Rat Traps and Baiting DIY Techniques

Rats are a living nightmare when they end up living in your home. They leave a trail of destruction in their wake as they disrupt the calm hominess, not to mention the health risks they spread.

It’s no fun dealing with a rat infestation. All your time and energy is spent on getting them out of your home as quickly as possible. Homeowners like to try DIY methods before involving professional pest control. There are numerous rat traps on the market but our professionals at Kapture Pest Control are trained to deal with rats and rat traps on a daily basis so you can save yourself a lot of time by reaching out to us.

Diseases Carried by Rodents

Rats are much larger than typical house mice and knowing they are lurking around your home will give you chills. They have a bad reputation of carrying diseases that puts you and your family at risk.

The most common bacteria transmitted by these critters are leptospirosis and salmonella. As if these two threats weren’t enough, they also carry fleas and ticks which also carry diseases and can transmit them to your pets. The reality is that every surface they touch is covered with urine and droppings that further contaminate your home. This is especially true for the rat traps it gets caught in.

Microscopic amounts of urine are everywhere, but you can’t see them unless you get close. Rodents are born without a bladder, so they urinate as they walk. If you find droppings on your kitchen counter, you can guarantee it’s full of pee too. Anything they encounter is contaminated—only a strong disinfectant can make these surfaces safe again.

If you have allergies or respiratory issues, the fecal matter, urine, and oily substances in their hair can trigger them.

Addressing Property Damage

One rodent in your home can cause destruction, but having more than one of these large gnawing critters can cause extensive damage. Rats have exceptionally sharp teeth and can chew through wood, plastic, and even electrical wires. Aside from the need to replace these items, there’s also a fire risk.

The destructive chewing habits of a rat go beyond drywall and paper and can ruin your personal belongings. Rats will chew through anything, especially while making nests. They will gnaw on your clothing, books, magazines, and irreplaceable possessions. The emotional and financial strain caused by these large rodents is undeniable. Not to mention all the gross rat traps you will have to deal with if you choose to go that route.

Since rats reproduce at an alarming rate, an infestation can quickly spiral out of control. Getting rid of them at any stage in the game is challenging. However, the more there are in your home, the greater the challenge of eradicating them.

Rats threaten the structural integrity of your home and bring much discomfort and unease to everyone who lives there. The constant chewing, scurrying, and glimpses of them dashing across the floor leave a psychological impact. Many folks can’t sleep because they fear a rat will climb into bed with them.

These large rodents chip away at your feelings of safety in your own home, increasing your stress levels. When you see those ominous droppings on a surface, taking care of the rodent issue is imperative and setting rat traps is a good idea. Waiting even a week can give them enough time to reproduce and worsen the problem.

Do You Need to Set Rat Traps?

How do you know if you need to set rat traps in your home? The ability to detect a rat infestation in its infancy will save you many headaches. Since these critters can hide and don’t always leave telltale signs behind them, you must look for these subtle hints and address the issue promptly.

1. Chance Encounters

The first and most obvious sign that you have a rat problem is that you see them. Remember that rats are nocturnal creatures, so you usually don’t see them scurrying about during the day. However, if you do see them when the sun is up, it can indicate the severity of the issue.

It’s unusual to see rats on the run during daytime hours, and it typically means the nest is overcrowded and they’re looking for a new place to live or food to eat. Rodents become more daring the longer they’re in a space, so a daytime sighting is a cause for alarm and a big signal to set up rat traps.

2. Things That Go Bump in the Night

One of the most petrifying ways to notice a rat infestation is by all the strange noises you hear. It could be 2 am, and you’re fast asleep, but the sound of something scratching or chewing on things will awaken you. These strange noises can come from within the walls or under the floorboards.

Rats never stay still, as they’re constantly on the move. If you hear these strange sounds, it’s a sign that they’re busy working and destroying your personal belongings along with the structural integrity of the space.

3. Droppings Everywhere: Bring Out the Rat Traps

As if the chewing and random sightings weren’t enough, rat droppings are undeniable. There’s much confusion between mouse and rat feces. Rats will have you running to the store for rat traps because they are much larger than mice, and so are their droppings.

The fecal matter of a rat is about the same size as a grain of rice. Their fecal pellets are dark brown and have a spindle shape to them. It’s common to see these droppings in your kitchen cupboards, the pantry, and walls as they travel back and forth. One rat can leave many droppings, so an infestation can drop an overwhelming amount of fecal matter.

4. Rats’ Nests Uncovered

Growing up your parents might have used the term ‘rat’s nest’ to describe your hair or a mess in your bedroom. The term was coined from the cluttered pile the rat uses to call home. Bird nests are usually neat and made with similar materials, but a rat’s nest is a cluster of anything they can find.

When you find a nest, it’s undeniable what it is, and you might see some of your beloved clothing mingled in the mix. Missing sock anyone? Nests are made by shredding materials with their teeth. The materials can be paper, fabric, or even the insulation from your walls. Unlike mice, the rats’ nests are rather large as they must accommodate their significant size.

