Rat: Trap or Poison

[WhyMe]

i think i have a rat in my garage. i can hear it moving. i have a lot of stuff stored in that area and can't see it. i would like to get rid of it .

Which is more effective. Poison or trap?

 

[Revving2Redline]

Dab of cheap peanut butter on trap. I got 10 in three days. Had same issue. Patched a hole with 0000 steel wool and sprayed peppermint oil and they no mas.

 

[eyeofthetiger]

They both work, but the trap is safer (for kids, pets, other animals) and more fun.

 

[expat]

Both!

Some rats will not go near a trap, some do not go for the poison.

We use a bait station made from 16" of 3" ABS pipe with a bait block wired in the middle. Domestic pets cannot get to the bait, but even Rat-attack seems to take more than one feeding to work.

Traps are fine, IF the rat approaches it from the right direction, if not they get a free ride followed by a free meal.

 

[fsdork]

I don't want my dog to eat a poison-filled rat, so I would go with traps.

 

[gathermewool]

Rats are too smart for traps. Are you sure it's not a mouse?

I just caught three mice in a week with traps - they're curious buggers. We had a specialist come in, but he refused the job, because he said he didn't see any evidence that we had an issue, and that he would probably have to charge me $225 for the job, and might not catch anything based on his observations (minimal poops and the number I'd caught and see on webcams - none since catching the three.)

I haven't seen any activity on webcam and no mice in traps, so, fingers crossed, I'm good to go.

//

Poison always worries me, because then they might go somewhere to die where you can't easily get them. Then you've got a rotting rat corpse stuffed away somewhere inaccessible. Kids/dogs/other pets? Also no go for poison.

 

[Linctex]

D-Con works REALLY well...... for making green rat turds.

This is the best trap:

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

If you use poison make sure you use it with a bait box it will keep kids and pets out of the poison.

 

[KneeGrinder]

Cat.

 

[WhyMe]

Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Rats are too smart for traps. Are you sure it's not a mouse?

I just caught three mice in a week with traps - they're curious buggers. We had a specialist come in, but he refused the job, because he said he didn't see any evidence that we had an issue, and that he would probably have to charge me $225 for the job, and might not catch anything based on his observations (minimal poops and the number I'd caught and see on webcams - none since catching the three.)

I haven't seen any activity on webcam and no mice in traps, so, fingers crossed, I'm good to go.

//

Poison always worries me, because then they might go somewhere to die where you can't easily get them. Then you've got a rotting rat corpse stuffed away somewhere inaccessible. Kids/dogs/other pets? Also no go for poison.


not 100% sure. long time ago i did find a dead rat when i cleaned up the same area. i can hear it occasioanly when i am working in the garage. its been pretty cold here for the last few months. i think they got in when i open the garage as my house is brick and concrete. drive bys don't scare me

 

[Revving2Redline]

I liked this one better....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux8L7hyIWVE

 

[Leo99]

Don't want a bucket of drowned mice do deal with. I just want them gone.

 

[Lyman]

I caught two huge rats under my house last winter. Trying to setup a little breeding ground. Got them both with a trap and peanut butter.

 

[spasm3]

I saw the title and thought this was a thread about 80's glam metal bands!

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: Linctex
D-Con works REALLY well...... for making green rat turds.

This is the best trap:





Some good ways to catch them there...

 

[Oldtom]

I do not use poison. The critter can get into a wall and die. Then you have 3 months of smelling rotten rat. Get some cardboard and duct tape and fabricate a long box to hold a rat trap. The box channels the critter into the jaws of death and reduces missed animals. Peanut butter works well as bait

 

[4wd]

Originally Posted By: Oldtom
I do not use poison. The critter can get into a wall and die. Then you have 3 months of smelling rotten rat. Get some cardboard and duct tape and fabricate a long box to hold a rat trap. The box channels the critter into the jaws of death and reduces missed animals. Peanut butter works well as bait


+1

Empty 12 pack Coke carton is a good start …

 

[Donald]

If there are no cats or dogs near then poisoning them will probably work. You do not want pets eating the bait or poisoned dead rodents.

 

[quint]

Originally Posted By: Oldtom
I do not use poison. The critter can get into a wall and die. Then you have 3 months of smelling rotten rat.

Tell me about it.... went down this road when I had a small infestation of mice in the basement. Caught a few with traps in the first few days, then when I was only getting 1 every couple weeks I put some poison bait on top of the drop ceiling. About a week later I had a funky "something is dead" smell, then a week after that started I had an infestation of flies that had to be seen to be believed. The only good thing was about 10 days after that, no more smell, and a basement floor full of dead flies. Never did find the carcass of whatever died. Didn't see anymore mice though.

 

[CourierDriver]

When we lived in the country , mice loved our basement,,we had a cat,,she kept it cleaned up and would leave the dead mouse on the back porch to show us she was on the job,, a cat is a cat,,,they will do a good job on mice...

fast forward to about the 1:10 time frame..