Traps for rats and mice - a review of effective traps

Harm

Mice and rats eat everything that is in kitchens, warehouses, pantries, cellars, sheds, barns and other places where there is something edible. They can also damage clothes, shoes, and books.

Rodents leave excrement, urine, and saliva in homes. They are considered carriers of over 70 infectious diseases. The ominous medieval plague epidemic that wiped out the population of half of Europe was brought about by rats.

Penetration methods

Garbage dumps are considered the favorite habitat of wild rats, where they find food. When it gets cold, rodents move into basements. They enter homes through ventilation and sewerage. According to reviews, they enter apartments located on the 1st floor through doors and windows.

Since rats are prolific, a well-maintained home will be a breeding ground for rodents. And this happens in a short time. Therefore, if there are traces of pests, you should begin to combat them. An overview of effective traps for rats and mice is presented below.

You can either buy rodent control products or make your own. Rat traps are a well-known device. The products differ in design, but there is a common feature - the presence of a bait that is located inside the device. The animal wants to receive it, so it touches a certain part of the mechanism. As a result, the design works, injuring the pest.

Electric rat trap

Making an electric rat trap is not very difficult and can be done by those who know a little about electricity. Its main advantage is that the rat dies instantly from an electric shock and then you don’t have to think about how to kill it.

For an electric trap, a box is constructed from a metal mesh, suitable in size; for large rodents, it is optimal to take a size of 20x50x30 cm. The door is attached in a similar way to a Zünner trap, with a sliding mechanism. An aluminum or tin plate is placed on the floor of the box, to which electrical wires are connected.

An electric rat trap operates as follows: the rodent enters the cage through the door, approaches the bait and steps on the springs. The electrical wires and the metal surface come into contact, the circuit closes, and the electrical discharge kills the rat.

Knowing how to prepare the right and tasty bait, what types of traps and rat traps there are, any owner can independently make the required device for fighting rodents.

Electrical traps

This is an effective trap for rats and mice. Reviews only confirm this fact. The innovative design operates from the mains. It is presented in the form of a small house or box, inside of which there is an aromatic bait. The operating mechanism of the device is energy-dependent: the rat inside dies from an electric discharge, but it is safe for humans. Electronic devices are used to kill small and large animals.

According to reviews, the “Rat Killer” electric rat trap, which costs about 3,000 rubles, is now in demand. The device operates on mains power and batteries.

Victor Rat Trap is an equally effective type of trap for rats. The shock is directed at the rodent for 2 minutes. Therefore, the animal has no chance of survival. A red indicator indicates that a rat has been caught. The device is used to catch rats and mice. With it you can easily destroy the rat population.

Glue traps

These devices are also effective types of rat traps. As numerous reviews indicate, such traps are easy to use. They are presented in the form of devices coated with non-drying glue against rodents. There is a treat inside them. “Clean House” glue is in demand.

How to set a trap for a rat? It is enough to place such a trap in areas where they are more concentrated. The disadvantage of these devices is that stuck rodents must be freed independently. The “Barrier House” trap has this principle of operation, the inside of which is often treated with special glue.

We fight rats with improvised means - homemade traps

If you want to experiment and make your own rat trap, this is your choice. The problem is that such designs are ineffective, and you can make the situation much worse by allowing the rat population to rapidly increase. And you won’t be able to catch many animals with such traps; the animal most often easily gets out of them by simply eating the bait. Pets may suffer from such primitive designs. But if you have not yet purchased factory models of traps, you can try the following devices for catching pests:

Cup-shaped trap

To make it, you can use a regular flower pot or another container in the form of a deep bowl. A fragrant bait is placed under the container and one side is raised with an ordinary wooden peg or stick, which fixes the pot at an angle - this will be the entrance for the pest. As soon as the rat bites off the bait, it will definitely catch the stick and it will fall, blocking the pest’s exit.

To make it convenient to get rid of the rodent later, first place thick cardboard under the bowl, so that you can then take out the pot along with the “bottom” without losing the rat.

Trap cylinder

This device has proven itself well in catching rats and other rodents. You need to choose a cylindrical vessel: a tin can, a smooth plastic bottle, etc. It is dug vertically into a deep ditch and the bait is placed. Once the rat gets inside, it will no longer be able to get out along the smooth walls of the cylinder. The disadvantage is that you have to wait until the pest dies and then get it out yourself.