It’s not uncommon to find more than one nest in your home. You might find them in the back of your stove, the attic, a basement, or crawlspace. Finding a nest means there’s an already established rat presence that requires immediate attention. Rat traps may not be enough.

5. Chew Marks

Rats are worse than teething toddlers as they love to chew on everything. Since their teeth are so strong and can rip through wood and plastic easily, you will likely see teeth marks on things they’ve touched. Most people don’t know that rats’ teeth never stop growing.

Rats must continue to file down these teeth as they will grow and bust through their skull if they don’t maintain them! IRats are not the only ones with these ever-growing teeth, as this is typical of any rodent. Their powerful choppers can go through wires, food packaging, baseboards, and even furniture.

Effective DIY Rat Trap Solutions

You’ve identified that you have a rat problem, and you’re ready to fight back to reclaim your home. You head to the hardware store prepared for battle, but what should you buy? There are many choices for DIY rat traps and here are some things you should know about them.

1. Snap Traps

Most folks grab snap traps because they’re cheap and effective. It’s best to put these rat traps along the walls where you’ve observed rat droppings, as this is their most frequently traveled path. Unlike mice, rats don’t like cheese. They prefer peanut butter or dried fruits, as they like sweet things.

The key to making these rat traps effective is ensuring the trigger is sensitive, so there’s quick action. Rats can outfox some surprises, especially the ones with lackluster trigger action. These traps are also dangerous—you do not want to get your fingers caught in these suckers!

2. Bucket Rat Traps

The bucket traps are a bit more sophisticated, but not everyone can construct one. This is truly a DIY device as you need a bucket about one-third of the way filled with water, and a ramp should be connected to it.

You want to place a can or bottle with bait inside in the middle of the ramp. The goal is to have the rat climb the ramp to get the food and fall into the water. Since rats can’t swim, they will drown.

3. Glue Traps

Glue traps are a bit controversial because they don’t kill rodents instantly. Rather, they leave them to suffer in the trap until they pass, which can take days. Another problem with these rat traps is that if you try to remove the rodent from the home, it can be dangerous to be so up close and personal. If you choose to use these, you must put them in their pathways or close to nests and hiding spots.

4. Electric Traps

Electric traps have been around for a while, but people are starting to feel comfortable using them. They’re not as inexpensive as snap traps but very effective at capturing one rat. The rat trap has a metal plate that contains high-voltage shock.

When a rat steps on the plate, a shock strong enough to kill them is sent through their body. If you decide to use these traps, ensure no pets or children are in the home. It’s hazardous to use these devices around them.

5. Homemade Rat Traps

Perhaps you’re creative and want to make your own rat trap. It can be done with a small box or a cardboard tube. Place the bait inside the tube and place the tube along the wall or in a corner. You must fix the box so that when the rat enters the entrance, it closes them inside. They will be trapped, and you can humanely take them back into nature.

Baiting Tips and Techniques for Rat Traps

Don’t confuse the diet of mice with rats, as they have different preferences and eating habits. Rats don’t have good eyesight and are skeptical by nature. They won’t go off the beaten path to eat anything, so placing the rat traps and the correct type of bait is imperative. Here are some tips to notate.

• Rats love peanut butter, so it’s the first thing you should try in your rat traps. Since they like any nut, you can also try a hazelnut spread if you run out of peanut butter or need to catch a clever rodent.
• Rats also favor dried fruits like prunes, apricots, and raisins. You can place them right in a rat trap, and a rat can’t refuse.
• Who knew rats loved meat? They will do anything for some bacon or chicken. The strong smell of meat is quite enticing. They love jerky too, so if peanut butter isn’t working, you should switch to meat.
• If you leave Fido’s pet food out and have rats in the home, you’ll know quickly. Rats love pet food, so using it near rat traps is an excellent way to catch them. The only warning is to ensure that the pet doesn’t have access to the bait, so there are no accidents.
• When one thing doesn’t work, you should always try another until you find one that does. Some folks like to use multiple baits to increase their chances of success.
• Switch up your bait frequently. Rats will become bored if there’s only peanut butter, and if you have a family of rats to eradicate, you need to become strategic in your methods and bait choices.
• It’s essential that you clean the rat traps after each catch to ensure there’s no smell left that can detour other rodents.
• When you handle these traps, make sure you use gloves as the smell of a human will cause them to go the other way.

Knowing When to Call for Help

By implementing these baiting tips and techniques, you increase the likelihood of successfully catching rats, but often, a large infestation is more than most people can handle. Remember, patience, strategic placement, and varied baiting methods often yield the best results in rat trapping efforts.

If you’re fighting a losing battle, you need Kapture Pest Control professionals. It’s best to call for professional help when things seem out of control. Our team at Kapture understands the fears and dangers that come with having a rodent infestation and we are well trained on getting rid of rats and all other pests.