Rats can cause major headaches for homeowners. They damage property, spread disease, and contaminate food. If you have a rat problem, you'll need to take action. This guide covers everything you need to know about catching rats, from understanding their behavior to setting traps. Read on to regain control of your home.

Studying Rat Behavior

To catch a rat, you first need to understand how rats behave. Their patterns and tendencies reveal the best ways to trap them. Consider the following rat facts:

Types of Rats

There are two main species of rats in urban and rural areas:

• Norway Rats - Also called brown rats. They live in burrows and enjoy climbing and digging. Norway rats often nest in basements, sewers, and yards.

• Roof Rats - Also called black rats. They nest high up in attics, trees, and elevated spaces. Roof rats are agile climbers who prefer fruit and veggies.

Social Structure

Rats live in organized colonies. Understanding their social dynamics provides useful insights:

• Hierarchy - Colonies have an alpha rat as the leader. Dominant rats may be harder to trap.

• Nocturnal - Rats are most active at night. Plan trapping accordingly.

• Nesting - Rats nest in warm, dark, hidden spaces. Target potential nesting spots.

Feeding Habits

Rats will eat almost anything, but they prefer certain foods:

• Omnivorous - Rats eat grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, nuts and more. Use preferred foods as bait.

• Hoarding - Rats stockpile food in hiding places. Find hoards to identify high traffic areas.

Movement

Rats stay on well-traveled paths and avoid new areas:

• Runways - Rats follow set routes marked by grease marks or droppings. Place traps along runways.

• Territorial - Rats avoid unknown territories. Expect reluctance to enter new spaces.

Once you understand rats' habits, you can start planning your trapping strategy. But first, take some safety precautions.

Trapping Precautions

Before setting traps, protect yourself from diseases rats may carry:

• Leptospirosis - Spread through rat urine and water. Causes fever and organ damage.

• Hantavirus - Inhaled from droppings. Can lead to respiratory illness.

• Salmonellosis - Passed through contaminated food and water. Causes gastrointestinal issues.

• Plague - Rare today, but rats can carry plague-infected fleas.

You'll also need protective gear:

• Gloves - Guard against direct contact with rats and droppings.

• Face Mask - Prevent inhalation of contaminated dust particles.

• Safety Glasses - Shield eyes from splashes and scratches.

• Long Sleeves - Cover skin to avoid bites and scratches.

Proper sanitization helps too:

• Clean Contaminated Areas - Use bleach solution to kill pathogens.

• Trash Disposal - Seal and toss any rat-exposed waste.

• Seal Food - Store edibles in airtight containers.

With the right precautions, you can trap rats safely. Next up: setting effective traps.

Choosing and Placing Traps

Several trap types are available for catching rats. Pick the right one for your situation and use proper bait to lure them in.

Trap Types

Popular options include:

• Snap Traps - Kill rats quickly with a spring-loaded bar. Place against walls.

• Live Cage Traps - Capture rats without killing them. Release or dispatch later.

• Glue Traps - Rodents stuck to an adhesive surface. Position along runways.

• Electronic Traps - Deliver electric shock for a lethal or nonlethal effect. Good for attics.

• Bait Stations - Hide poison or traps inside a secure box. Keep away from children.

Consider each trap's humane factor, effectiveness, and safety.

Bait Selection

Bait traps with enticing foods like:

• Peanut butter
• Bacon
• Cheese
• Fruit pieces
• Nutmeats
• Seeds
• Dry pet food

Use baits that appeal to rats' preferences and local food sources. Rotate baits to prevent boredom.

Trap Placement

Strategically place traps where rats travel and nest:

• Along baseboards and walls
• In or near burrows
• Near droppings and grease markings
• By gnawed holes and entry points
• Beside food and water sources
• Within nesting areas like attics

Place multiple traps to cover more ground. Replenish bait and reset traps as needed.

With the right traps set up properly, you'll start reducing the rat population. But trapping alone often isn't enough. Keep reading for tips on finding and sealing rat access points.

Locating and Blocking Entryways

Traps only catch some of the rats. You also need to find and close up how they're getting in so new ones can't enter.

Finding Entry Points

Look for signs of rat entryways like:

• Holes in walls, floors, ceilings
• Gnaw marks around pipes and vents
• Rub marks along walls from greasy fur
• Droppings around potential openings

Also inspect along the exterior perimeter for potential access holes. Focus on foundation edges, attic vents, openings around utilities, and gaps around windows.

Sealing Up Openings

Once found, seal up any openings wider than 1/4 inch. Use:

• Cement, mortar, hardware cloth, steel wool for larger holes
• Caulk, spackling, wood putty for minor gaps
• Foam sealant for sealing around pipes and cracks

Install weather stripping around doors and windows and use wire mesh to cover vents. Removing exterior clutter and vegetation also eliminates entry and hiding spots.

With their access blocked off, rats will have a much harder time re-entering your home. Now let's go over proper trap cleaning and rat disposal.

Sanitizing and Disposing of Traps

Proper cleanup keeps your trapping efforts safe and effective. Follow these steps when handling rat traps:

• Wear protective gloves when disposing of dead rats or cleaning droppings.
• Disinfect traps between uses to minimize disease spread. Soak in bleach solution.
• Safely contain trapped live rats in plastic bins until release or disposal.
• Seal dead rats in double plastic bags before placing in outdoor trash cans.
• Clean droppings with paper towels soaked in disinfectant. Avoid stirring up dust.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water when finished.

Reusable traps like live cages should be sanitized after each rat caught. Disposable traps like glue boards should be promptly thrown away once they've trapped a rat.

By keeping traps clean and regularly replacing bait, you'll get rid of rats faster. Consistency is key.

When to Call a Professional

In severe rat infestations, you may need professional pest control assistance. Signs you should call for backup include:

• Traps ineffective despite proper baiting and placement
• New rats appear soon after others are caught
• Multiple entry points that are difficult to seal
• Identification of a roof rat problem
• Heavy contamination requiring extensive decontamination
• Health issues preventing safe trap cleaning

Licensed exterminators have commercial-grade traps, poisons, and expertise for handling large or complex rat situations. Their insight can supplement your trapping efforts.

Stay Vigilant Against Rats

Catching rats requires patience and diligence. Keep trapping and sealing entryways until all signs of activity stop. Then monitor regularly for fresh droppings or other indications of a new infestation. With continued vigilance, you can keep rats from overrunning your home.

By understanding rat behavior, taking safety precautions, using effective traps, and blocking access, you can successfully get rid of household rats. Just stay persistent in your trapping and exclusion efforts. Soon your home will be free of these destructive pests.