Top trap

This is a small cage with a cone-shaped narrowed entrance. On the opposite side of the structure there is a second entrance - a dead end for the pest (a smooth bottom made from a metal plate). This plate easily rotates on a hinge and, under the weight of the animal’s body, lowers, the rat falls into the second compartment, no longer being able to get out.

The main thing is to put a fragrant bait so that the rat moves along the structure as deep as possible, using a counterweight that will work as a mechanism for lowering the plate. The peculiarity of the trap is that several rats can fall into it at the same time.

Bottle rat trap

A 3-liter plastic container or jar will do. The bottle is installed horizontally, it is necessary to cut off the bottom and generously lubricate the inside walls with sunflower oil. Place the bait closer to the neck and wait until the rat gets there. When you see an animal inside the bottle, immediately tip it to the bottom, trapping the rat there. True, such a process requires patience and a lot of time. You can put the bottle on a pallet or table, that is, so that the flask is in a horizontal position, but under the weight of the animal it could turn over onto its bottom on its own.

Mousetraps

Which rat traps and traps to choose depends on personal preference. Considering the reviews, mousetraps are in demand. The characteristics of rat traps vary, but they are usually made of wood, plastic, or steel. The devices have a long service life, as well as the ability not to touch the caught pest. But you should take into account the dimensions of the device, since a very small mousetrap will not be harmful to the rat.

As confirmed, the “Super Cat” device works effectively. Inside the trap there is bait, thanks to which the rat gets inside. The mechanism is automatically activated and slammed shut. It will not be difficult to remove a dead rodent: you just need to shake it out.

Do not use contaminated rat traps. You can install a rat trap after treatment with a solution of baking soda and drying.

Live trap is a popular type of mouse trap that is in demand among consumers. This is a trap cage with a tin door. In the middle there is a bait, the smell of which attracts the rodent. When an animal wants to take a treat, the trap is closed with a metal spring. As a result, the beast will be locked inside.

How to catch a rat without a mousetrap

Rodents are caught for one purpose, to get rid of them completely. No one is going to free the animals, but not everyone is ready to kill with blood and screams.

To get rid of a rodent, the animal is killed with a stick, brick, or heavy object. You can use a more humane method. The rat is placed in a bottle. In another container, soda is quenched with acetic acid, the mixture is placed in a jar with a rodent. The release of carbon dioxide will cause the animal to stop breathing, lose consciousness, and die painlessly from suffocation.

Traps and traps for rats are used in cases where it is impossible or does not want to use poison. You can buy a ready-made device, but it’s more interesting to make it yourself.

Making a rat trap at home is quite simple, using any available means and objects. Homemade traps vary in degree of action:

killing rodents, including traps;
traumatic devices;
restraining or passive rat traps.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with: Skate Mole Trap

The most common options and photos of rat traps are given below:

The easiest homemade rat trap to make is made from a flower pot or similar utensils. It is turned over and a wooden disk is placed, which holds the necessary gap for the rodent to enter. Bait is placed inside. Having penetrated the pot for the “yummy”, the animal touches the wooden plate, it falls, and the pot is covered with a rat. However, after this you will have to solve the problem of how to kill the rat or where to take it out.
You can make a rat trap from plastic bottles with the neck cut off or other cylindrical containers. Once in, the rodent slides along the walls of the bottle and cannot get out. These do-it-yourself rat traps are very simple to make and are buried in the ground, several at a time. The ideal place for their installation is ditches and trenches near a private house.
A rat trap in the form of a cage is made of a metal mesh with small cells and 2 magnets. It is necessary to cut 6 identical squares with wire cutters, 5 of which are connected with wire into a box, and a door is made from the 6th. Magnets are placed where the door closes, and a wire with bait attached is attached through the door hinges in such a position as to hold the door open. After the rat gets inside and touches the food, the door will slam shut, and the magnets will hold it in this position. The owner will only have to decide what to do with the animal.
The Zünner rat trap is a rodent trap that is made similarly to a cage, but the 6th side is located at the top and is open. Instead of a door, 2 bridges are placed on both sides, and between them the bait is hung on a hook. The rat walks along the walkway, which lowers under its weight, and the animal falls down. Thanks to the attached springs, the walkway rises back. The advantage of such a trap is the ability to lure and catch several animals at once.
A mousetrap for rats and mice from a bucket and a bottle is made as follows. The walls of a bucket of water are pierced at the top with a pin, onto which a rotating plastic bottle or beer can is placed, and a bait is attached to the middle of it. When the rat tries to get it, the bottle rotates and it falls into the water, from where it will be very difficult to get out.
You can catch a rat using a rat trap from a bucket of sawdust, which is poured on top of a concentrated saline solution, its surface should be 1/3 below the top of the bucket. Instead of sawdust, you can sprinkle with cereal husks, which will not drown in salt water. A piece of food is placed in the center to lure the rat. A bar or ladder is attached to the bucket, along which the animal will climb up, climb for the bait, fall through the sawdust and fall into the water.
A glue rat trap is made very simply: special ALT glue is applied to a rectangular piece of cardboard or plastic in tracks 3-4 cm wide with a distance of up to 10 cm. The trap is placed not far from the hole. In an effort to reach the bait, the rat becomes firmly glued to the rodent glue and cannot get out.

