Rat trap

[Corky(amateur) 0]

Hey everybody,

recently i made two live squirrel/rat traps, using similar blueprints to that of a design on here. only problem is, i want to catch squirrels for the pot, but i need to know if they can escape. so theres a factory estate thing near me with rubbish everywhere full of rats so i was gonna test durability with rats, if ya get my drift. thers plenty of food, etc and i know its choco block full of the rats. but i need to know where i should set these traps. ie how to recognise a rat run, feeding hotspots, best time to see rats. total newbie to trapping rats or squirrels as i'm a ferreter.

thanks all

Corky

Edited May 5, 2008 by Corky(amateur)

[john b 38]

Corky

There are people on here who trap more rats in a week than I do in a year so I'll let them answer your question - but lets have a look at these cages you've made. Put a pic or two up

 

John

[Rolfe 2]

A rat won't test a cage out for you as they tend to sit reasonably quiet when caught.......but a squirrel will test a cage to the limit in its effort to escape confinement.

So test the cages on squirrels would be my advice.....if they aren't robust enough the weak points should soon become obvious.

If you are setting cages for rats .....then anywhere there is a food source is a good place to start....find out what they are feeding on and try and provide the same sort of food as an attractant. Rat runs are quite easy to spot as they appear as greasy looking pathways about 3inches wide leading to and from points of harbourage. Disguise a cage by covering it in surrounding litter etc. this hides it from the public as well and helps it blend in with the area you are trapping. I tend to lightly disguise the tops of the cages, leaving the ends free and open. This does one of two things, it conveys the message to the rat that it can walk straight through the cage if it wants too........and also creates a kind of tunnel that it will want to investigate. Be aware though.......rats are very neophobic.......wary of anything new.....so it may take a while before you make a first catch. Hope this has been of some help.

 

Rolfe.

[Corky(amateur) 0]

Thanks rolfe. very useful information. what times should i set them. ie is there any point setting in the day or what?

kind regards

Corky

p.s john B, thay are currently set, so i will get some pictures up asap just for you. lol

[Rolfe 2]

Thanks rolfe. very useful information. what times should i set them. ie is there any point setting in the day or what?

kind regards

Corky

p.s john B, thay are currently set, so i will get some pictures up asap just for you. lol

They will catch day and night ..............if they can feed undisturbed.

[Corky(amateur) 0]

Excellent. thanks again Rolfe.

Best wishes

Corky

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Corky; If ye catch a rat, what are ye going to do with it then?