How Do Rat Traps Work?

Need to get rid of rats? Read on to learn the answers to all of your important questions. Need help? Call our professionals today to get started.

Rats In Your Home

Every winter, around 21 million homes are infested by mice and rats. And when they do, they have no qualms about infiltrating food supplies, creating nests in your closets and bringing diseases and pathogens with them when they do. There are several lethal and non-lethal methods for rat control, however the majority of rat traps fall into one of four categories: snap traps, glue traps, live animal traps and electronic traps. Learn more about rat traps and what is the best method of rat control from Pest Control Experts.

How Do Rat Traps Work?

Snap Traps

Snap traps are a long-established method of trapping rats that consist of a thick metal wire that is connected to a small piece of wood. Equipped with a spring and catch, the snap trap works by placing a piece of bait onto a small part of the metal portion of the catch. When a rat takes the bait, the catch is released and the metal part of the trap snaps shut, with the idea that it will fall directly on the rat’s head, snapping its neck and killing it instantly. While cheap and widely available, snap traps are inhumane when they don’t work properly and can be a danger to you or small children.

Glue Traps

Glue traps are flat, plastic boards covered in a strong adhesive that traps a rat by affixing it in place on the adhesive connected to the trap. The more the rat struggles, the more it finds itself trapped by this sticky glue. While sometimes effective, this is another method that is considered inhumane because the rat is not killed by the trap, but rather through starvation and dehydration.

Live-Animal Traps

Live-animal traps are non-lethal and the most humane DIY rat trap. Essentially a small cage, rats are lured into the cage through the use of bait and then trapped until you or a pest control specialist can safely relocate the animal to a location far from your home.

Electronic Traps

These lethal traps are considered more humane than others and involve baiting rats into a tunnel in which the rat is shocked to death by a charge of 7,000 volts. This high-voltage shock is said to kill rats instantly, but is still small enough to be safe around larger pets such as dogs and cats and small children.

Should You Use Rat Traps For Rat Control In Your Home?

Rat traps are not an effective means of pest control if you have an established rat infestation in your home. They can be useful, however, in cases where there is risk of a rat infestation, but one is not currently underway. If you are looking to trap only one or two rats, one of the above options might work for you. 

However, if you are looking for a more humane way to either rid your home of an ongoing rat infestation or even to prevent one from occurring a call to a pest service professional who is trained to eliminate rats as well as protect your home from rat infestations is a better solution to any rat issue.

Find A Pest Specialist For Rat Control

If you are concerned about rat control for your home, please give us a call or fill out the form on this page. PestControlExperts.com is a team of experts who are highly qualified to provide the best recommendations for you and your home, no matter which part of the United States you live in.