DIY rat traps

Stores sell a variety of ready-made traps for rats and mice. However, anyone who knows how to work with available materials can make a trap for rats with their own hands.

To make a homemade trap that will kill a rat, you will need:

metal corners;
wooden plank;
piece of tin;
nails 120-150;
spring, 4 pcs. wires or staples, screws.

The board is the base of the trap; the length is chosen as desired. The following actions are performed:

Sharpen the nail on one side and round it on the other, so that you can then thread it into the loop.
The spring is taken ready-made or made from wire wound along an axis. You need to thread a staple into it or bend the wire into a rectangle.
The bracket must be inserted through the drilled holes in the metal corners.
2 corners with holes are made from tin.
A base is made with elongated ends, which will be inserted into the holes in the corners, and the middle is cut on 3 sides and bent upward, then another hole is drilled.
When assembling the device, a loop is made on the board into which you need to insert a nail.
A bracket with a spring is attached in the middle of the nail, then using self-tapping screws you need to screw in 2 corners made of tin.

The principle of operation of a trap: the staple must be pressed against the board, on top of it is a nail, the end of which slightly fits into a piece of tin with a hole. This is where the bait is placed. Crawling towards the food, the rodent moves along the board, causing the nail to come out of the hole, and the spring is triggered, throwing a noose around the rats and breaking the animal’s back.

Trap for rodents

Here are five of the most popular rat traps. Each of them has been tested by time and practice.

A simple and easy to make trap that can be made from a flower pot or any other container.

Its principle of operation is very simple: turn the pot upside down and place it on a wooden “guard” at an angle.

Attach bait to the end of the "guard".

When the rat gets inside, it pulls the bait off the tip. The "guard" falls, lowering the pot, and the animal is captured.

It is advisable to install the trap on a piece of plywood.

In this case, the rat will not be able to escape by digging.

Cylinder trap

Another is easy to use and very effective in catching mammals thanks to cylinders of bottles buried in the ground with a wide funnel or neck.

The principle of operation of the trap is as follows: an animal caught in the cylinder cannot get out due to the smooth and high walls.

Cylinders of the required height and diameter can be made from cans, plastic bottles, sheet metal, etc.

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For the trap to work perfectly, it is best to bury it at the bottom of a long ditch.

After the animals fall into the trap, they will run along the bottom and will undoubtedly fall into the trap.

This method has proven to be very productive at anti-plague stations, where rodents are captured en masse and then taken to laboratories for research.

Top trap

The “top” trap has also found wide application in catching rats.

It is an oblong-shaped wire cage with a cone-shaped entrance.

At the level of the cut end of the cone-shaped structure, the second entrance begins, which is a dead end.

The lower part of the dead end forms the bottom and consists of a smooth metal plate, fastened with a wide base, after which it rotates freely on a hinge.

The metal plate is pressed tightly against the cone underneath, creating a counterweight and masking the hidden passage.

The animal, attracted by the bait, tries to get inside.

In the end, he succeeds, but he immediately returns back, checking the possibility of escape. Making sure that everything is fine, he climbs inside again, hitting the second cone.

The platform lowers under the weight, and the rat slides and falls to the bottom of the top.

