Catching a rat is very similar to catching a mouse. The only difference is that it may take you a little longer to catch a rat because they are intelligent creatures and will not jump as soon as they see food or water for the first time, like mice do. The most popular rat removal method is an electronic rat trap, which you can get for less than $50. Snap and glue traps often don’t catch the rat completely. Although they are cheap and can get the job done, many complain that half-dead rodents are too much trouble to deal with.

Humane rat traps, which allow you to get rid of pests far from your home, cost about $25. Due to their size, humane rat traps can also be used for animals such as squirrels, groundhogs, and skunks. Once you set up a rat trap, try to keep it in one place because rats are sensitive to their moving surroundings.

To catch the rodent in the trap, use a tempting trail of peanut butter. Although you can use just about anything as bait (fruit, chocolate, etc.), peanut butter works best because it can stay fresh for days and can’t be easily moved. For some types of traps, peanut butter doesn’t work well because rats can lick it off without triggering the trap. If you run into this problem, simply put some dental floss inside the peanut butter. This way, the only way the rat can get all of the peanut butter is by moving the trap mechanism.

Although there are poison bait products available, they are not recommended because they can leave you with rotting mice in hard-to-reach places around your home. If the rat doesn’t stay in the trap with the poisoned bait and goes elsewhere, you may have a dead rat somewhere, not knowing exactly where it is.

Once you have gotten rid of the rats in your house. It’s time to make sure they never come back. Seal any holes you have on the outside of your house. Rats love foundations and attics, so be sure to inspect those two areas thoroughly. Cement, with metal chips works well. It will also help if the outer surface of the plugged hole is smooth, so the rats don’t have anything to grab on to if they try to gnaw through the hole again. Make sure the outside of your home is free of debris (which rats can use as a haven), food (seal trash in containers), and water (leave your dog’s water bowl inside).

When dealing with rats, always wear gloves and be sure to wash your hands after dealing with them. They can transmit diseases, which can make you sick. To clean up rat droppings and/or urine, wear gloves and a protective mask. Sweep up droppings with a broom and dispose of them in a plastic bag. Finally, use an enzyme-based cleaning product to disinfect the area.

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