Preparing for Rat Season: The Best Traps and Baits

Understanding Types of Rat Traps

At Collins Nets, we supply six types of traps to capture the rats making themselves at home on your land.

Purse Nets

Purse nets are typically used to capture rats in areas where there are a lot of them, such as barns, outbuildings, and other places where rats tend to burrow and hide.

They are made from a strong but lightweight mesh with a drawstring that tightens when a rat enters it.

Typically, they are put over entrances to rat burrows or pathways in walls. The idea is that when they leave their home, they run into the net, which traps them.

The advantages of this type of rat trap are:

• Targeted trap
• More humane capturing
• Work well with techniques that encourage rats to move (such as repellents)

Vermin Traps

Vermin traps, also known as snap traps, have a spring-loaded bar that snaps down when triggered, killing the rat instantly.

They are usually used indoors, in attics or basements, but could be placed in barns and other outhouses where equipment is kept. When placing these traps out, you need to consider whether children or other animals are likely to find them, as they are harmful.

Snap traps are a popular type of trap because they are:

• Affordable
• Reusable
• Effective

While these traps do kill the rat, they provide a quick, humane death when positioned and baited correctly.

Goodnature Traps

If you are looking for a more humane trap than a snap trap, the Goodnature traps are gaining popularity.

They use a CO₂-powered mechanism to kill the rats instantly, meaning you don’t need to use poisons or toxins.

You would usually use them outdoors across agricultural land or conservation areas, but they are proving popular on estates where there is plenty of land or forestry that house rats.

Benefits of this type of trap include:

• Humane and quick
• Eco-friendly
• Non-toxic
• Low maintenance
• High capacity
• Self-resetting
• Versatile placement

Because they are low maintenance and reset themselves, they are very effective in areas with a high population of rats.

Live Catch Vermin Traps

Live-catch traps are also known as humane or live-capture traps. As the name suggests, they are designed to capture the rat without killing them, making them a more humane option.

They work similarly to other traps in that the movement from the rat entering the trap triggers it to close, locking them into the space. Of course, the difference is that they are left unharmed and ready for re-release elsewhere.

Advantages of these trap include:

• Humane
• Eco-friendly
• Reusable
• Safe for use around pets and non-target animals

These traps do need regular monitoring, and you will need to have a release location in mind.

Poison

Poison doesn’t really need much explanation. At Collins Nets, we supply sapphire grain bait, named for its distinctive blue colouring to distinguish it from non-toxic materials.

This is great for environments where rapid reduction of rodent populations is needed.

Benefits of using this type of trap include:

• Highly effective for large infestations
• Reduced bait shyness
• Palatable to rodents

However, there are also considerations you need to factor in when choosing this trap:

• Risk of secondary poisoning
• Safe usage and positioning
• Handling precautions
• Legal restrictions

If you are looking to purchase larger quantities of this, we will need a certificate on record.

Bait Stations

Bait stations work with poisons as they are secure enclosures designed to hold rodenticide bait safely, protecting it from weather, pets, children, and non-target wildlife.

Rats enter the enclosure, eat the poison and leave. The rats have easy access in and out of the station, but other non-target animals can’t access the poison, keeping them safe.

The advantages of using this trap system with poison are:

• Safety
• Increased bait efficacy
• Minimised environmental impact
• Encourages rat consumption of the rat, improving the efficiency of the poison

These are typically used in areas of high traffic, such as around residential areas, commercial facilities, warehouses, and farms.

Choosing the Best Rat Baits for Effective Control

Choosing the right trap for your situation is crucial for effectiveness. When choosing which rat trap to use, there are several things you should consider.

You will need to think about factors such as:

• Environment – Are they indoor or outdoor? Does it need waterproofing?
• Level of infestation – Larger infestations need a more efficient trap and might require more attention if you don’t choose a self-resetting trap.
• Safety requirements – What else is around that are non-target animals? How will you protect them from the traps set up?
• Your morals – Most of the traps available kill the rats, so you also need to think about how well that sits with you.

These will narrow down the types of traps you should be using as they will meet your needs.

Why Collins Nets is Your Trusted Supplier for Rat Control

There are many types of rat traps, each with their own benefits and uses. Most of them kill the rodent in a humane way, but there are a few that will simply capture the rat for re-release.

Collins Nets supplies all types of rat traps and can advise you on the best ones for your situation. We have been working with land owners, gamekeepers and within the game-rearing industry for over 30 years, so have an in-depth understanding of how the various types of traps work and their effectiveness in different circumstances.

Browse our selection of traps and order them online today. Or if you are looking for advice on rat traps, call us on 01308 485422.