickly the rats move towards it. Once they start moving towards the peanut butter, set off one of our rat trap kits.
If you’re looking for more information about rat control, check out my other videos:
- Box with trap
Box with a trap inside are effective because they keep the rodent contained while you remove the contents. You can use any kind of box, but we recommend using plastic boxes. These are easy to clean after each use.
A good size would be 2 feet wide x 4 feet deep x 3 inches tall. If you put a piece of plywood across the bottom, you’ll make sure nothing escapes when you open the lid.
Once you find a location for your trap, mark it clearly with tape.
- Bucket rat trap
Bucket rat trap are great if you live near water or sewage pipes. When a rat goes near the bucket, it falls in and drowns.
The bucket is placed just outside the pipe opening. Make sure the hole isn’t too big though, otherwise the rat may escape.
Once you see a rat fall in, close the door immediately. Do NOT leave the room, or else you could end up killing someone accidentally.
Other best types of rat traps
- Advanced rat trap
Advance rat traps are designed specifically for catching large numbers of rats. They work by creating an airtight seal between two parts that slowly crush together as the rat tries to get free.
These traps are usually made of metal, so they won’t rust easily.
- Glue traps
Glue traps are cheap and easy to build. All you need is glue and wood scraps. Simply apply the glue onto the scrap pieces of wood, then stick them together.
When the rat steps on the glue, it sticks to its paws and becomes trapped.
This method doesn’t require much maintenance, since all you do is replace the glue every few days.
- Electronic rat traps
Electronic rat trap are also known as snap traps. The most common type uses a spring-loaded mechanism that releases a noxious substance into the cage once triggered.
They come in different sizes and shapes, depending on what you prefer. Some models include motion sensors, infrared beams, and vibration detectors.
- Powerful trap
Powerful trap are similar to electronic rat traps except that they don’t release chemicals. Instead, these traps contain powerful magnets that attract iron filings.
As soon as the rat touches the magnet, it gets stuck until you pull it out.
- Enclosed rat trap
Enclosed rat trap are ideal for trapping rats indoors. This model consists of a steel frame covered with mesh wire.
It’s perfect for keeping pests away from food supplies.
You can place this trap anywhere where there’s access to food. Just remember not to let children play around it!
- Rat poison baits
Some people like to kill their own pest problems instead of relying on pesticides. Rat poisons are available at pet stores and online retailers.
- Rat cage trap
Rat trap cage this type of cage are used to catch wild rodents such as squirrels and raccoons. It works by placing bait inside the cage.
Once the rodent eats the bait, he will become trapped. If you want to keep the animal alive, simply remove him from the cage before releasing him back outdoors.
Rats have been living alongside humans for thousands of years. In fact, some believe that rats were domesticated long ago.
- Rex trap / T-Rex Trap
Rex trap are very effective when hunting small animals such as mice and rabbits. These traps use a strong jaw clamping device to hold down prey while waiting for hunters to arrive.
If you’re looking for something more humane, check out our video about how to make your own mouse trap.
- Trap shy
Trap shy are rat traps that used to be popular but now aren’t anymore because they tend to scare off other wildlife.
- Unset rat traps
Unset traps are effective for rats who live near water sources or sewers. You’ll find these types of traps everywhere: under sinks, behind toilets, and even in garbage cans.
The best way to set up one of these traps is to put it somewhere accessible yet hidden. Then wait patiently for the rat to step on it.
- Wooden rat trap
Wooden rat trap are great if you need to capture multiple rats quickly. They work well for catching both juvenile and adult rats.
To build one, start by cutting two wooden boards to size. Next, drill holes through each board using an awl. Finally, insert metal nails into the holes so that they protrude slightly above the surface.
Now just drop the trap over any area where rats might frequent. When the rat steps on the nail, it gets caught between the boards.
- Ordinary snap trap
Ordinary snap trap are easy to construct and inexpensive. To get started, cut four pieces of wood to length. Drill three holes along each piece of wood. Now glue them together.
Next, attach a spring-loaded trigger mechanism to the top of the box. The trigger should point toward the bottom of the box.
Finally, fill the box with peanut butter or cheese. Place the trap in areas frequented by rats. Once the rat walks across the trigger, it snaps shut.
- Plastic snap trap
Plastic snap trap are similar to ordinary ones except that they don’t require gluing. Instead, all you do is screw the parts together.
This makes construction easier since you won’t have to worry about drilling holes. However, plastic traps may break easily.
- Safeguard squirrel-rat live trap
This is one of the best rat trap to use against rats, mice and squirrels. This kind of trap uses a special design which allows it to kill both squirrels and rats at once.
It’s made of steel wire mesh covered with chicken wire. First, place the trap in a location where squirrels often visit. Afterward, cover the entire trap with chicken wire.
Squirrels can climb onto the chicken wire, but they cannot escape. As soon as they try to jump away, their feet hit the sharp edges of the steel wires.
DIY rat making what to consider?
Make sure that when using any mouse traps always keep it away from your kids. This can be a dangerous hazard to children.
Also, never leave rodent bait unattended. If there’s no food available, rodents will go elsewhere.
And finally, remember not to throw old clothes or shoes around. Rats love this stuff. So, take care of those items before throwing them away.
Always consider the safety of children while using or making DIY rat trap ideas, especially if you’re going to make homemade rat poison.
You can also contact pest control services for more information regarding how to deal with pests like rats.
