Have you ever had a rat infestation? If so, you may be all too familiar with the difficulties that come with trying to trap rats. 

Rats can be incredibly clever creatures, so it’s important to consider a wide range of factors when you’re trying to trap them. You’ll need to be aware of their presence in your space, how they’re getting into your space, the best trap options for your needs, which bait will attract the rats, and where you need to place the traps to get the best results.

So to ensure you know the best way to deal with your rat problem, let’s dive into each one of these key factors starting with understanding the signs of a rat infestation.

Signs of a Rat Infestation

If you think you may have a rat or other small rodent infestation you’re dealing with, there are a few key signs you can look out for to determine whether you have an infestation:

Rodent Droppings

If you find rodent droppings in your home or business–especially if they’re around food packages, in drawers or cupboards, or under the sink, that’s a very strong sign that you may have an infestation.

Nesting Materials

If you start to see small piles of nesting materials including shredded paper, fabric and dried plant matter gathering in tight, dark spaces, that can be a sign that rats are making their home in your space.

Chewed Packaging 

If you find bite marks and other evidence of chewing on food packages, you may be dealing with a rat problem.

Holes in Walls and Floors

Holes being chewed in your walls and floors can be evidence of entry points to your home being created by rats.

Common Entry Points for Rats

Rats can find many different ways to enter your home or business, so it’s important to be vigilant about securing your structure against them and sealing any openings when you discover you have a problem. Some of the most common entry points for rats include:

  • Cracks in Walls
  • Vents
  • Window Gaps
  • Holes in Roofs
  • Chimneys

Keep in mind that any hole may be susceptible to rat entry as rats can fit through spaces the size of a quarter and mice can squeeze through openings even smaller than that.

Traditional Rat Traps

There are many different kinds of rat traps available on the market today. Each one comes with certain benefits and disadvantages that you may want to consider before you choose the option that will work best for you.

Our Traps (Electromechanical Devices)

Electromechanical device for the capture of rats and mice.

Rats and mice are attracted by the smell of natural feed and are instantly captured as soon as it tries to eat by activating a sensitive mechanism, allowing continuous and multiple captures. Our traps do not use poisons or harmful substances; just natural feeds ensuring the safety of children, your family, tenants or non-target animals. Once captured, the rodents are enclosed in our traps for easy cleanup.

Glue Traps

Glue traps are a form of rat trap that consists of a board or tray coated with an extremely adhesive substance. They are laid out and baited so that rats and other rodents walk across them to access the food, only to find themselves stuck to the board, unable to escape. 

It’s important to note that while this option does not poison or injure the trapped animals outright, it is considered to be one of the least humane ways to trap rats. According to the Humane Society, animals caught in glue traps can be stuck from a few hours to a few days as they struggle to free themselves. And because they can’t get free, the trapped animals most often die as a combined result of exhaustion, dehydration, starvation, and sometimes suffocation if their faces land in the glue.

Snap Traps

Snap traps are likely the most commonly known form of rat traps, thanks to their popularity in children’s cartoons over the last few decades. These traps consist of a small bait platform that when pressed releases a spring-loaded bar. This bar rapidly snaps down to kill the rat or small animal that has attempted to grab the food, but a quick death isn’t always assured. 

Sometimes, snap traps will just injure and trap the rats, leaving them to suffer until they either die of their injuries, starve to death, or are killed, so it’s important to be extra vigilant when setting these traps. Additionally, snap traps can also become very messy on occasion due to the manner of killing.

Electric Traps

Electric traps are widely considered to be one of the more humane rat trap options. This is because they instantaneously kill rats or other small rodents with a jolt of high-voltage electricity. The voltage used leaves very little opportunity for the rat to survive the initial shock, making this an incredibly effective, less painful option for the animals involved.

Live Traps

Live traps involve using bait to lure rats and other rodents into a confined space without harming them. This leaves them alive and well so that they can be transported to somewhere more appropriate for them to be released naturally. 

Typically this seems to be the best option for many individuals and small businesses as they do not require you to deal with dead rats or worry about children and pets falling victim to the traps set.

Best Rat Bait Options

No matter what kind of trap you choose to set, you need to be very intentional about the bait you use. Contrary to popular belief, rats are incredibly picky eaters, so choosing the right bait is crucial. Traditionally, peanut butter, cheese, bacon, cereal, and meat have been proven to be good options, but if you’re not seeing much success, you may want to switch up your bait options to include one or more of the following:

  • Dried Fruit
  • Slugs, Snails, and Snail Shells
  • A Variety of Nuts
  • Fish
  • Chocolate
  • Assorted Nut Butters Including Cashew and Almond
  • Gumdrops

Where to Place Your Traps

The obvious answer here is to place your traps where the rats are, and that can look different for every situation. As a rule of thumb, place your traps where you see the maximum amount of nesting, chewing, and droppings. These all indicate high-traffic areas for your pests, so they’re likely to give you the best results.

Common travel routes for rats are also good locations for traps. These areas are typically found right up against the walls in secluded areas where rats can find shelter and hide as they move about. Indications of a rat travel route can include droppings, scuffs, and scratches from their claws.

Start Trapping Rats Today!

If you’re facing a rat problem and you’re looking for an efficient, eco-friendly way to trap them, look no further than Rat Trap Distribution – contact us today!