After the fall, the trap returns to its original position and a couple more prisoners may fall into it. To remove the animals, a special door is installed at the rear end of the top.

Zürner trap

An excellent device for repelling mice and rats, its operating principle resembles a “top” trap.

This type of trap is a box closed on the outside with a sloping lid and lined on the inside with galvanized iron.

On the opposite sides there are two open inlets or windows. Opposite each of them there is a wooden bridge mounted on a hinge.

The outer ends of the bridges rest on the edges of the windows.

The inner ends have no supports and practically close together, forming one long bridge stretched over the gap between the windows.

A hook is installed above the junction of the bridges, onto which the bait is placed. It is attached to the lid of the box.

Operating principle:

the animal is attracted by the bait and runs along the bridge;
the bridge falls down under the weight;
the animal falls into the lower body of the trap;
the bridge returns to its original position.

Unlike the Wesch trap, the Zürner trap is much simpler in design, more efficient and cheaper to install.

Suitable for catching rats in the field and at home.

Please note: so that rodents are not afraid to climb into the trap, arrange more convenient approaches to the entry windows.

However, it is not necessary to have special traps when you can catch a rodent using improvised means. One of these methods of catching is a three-liter or five-liter jar.

It sounds funny, but this is a very effective remedy, and you really shouldn’t hesitate.

Take a jar and pour some sunflower oil into it.

Turn it over to a horizontal position and cast the bait to the bottom. When the rat gets into the jar, you must run up and turn it over vertically.

Due to the poured oil, no matter how quickly the rat tries to escape, it will slide along the jar and will not be able to crawl to the neck.

Another effective method is flour with alabaster. Mix these two mixtures and sprinkle them near rat holes.

Thanks to the properties of alabaster, the rat’s intestines will “cement” and it will no longer bother you.

Experiment and breed rodents as you see fit.

Each method is good in its own way.

Steel mousetrap FIT

The classic option is a mousetrap in the form of a wooden base with a durable steel mechanism. It has maximum sensitivity, so theft of the bait is eliminated, since the device slams shut instantly. These traps are the most popular among the people: they are cheap and work effectively.

But they also have disadvantages. This is not the fastest way: sometimes mice do not die immediately, but after a few hours. The tree absorbs the smell of dead pests, so after some time this design will be unsuitable for use. The cost is up to 70 rubles.

Mousetrap Mr.Mouse

This is a classic version of a mousetrap, but with an improved design of the bait area. It is made of plastic that does not get dirty and does not absorb odors. Therefore, the design can be used repeatedly.

This design is safe compared to steel traps, since it functions on the principle of a large clothespin. As customer reviews indicate, such devices are easy to use. The cost of the product is about 80 rubles.

The effective functionality of rat traps allows you to quickly remove rodents from your home. Thanks to your skills, you can make the device yourself. According to reviews, these are effective devices that will also save money.

Device made from a plastic bottle

How to make a rat trap with your own hands? A plastic bottle (5-6 liters) is required. You just need to pour a small amount of vegetable oil into it and turn it over so that the liquid is distributed along its walls. The bait is placed at the bottom. To catch rats you need to take animal products, and for mice - plant food.

The device should be placed near the table. To prevent tipping over, the container is strengthened using available items. Then the edge of the table is fastened to the neck of the bottle with a cardboard strip, which will serve as a path for the animal. The aroma of the bait attracts rodents, after which it will fall into the container. But they cannot get out of there because of the sliding walls.

Types of plastic traps

Rat traps are divided into 2 types: killing and humane. Rats are removed from homes because they damage walls, spoil food, and spread disease. The average individual easily makes a hole in a thin-walled plastic pipe; their bite is painful.

Farmers consider such pests to be their first enemies. Rats destroy chickens and other small animals; often these animals kill young piglets. Rodents are dangerous for babies sleeping at night, since hunger forces rats to attack even them. The home owner can use one of two options: make a rat trap with your own hands or purchase a factory product.

This is not to say that homemade traps are better or worse than factory ones, but they open up creative scope for the creator

Vertical device

To make a homemade trap you will need a 2 liter plastic bottle. Experienced rat catchers construct the product according to the following principle:

Use scissors to remove the neck of the container.
2 cm are retreated from the cut part downwards and a hole is made with a needle.
A fishing line or nylon thread is inserted into the hole and a strong knot is created.
The second edge of the cord is tied to a mounted object on the kitchen table.
Bait is placed in the bottle.

