Rats are much smarter, and people usually don’t give them enough credit. There are plenty of cases of property owners attempting to catch a rat through different methods and baits and still end up failing. Thus we’re going to provide you with a few tips, which should enable you to easily catch that pest while pointing out to the most common mistakes people do in the process.

The Most Common Trap Mistakes

You’ve been playing cat and mouse for a week now, and the rat seems to be outsmarting you every time. Is the creature, in fact simply better at you at this game or are you doing, something wrong, reducing your chance of accomplishing an effective result?

• You’re Most Likely Ruining the Bait

When setting up the bait in the snapping trap, make sure to wear latex gloves, as the rats could simply detect your scent. They’re aware they’re being hunted down. The rat will simply ignore the bait, regardless of how good that cheese is. Gloves are not only going to increase your chance of catching the little rodent but are also the sanitary solution.

• Wrong Quantities of Bait

Be sure to remember, you’re trying to catch a small rodent, not an elephant. If you overload the trap with bait, one of two things will happen. First, the rat could simply steal a portion of the food without triggering the snap. Second, the quantity of bait could, in fact, stop the trigger. In both cases, the rat goes back to its hole with a full stomach, while you’re left confused.

What Should You Do?

It’s quite senseless to be aware of what you shouldn’t do if you don’t know what you should do.

• Put The Trap In Enclosed Areas

A common mistake is to leave the trap out in the open, which might even attract more rats. Put it in an enclosed space, plus that would raise the chance of catching the rodent. Rats usually move closer to the walls of a room, and only a sick or weak rat would move to the center of it for a treat. There’s a reason you see experts put traps near a corner. Furthermore, it would be best, if the trap near a corner, underneath furniture as far away from the door as possible. Theoretically, that type of trap would have the highest chance of catching its victim.

• Leave Traps Out with A Bait Before Setting Them Up


That’s right. Mice and rats don’t like new objects in their environment. They’d need to get to know them first, before feeling comfortable. If you have a problem with a whole pack of rats, it would be best to leave the traps out with bait for a week, before actually setting them up for the kill. That way the rats will make an association to the trap with a place, it gets its food, and even if a fellow rodent in the pack dies, it won't be bothered.

Read the How to get rid of rats page for helpful information and to learn more about What to Do About a Trap-Shy Rat?