There are many options to combat a rat infestation, with more than a quarter of American households reporting that they have had a rodent invade their home at least once. In this article, we’re going to take a look at traps, and see what lethal and non-lethal options you have at your disposal.
Snap trap
This is an old-fashioned rat trap. It consists of a thick wire of metal attached to a piece of wood. The trap can be set using a spring and catch. The catch is set by placing a bit of bait on the small piece of metal, and it is released when the rat takes the bait. This causes the metal to snap on the rat’s neck, killing it instantly. These traps are inexpensive and efficient, but they can be dangerous if someone or a pet steps on them.
Snap traps made of plastic are safer and they are designed to suffocate their furry victims. This trap mimics the open mouth of an animal. The mouth of the trap clamps shut when a rat enters the plastic jaws, and this applies pressure to the rat, suffocating it. The plastic snap trap is more suitable for homes with children and pets because it doesn’t inflict any injuries, it can be reused but it is more expensive than regular snap traps.
Glue trap
One of the most controversial and effective ways to catch a rat is by using glue traps. A glue trap is a flat board made of plastic or cardboard covered with extremely sticky glue. The board is placed in an area where rats are active, and when a rat goes over the board, the adhesive will immobilize it. On top of that, the rat becomes more trapped the harder it struggles.
This trap is considered inhumane, because the animal will die painfully of dehydration after a period of time. The rat might also break bones as it attempts to escape, and it may cause a lot of noise while it’s trapped. There is also the risk of having someone else or a pet step in the trap.
Live-animal trap
Live-animal traps are non-lethal, and they are basically small cages that are used to trap rats. The rat can be lured in by using bait, and a pressure-sensitive trip plate triggers a spring mechanism, which causes the door to close, trapping the rat inside. Once the trap has sprung, the rat has to be taken somewhere far away from the home and released. This is a more expensive and time consuming trapping option, but it is the most humane.
If you have a rat problem, a pest control pro will discuss with you the control procedure before taking any action. The control measures may include both traps and poisons. If you would like to know more, contact us today.