Rat-catching isn’t scientific but most people are scared of them. While a mouse can do almost as much damage, they’re a lot smaller. Finding a huge rat waddling around your house can instill a panic in you. However, it doesn’t have to be like that.
Common FAQ’s about Rodent Infestations:
1.What is the best rat food for traps?
2.What are the best rat traps for attic?
3.What is the best bait for rat traps?
4.What are the best live rat traps?
5.What are the best rat traps outdoors?
Many homes are infested with rats. This article is going to explain what products can kill rats. However, it also focuses on what rap traps to use that almost always work quickly. Though you may want them gone now, rat-catching does take some time.
Do You Have a Rat Infestation?
Rats can weigh about 18 ounces, but you might not see them. Most people only realize that they have rats from the presence of them. These telltale signs can help you figure out if you’re dealing with a rat:
- Large droppings near a food source
- Grease marks on baseboards/walls
- Chew marks on drywall or wood
- Holes in the yard that wasn’t there before
Prevention Is Key
It’s much easier to prevent rats from getting inside your house. If you’ve got rats, rat-catching is the first step. Then, you can ensure that they don’t come back in:
No Food Source
Rats eat almost everything, and they need more food than mice. However, they still only need about 1 to 3 ounces of food a day. To prevent a future rat problem, store your scraps and food carefully. The food should be in a sealed container, and you should clean crumbs and spills immediately.
Rats also need a good water source. Therefore, you should check the faucets and pipes in and around the house to make sure there are no leaks.
You also need to keep the lid on the garbage so that rats can’t get inside and eat the trash. Make sure you put away the cat/dog food when your pet is finished because rats don’t care what they eat.
Seal Openings and Cracks
Rats need up to 1 ounce of water a day, so they are likely to travel out of the house. You should always seal up the holes, cracks, and entry points. Even if the hole is only the size of a regular quarter, a rat can get in.
What Kills Rats Quickly?
Rat baits and rat traps can be used for rat-catching. Usually, it’s a good idea to use both methods at the same time. That way, you have a rodent control system that covers all the bases. However, the option you choose for rat-catching may depend on your personal preferences.
Bait
Rat bait stations often contain a special chemical to kill rats. However, it doesn’t happen immediately. Instead, these stations use the rat’s feeding habit against it.
Rats are often wary of new food sources. That means they’re going to nibble a bite of it and see if it does any harm. If they believe that the food is safe, they are going to continue eating it, and other rats do too.
A single-feed rat poison often takes a while to work because of those behaviors. If the rats died immediately, the others in the house might avoid them altogether.
You should set out fresh bait for a full 10 days until you’re sure there’s no rat activity. While the bait is contained, the rat isn’t going to die there. They eat the bait (often a lethal dose all at once) and go back to their nest. It can take one to two days before they die.
Bait stations are different based on the manufacturer. You should look for one with tamper resistance so that the rat can’t gnaw at it. Also, it’s best to go with a refillable one, so you can add more bait as it is eaten.
Typically, a 1-ounce bait block kills 10 rats. If you’ve got pets or children, make sure that you use one that’s friendly to humans and pets. For example, the TomCat Rat/Mouse Killer is disposable, kid/dog resistant, and can be used outside (such as in the garage). They’re preloaded, so you don’t even have to touch the bait.
Rat Traps
There are many different traps out there for rat-catching. Typically, it’s better to use rat traps than bait if you can’t locate the dead rats or want to prove that they’ve been caught.
You can find:
- Wood traps
- Mechanical traps
- Glue traps
Wooden rat traps are often large with a spring-loaded snapper. You bait the trap with some cheese or peanut butter, and when the rat sets off the trigger, it snaps closed on it.
These are often very reliable, and you can reuse them. However, it can be hard to set the spring-loaded snapper.
Mechanical traps are similar to the wooden ones. However, they’re easier to set. Once the rat gets in there, they can’t get out. The issue is you can’t reuse them and have to throw them away once they’ve caught the rat. This can get quite expensive if you’ve got a large infestation.
Rat glue traps are another option for rat-catching. Most homeowners use them in areas where it’s hard to set a normal trap. You may want it near the stove or refrigerator. While rat glue traps immobilize the rat, they aren’t going to kill it.
Once you catch one, you must dispose of it yourself. Though they’re extremely sticky, the rat can escape and come back in the house. Many people believe that glue traps are inhumane because you must crush their skills or drown the rats to kill them.
Conclusion
It’s a little upsetting to find a rat in your garage, attic, or house. Though you may cringe, you can deal with it yourself. Rat catching isn’t as hard as you might think. However, you may want to use different methods to have a rodent control system in place.
Mechanical and wooden traps are often the best rat traps out there. When a rat gets on the trap, it instantly kills it. You don’t have to do anything else or worry about bait killing the rat when it’s out of your reach.
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