Rats Will Be A Thing Of The Past With One Pantry Snack

Nov 30, 2023

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When you're having a pesky rodent problem, there are a number of potential causes. Before figuring them out, though, you may want to start by trying to eliminate them. Rodents, especially rats, can be difficult to catch. Notably, they're wary whenever they find something new, so they may not be interested in investigating any traps you put in the area. However, if you use the right type of bait, you may be able to overcome the rat's wariness and make it a little more curious. One of the most enticing baits for rats that you may already have in your pantry is a processed meat stick.

These meat sticks aren't the healthiest snack for humans thanks to significant levels of sodium and fat, but they are tasty. Rats also find them tasty, as the animal likes foods high in fat. Ultimately, the bait you place in the trap is important when trying to catch these clever rodents. If the animal has no interest in the type of food you use in the trap, it's not going to try to take it, likely walking past the trap to look for another type of food.

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If you would prefer to kill the rodent, plenty of traps are available to capture and eliminate it.

The snap trap is the most common way to kill rats. It uses a simple mechanism, and it's easy to set with the bait, so almost anyone can set one up in very little time and have a successful outcome. Within this design, there's a bar attached to a powerful spring that drops the bar with force when the rodent trips the trigger plate. Because rats are larger animals than mice, the snap trap is bigger and more powerful. Ideally, it kills the rat instantly from the crushing blow of the bar. To add bait, you'll place a chunk of the Slim Jim on the hook that's attached to the trigger plate. Put a few smaller pieces of the processed meat nearby to draw the animal closer and to reduce its wariness about taking the food.

Another option is an electric rat trap. These designs lure the rodent into a box, which has the ability to deliver a powerful electric charge to the animal, killing it instantly. They operate on batteries, so you can place them anywhere you're having problems with these rodents. Place chunks of Slim Jims near the entrance to the trap, as well as on the trigger plate near the back. Once the animal steps on the plate, it activates the electrical shock.

Although many trapping mechanisms try to kill the rat, others attempt to capture the rat in a humane manner so you can relocate it. Humane traps also use bait to entice the rodent into an area where it cannot escape.

You may be able to make your own device to capture the rat without harming them. Use a deep plastic bucket or drum and create a ramp for the animal to reach the top. Then create a trigger shelf where, when the rodent steps on it, it tips over and drops the animal to the bottom where it cannot climb back out and escape. You also can purchase many different kinds of live traps from places like Amazon that allow you to catch the rat without harming it. This device allows the animal to enter, but it has no chance to escape once it trips the trigger plate. Such devices usually consist of stainless steel, ensuring that the rodent cannot chew through it — like it potentially could with a plastic cage or cardboard.

To use the Slim Jims with these humane traps, place little chunks of the meat around the exterior and interior of the device. Make sure you place a little bit of the bait on the trigger point of the trap as well. Hopefully the rat will trip the trigger to try to get the extra food.