This video shows the top 5 best homemade mousetraps:

When night falls, the animal will smell the bait and climb onto the table, trying to get into the opening of the container. At this moment, the trap will lose its balance and fall along with the rodent. The rat will not get out of the structure.

Horizontal design

Horizontal traps give a good effect. They are installed above a bucket of water. The process of making a killing trap:

Symmetrical holes are made at the bottom and cap of the bottle. A wooden or metal rod is inserted there, the edges of which protrude 5-10 cm from the container. A trap is placed on them between two objects and secured.
Bread treated with sunflower oil is attached to the surface of the rotating structure with tape. The bait is placed in the center of the fishing container.
Since it is difficult for the animal to climb inside the rat trap, a wooden or cardboard ladder is built.

A horizontal trap with a bucket of water is the most effective among homemade ones.

The pest will climb onto the board and go to the bait in the hope of getting it. At this moment the bottle will turn, the animal will fall into a bucket of water and will not get out.

Plastic “trap pit”

Another type of effective device for catching pests, which can be done in a short time. Main material: 5L plastic bottle. Step-by-step construction:

Step back 10 cm from the neck, draw a line and cut off the excess part.
A landscape sheet is placed on top of the cut and secured with tape.
A cross-shaped cut is made in the middle of the paper.
A stick is made in the shape of the letter “L”, tied to the product and equipped with a bait hanging over the center of the cut.
A wooden ladder is placed on the structure.

The basic principle of the pit trap is to lure the rat onto a piece of paper with slots in it.

The rat will smell the bait, climb onto the board and fall into the trap. If the homeowner does not want to kill the animal with his own hands, then he fills the bottle with water.

Product made from sharp petals

The principle of operation of a trap is similar to the trapping pit device. You will need a large bottle. Craftsmen do this:

The top part with the neck is removed from the container. The hole diameter is at least 8 cm.
Step back 10 cm from the cut and draw a line around the circumference. Using scissors, cut strips 1 cm wide.
Oiled bread is placed inside the homemade product.
The edges of the petals are folded into the middle.
A wooden plank serves as a ladder.

The pest will want to climb inside the container for the bait, put its paws on the petals and fall into the structure. Sharp stripes will prevent the rat from getting out. In one night, the product catches a dozen rodents.

From a colored pot

Catching rodents can be done in another simple way. A large flower pot is turned upside down and a ruler or coin is placed edgewise on one side under its edge. At the other end of the substrate, a treat is placed for the pest. The animal clings to the placed ruler, loses its balance, and the animal falls into a trap.

When choosing this device, it is necessary to take into account that an industrial rat trap is considered more effective than a homemade device.

Ultrasonic repellers are among the most effective means of fighting rats. These devices produce sound signals that repel rodents. They are harmless to humans and pets. Such devices do not affect the operation of household electrical appliances.

DIY traps and rat traps

There are many ways to create rat traps and mousetraps. The principles of constructing a rodent trap are similar. However, these 2 devices are still different. The mousetrap is designed for small animals . Most often, this is a spring-based mechanism. When the spring is released, the mouse is pressed down. The structure of a mousetrap is made of wire. Such a trap will not hold a rat, which is much larger and stronger than a mouse.

Rat traps are designed to hold a strong and fast rodent. And do not allow the animal to escape from the trap. Some rat traps can also be used to catch mice, for example, from a large plastic bottle (5 liters). A rat trap made of metal mesh will not hold mice - they will easily slip through large cells.

Plastic bottle trap

This is usually how they catch mice, but this trap will also work for baby rats:

Choose a 5 liter plastic bottle with a wide neck.
Cut off the top of the bottle, turn it upside down and insert it into the bottle.
1 cm from the cut we pierce a hole through which we pass a strong thread.
We put bait in the bottle.
We attach the trap to the table with a thread. We place the bottle on the surface so that part of the trap with the bait is in the air, without support.
The rat makes its way to the food, causing the trap to lose its balance, fall and hang in the air. The neck portion of the trap can be coated with oil to make the surface more slippery. The rodent will no longer be able to get out of the bottle.
Scheme: making a rat trap with your own hands from a plastic bottle

Important! The method is effective for small and medium-sized rodents. It can be difficult to catch large specimens. For large individuals reaching 20–30 cm in length, it is better to secure the bottle with halves of bricks or foam blocks.

