Rats, smoker & terrier

[swarmcatcher 15]

I'm hoping I can get some advice on catching rats with a single jack russel and net?

I had a rat trapped in the house during the night last week.

I figured how it got in and have screened that area with ss mesh but on looking around outside I found a rat run beneath the wall and fence into the properties either side of me, and a number of burrows in a flower bed in the next door property.

I have a terrier which has done a bit of ratting in the past on a farm, can anyone tell me how many terriers I would need to use if I was smoking out the burrows; more than one I’m guessing, or could I put nets down to slow them up and catch them that way, or even snares?

I saw someone mentioning the Rat Smoker II, would this be the thing to use? Or could I make up something similar?

I don’t want to put rodenticide down because I know one of the dogs will get to it.

 

Any advice on this would be appreciated.

 

[paulus 26]

seal as many holes as possible just leave enough for 1 terrier to cover if it does bolt its highly likely to be disorientated by the smoke if it doesnt bolt it will die underground. i use a petrol hedge trimmer engine mounted on a block of wood, just add extra oil and fannys your craddock

[swarmcatcher 15]

Thanks Paulus

How many holes do you think one terrier could cover adequately?

Rats would chew thru nets to quickly?

If they bolt and we dont get them will they return or will they go looking for new homes?

[paulus 26]

just leave the holes that are in the open if you know what i mean, personally i tried nets a while ago and found them to be pants better off without them. if youve smoked it well and theyve had a good lung full they will be alot slower than normal. if possible block off areas with old boards or plastic/tin sheeting so they carnt get far. and most of all have fun

[Millet 4,497]

l. if possible block off areas with old boards or plastic/tin sheeting so they carnt get far. and most of all have fun

Good bit of info there ..instead of using a noisy smoker can you not dig them out using the terrier to mark the holes and trench on with a decent spade.

[swarmcatcher 15]

If you think its easy enough to dig them out I'm happy to give that a shot. I was just worried that the burrows would be interconnected and they would be heading out of one while i was digging another, as you can tell I don't have a clue on the habbits of rats, I was thinking they would hab set ups like rabbits?

I just rea somewhere hat they are often quite shallow solitary holes, is that right? If so I'n guessing digging is easier than smoking and gives our Jack a good bit of ractice

All comments appreciated

[andy67 7]

where abouts are you in wales mate .

[nod 285]

i dont have a dog but still got a smoker, old chain saw engine running bit rich, i use it on a bank on the edge of a fieldleading to a grain store on one of my contracts, start smoking them at the botton they run out of the top and towards the grain store im standing there waiting with my mole probe, most i have had i 12 and lost 2 whilst hitting others, they will follow their runs so if you are waiting on one you should be able to spank them

[andy67 7]

have any of you lads tried setting body grippers on the rat runs then smoking out the rats that hopefully run their paths into the body grippers .