The Best Rat Traps to Get Rid of Mice and Rats Fast

You know what it’s like to have a mouse or rat in the house. Though you may not see the actual pest, you notice their droppings and shreds of paper and cloth, which indicate they are there.

It’s important to get rid of mice and rats quickly and efficiently. If you don’t, you run the risk of getting various diseases. However, they can also damage your home and belongings extensively.

The Dangers of Rodents in the Home

Most people don’t want to live with rats or mice in the house. You may not fear them, but you dislike the thought of them crawling on your things and doing damage. However, it’s easy to forget just how dangerous rodents can be to humans.

Mice and rats carry many diseases, and some of them can be deadly for humans. Things like Salmonellosis, Rat-Bite Fever, Listeria, and Hantavirus are all possible to contract. It’s important to note that many of these diseases are commonly found in third-world countries without proper sanitation and running water. However, it’s not impossible for you or a member of your family to get it, too.

Along with the diseases they carry, rats and mice can also aggravate your allergies or asthma. National studies have shown that mouse urine could trigger allergies in about 35 percent of American homes. If you have a mouse or rat in the house, they have left feces and urine. Ultimately, some people are just as allergic to the droppings as they are to dust and mold. 

There are other dangers of rodents in the home, too. For example, mice and rats eat almost anything, and this includes the components of the house. Their sharp teeth can cut through cardboard, wood, insulation, and wall-boards. They also like to nibble on wires, so your electrical system could be at risk. Exposed wires from mice cause roughly 25 percent of all house fires in the US.

Best Traps for Mice and Rats

Now that you know why rats and mice are so dangerous, it’s important to learn how to remove them from the house. Prevention is the best method, but if you’ve got an infestation, you have to get rid of them. Rat traps are the best solution, and there are four primary options available.

Snap Trap

Though old-fashioned, the snap traps are a classic because they work. With them, there is a small piece of wood as the base with a thick metal wire and spring/catch system. That way, you can set the trap, add some bait, and kill the rat. 

These rat traps are highly effective and cheap, but they can also be very dangerous. If the trap size is large, it can break your fingers while you try to set it. You’ve got to be careful not to put the rat trap in a place where children or pets could reach.

For mice, you can choose the plastic snap traps. They’re often safer and suffocate the pests. Typically, they look like a snake’s mouth opening with a special mechanism inside. If a rat or mouse wanders inside to get the bait, the mouth then clamps shut and applies pressure until the rat or mouse is suffocated.

Both types of snap traps are reusable. However, they’re also inexpensive enough that you can pick the entire thing up and throw it away if you don’t want to deal with the dead mouse body. 

Glue Trap

Glue traps are another effective option for getting rid of rats, but they’re also controversial. You see, it’s just a plastic board with some super-sticky glue on a side. In a sense, you put it wherever there’s rat or mouse activity. If the pest walks over the board, it’s stuck and immobilized. It’s going to struggle to get out and becomes even more trapped.

Many people call them inhumane. If you don’t see the rodent, it might try to gnaw its feet off to get away. Plus, it’s a slower death because the mouse starves and dehydrates. You can choose to hit it with a hammer or drown it once you catch it, but again, this could be considered inhumane.

On top of that, the glue trap is going to collect insects, dirt, and more. That means they’re ineffective at that point, and you can’t reuse them once you’ve caught a rodent.

Live-animal Traps

The live-animal trap is nonlethal and also humane. With it, you get a small cage. You can lure the rat with bait, and once it steps on the trip plate, the spring mechanism releases the door and traps the rat. Now, you can take the rodent outside and far away from your home that it can’t return. 

However, you could trap other animals inside, and this solution is more expensive and requires more effort from you.

Electronic Traps

Electronic traps are considered humane and lethal. It’s a tunnel-shaped trap with a baited area. Once the rat or mouse is inside, it gets a high-volt shock from the base’s metal plate. These traps require four “C” batteries. Therefore, it’s not strong enough to hurt pets and children.

Other Tips To Get Rid of Rats and Mice

Rat traps come in all types. However, the best traps for mice and rats are those that you feel comfortable with using.

Many people prefer the kill rat traps instead of catch-release ones because it’s less work for them. It’s often best to use multiple types of rat traps and put them in all areas where you see activity. 

You also have to focus on indoor vs. outdoor traps:

• Some glue traps are only available for outdoor or indoor use.
• Wooden snap traps don’t do well outside because the wood could warp and set them off.
• Glue traps are best used inside because they collect debris and dirt.
• Electronic traps aren’t water-proof or weather-resistant and could short out if used outside.

Conclusion

There are many options for rat traps. Now that you know what’s out there, it’s easier to decide what’s going to be best for your home. We recommend that you use multiple styles if you have a large rat infestation. That way, if they sneak the bait out of the traditional trap, they could still get caught on the glue. Though it takes time, be patient, and you’re sure to get rid of mice and rats.

If you’re looking for the right team to handle the issue for you, Synergy² is here to help. We provide trusted services throughout the area, so contact us for the best pest control services around.