Metal mesh rat trap

A mesh with cells 1 cm by 1 cm can be purchased at a hardware store:

We cut the mesh into rectangles with metal scissors.
We fasten the parts of the mesh together so that we get a box. You can weld the mesh or secure the rectangles with wire.
A Z-shaped latch for the cage is made from thick wire.
One end of a metal rod is welded to it. We weld the other end to a small piece of mesh, which we place inside the cage at an angle. We get a kind of pedal, jumping on which the rat will slam the cage door and will not be able to get out.
We open the door, supporting its edge with a rod. Inside the cage, behind the “pedal”, we put the bait. The rat trap is ready.
How to get rid of a rat is up to everyone to decide for themselves.

Photo gallery: design elements of a mesh trap

Diagram of a mesh trap Creating a trap

Metal mesh cage

Important! After removing the rat from the trap, you need to thoroughly pour boiling water over the cage several times to get rid of odors that warn other rodents of danger.

Video: rat trap made of metal mesh

Barrel trap

An adult rodent can reach a size of up to 35 cm, given the length of the tail. Even a rat-catcher cat may not be able to cope with a large and strong animal.

Then they resort to using the barrel as a trap:

We need to find a metal barrel with a volume of about 1 thousand liters.
We install it in the barn near the wall.
Inside we put the rodent’s favorite bait: corn, carrots.
The rat will climb up the wall of the barn into the barrel, but will not be able to get out.
A metal barrel makes an excellent rat trap

Important! This trap works effectively for animals of any age and size. None of the rodents will be able to turn the barrel over or get out of it.

Sunflower oil bottle trap

A trap designed for bait in the form of aromatic sunflower oil:

Take a plastic bottle. It is better to take a container with a volume of 5 liters - it has a wider neck.
Fill one third with sunflower village oil. The liquid must be aromatic to attract rodents.
Lubricate the neck generously with oil.
We install the bottle in such a way that the rodent has access to the bait. You can put the bottle against the wall.
The bottle can be surrounded by heavy boxes, bricks or other objects to secure the trap and prevent the oil from spilling out.
The rat climbs onto the bottle and falls into the oil. Her brothers follow her.
The strong aroma of sunflower oil attracts rodents

Important! The method works for small and medium-sized rats. A large animal may knock over the bottle, despite the measures taken to secure the trap.

Video: simple rat trap

Rat trap from a jar

A trap is made from a minimum of materials like this:

Place bait on a piece of cardboard. We tie one end of a strong thread to it.
Place a 1-2 liter jar at an angle above the bait. It is better to strengthen the jar on several sides with boxes or halves of bricks.
We pass the thread along the surface of the jar.
We tie the second end of the thread in a match, which we place on the jar as a support.
The rat, having grabbed the bait, will pull the thread. This will cause the match to fly out from under the container, slamming the trap.
The trap will slam shut as soon as the rodent reaches the bait

Important! The method is effective for young, medium-sized individuals. The bank will not be able to hold an adult rat.

Electric rat trap house

Popular homemade electrical products are “electric mines” for rats:

We are building a house from plexiglass.
One of the walls of the house will serve as an entrance for the rat: in two parallel walls we make long grooves into which we insert a glass plate. The width of the grooves must exceed the width of the plate so that it can slide down easily.
We make half the house out of wood. We drill a shallow groove from the side of the door.
We pass 2 bare wires through it, which cross. The wires should go to the trap door.
The rat caught in the trap is killed by an electric shock.
Circuit for electrical trap

Ultrasonic rodent repellers

Using ultrasonic devices to repel rats and mice is effective and environmentally friendly. It allows you not to use poisons and chemicals that can harm not only rodents, but also children and pets. Electronic repellers use sound frequencies above 20 GHz, which rodents cannot tolerate. Modern devices prevent animals from becoming addicted, as they constantly change the intensity and frequency of the waves. This has an irritating effect on rats and also disorients them. Ultrasound begins to have an effect on rodents already in the first hours of operation. According to experts, the repeller should work for a day. After which it is turned off. After 12 hours, the device connects again and works until the rodents are completely gone.

When using a repeller indoors, you need to remove unnecessary objects. Waves will not be able to break through bags of potatoes or brick partitions . Therefore, in some cases it is better to install 2 or 3 devices. They need to be installed no closer than 5 meters from each other.

It is also important to consider the environment in which the repeller is located. Wood, glass and concrete reflect ultrasound, while soft surfaces, such as upholstered furniture, absorb it. Therefore, using the device in empty rooms is more effective.

You can buy rodent repellers in hardware stores, supermarkets and at the market. You can use online stores. When choosing such a means of struggle, you need to familiarize yourself with the parameters. Many devices have modes that can be used in the absence or presence of people and pets in the room. It is worth familiarizing yourself with the possibility of manually setting up the repeller, as well as switching it to automatic mode.

When choosing a device, you should also pay attention to the warranty period. Some ultrasonic devices can last 2-3 months. Others have a warranty of up to a year.

An effective tool, but many parameters will have to be taken into account for its use

Do-it-yourself rat trap from a pipe

The essence is the same live trap made of mesh, only it is made of a pipe, the door is on springs:

Close one of the holes in the pipe tightly with a fine metal mesh. It can be secured using self-tapping screws.
At the other end of the pipe we make a deep cut. We insert a round door into it, the diameter of which matches the diameter of the pipe. The door can be cut from wood or metal. The cut should be 1–2 mm larger than the width of the door.
We tie a strong thread to the door. The bait should be attached to the other end of the thread.
We place the bait in the pipe along the entire length of the thread.
We lift the door and place it on a weak support, for example, a thin branch.
The animal runs into the pipe following the smell and grabs the bait. The thread twitches and lowers the door.
Humane means of getting rid of rodents

Important! Instead of a pipe, you can use a metal container, cylinder, or even a tube. The method is effective for rats of any size.

Rat trap made from a bucket of water

A simple and frequently used design:

We bend a U-shaped frame from wire.
Cut out a rectangle from plastic. The width and length of the rectangular plate should be slightly smaller than the wire frame.
We make a through hole in the plate.
We place the plate inside the wire structure and secure it with a nail or screw. The plastic should rotate easily inside the wire, but not fly off the fastener.
We attach a plastic lid to the free ends of the wire (we use this for home canning).
We install the structure on the bucket so that one edge of the plate is on the side of the bucket. The other edge should be above the water.
We attach a rail or board to the bucket so that the rat can climb onto the plate.
Pour bait, for example, cake, into the lid. It can be purchased at fishing stores.
The rat climbs the rail onto the plate. It moves along it towards the bait. Above the water, under the weight of the rodent, the plate turns over, tipping the rat into the water.
The design should look like this

Important! Rats can swim, so it might not work. Perhaps transformer oil can be used instead of water. Fill the bucket with oil to about a sixth of its volume. The plate can be replaced with an aluminum can.

Video: do-it-yourself rat trap from a bucket

Bucket trap without water

The method is similar to making a trap from a jar:

Turn the bucket upside down. We line it with bricks on several sides so that the animal cannot knock over the trap.
We take a large coin.
We install a bucket on its edge.
Place the bait under the bucket next to the coin.
Sensing the smell, the animal will try to get the bait and touch the coin.
The trap will slam shut. For the trap, it is better to take a metal bucket. It will be more difficult for a rodent to get out from under it

Important! It is unlikely that you will be able to keep a large rat this way. But small and medium-sized individuals will definitely remain trapped.

Making a rat trap

If you decide to wage a “war” against rodents in an inhumane way, then the following option is possible:

Make a loop from a cord or rubber band. The loop should tighten freely.
We attach the noose to the edge of a wooden board or plywood so that the tip of the tape hangs down.
We attach the bait to the edge of the board so that the rat’s path to the food runs through the loop.
We tie a strong thread to the bait, one end of which is tied to the noose, the other to the load. You can use a kitchen hammer, a piece of brick or a pry bar as a load.
To prevent the rat trap from falling from the surface on which we placed it, we press the board with bricks or blocks. The blocks can be covered with a paper screen attached to the board.
When the rat grabs the bait, the weight falls, tightening the noose on the rodent.

Important! This method is convenient to use for both young and adult animals.

Video: noose for rodents

Important! It is best to place rat traps and traps near the rodent's nest. Its location can be easily determined by the presence of damaged items and droppings nearby. It can also be in old furniture, for example, in an armchair or sofa that has been standing in the country for a long time. If it is not possible to get to the nest, then traps should be installed along the walls, because rats rarely run out into the middle of the room.

Best lures

As you know, the best bait is hard cheese. Moreover, it is suitable for both mice and rats. This product has a strong specific smell that attracts animals from afar. Rodents like the taste of cheese, it has a dense consistency, so it is well fixed in traps and does not spoil for a long time.

Used as bait:

salo;
fish;
meat;
sausage;
flour;
beer;
porridge;
bread;
bakery;
cottage cheese;
smoked meats

Bait selection

Food products make ideal bait. Rodents are always attracted to different types of food. A homemade rat trap without bait will not work, since the animals will not be interested in getting inside the killing structure. What you can choose:

corn;
cheese;
nuts;
porridge;
bread;
cottage cheese;
sausage;
smoked products.

Rats consume different types of food; it is best to select bait with a strong odor (spoiled product).
For the smell of the bait, use sunflower oil without a strong aroma, which is used to process bread, porridge, grain and other cereals.

Mousetraps and rat traps have the same design features, but differ in size. A mouse grows up to 10 cm, and the length of an average rat reaches 40 cm. You should not use small traps for large rodents.

Placement

It is advisable to place the trap closer to the area where the rats live. And if it is not detected, then you need to take into account the fact that animals prefer to move near walls in clean and dark places. They usually do not go into bright and open areas of the room. They are installed opposite the entrance, that is, towards the normal course of movement.

Since rats are cautious, it is advisable to first place bait in rat traps without cocking the trap into the firing position. Rodents must get used to the fact that nothing threatens them inside. You also need to remember about the cleanliness of animals, so there is no need to place devices in cluttered areas. After catching rodents, you need to wash the traps thoroughly.

Almost all types of rat traps kill rodents. But some traps, for example, from a plastic water bottle, help animals stay alive and healthy for some time.

If the second type of design is used, then the animal can be euthanized. To do this, place the animal in a plastic container and dilute baking soda with vinegar in the container. The finished mixture is poured into a container. The carbon dioxide produced during the reaction euthanizes the animal without suffering and leads to death.

Mechanical

Homemade or ready-made devices for catching rodents are used as mechanical traps. Let's get to know them in more detail:

Rat trap made from a plastic bottle.

A tunnel is made from a plastic (liter) bottle by cutting off the neck and bottom. A rod (stick) is pierced through the resulting “apparatus,” the length of which should cover the diameter of a bucket half filled with water. This mousetrap works very simply: the rodent climbs onto a stick and a bottle. Under the weight of the rodent, the plastic tunnel rotates and the animal falls into the bucket.

This is how a plastic bottle rat catcher works. Such a trap can be installed in different habitats of animals in the house or in the barn. In a similar way, you can use a barrel half filled with water.

Cage trap for rats from a flower pot.

This homemade “device” can be made in a few minutes. Turn a large flower pot upside down and place a coin or a ruler edgewise under one of its faces. It turns out to be a simple and effective trap, where an inverted flower pot is its lid.

A treat is placed on the opposite side for the rodent, who, in search of “yummy food,” will accidentally catch the placed object (coin or ruler). The result of this is the pot overturning and the animal being caught. The resulting cage is secure, and a rodent that gets caught in it will not be able to get out on its own!

Live trap for rats.

A live trap is a small rectangular cage, the walls of which are made of wire. In terms of size, a person’s hand can easily fit there. The bait is placed here, for which the rat comes. After sipping the treat, the tin door, attached to a special locking handle, quickly slams shut. A rodent caught in a trap is not injured and remains alive until the owner of the trap arrives.

Important! Rats are capable of jumping to the height of a human being, so you should not drive them into hopeless situations without special means of protection.

Precautionary measures

A cornered animal can be dangerous. A rat caught in a trap feels frightened, so when removed from a mousetrap, it can dig its incisors into the throat, face or arm. It’s not just the wounds themselves that are dangerous, but the infection that can penetrate a person’s blood.

Rats can jump up to 2 meters in height. If you use homemade or purchased mousetraps, you must protect them from access by children and pets. It is important to use these devices correctly.

Thus, various devices are used to get rid of rats and mice at home. Each of them has its own application characteristics and effectiveness.