There is another, slightly old-fashioned humane method to deal with rodent infection: cage capture and wild release.

Accessories: atom-smasher rifle, incendiary sword, half-shell shield/chestplate, 2 footplates, L & R combiner fists, super robot head Beausoleil, N.J., and D.J. Mellor. 2015. Introducing breathlessness as a significant animal welfare issue, New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 63: 44-51. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25004795/. Place the trap along the edge of your baseboard or along walls with the baiting platform facing the wall However, if you are still not ok with killing a living animal, read the post on live traps for rats for more options. Mice are tiny, and therefore don’t need a slab of cheese or a tablespoon of peanut butter. Less is more; use a tiny bit of peanut butter about the size of a pea. Also, sprinkle a little bit of oatmeal on top. 2. Leaving a human scentBaker, S.E., R.F. Shaw, R.P.D. Atkinson, P. West, and D.W. Macdonald. 2015. Potential welfare impacts of kill-trapping European moles (Talpa europaea) using scissor traps and Duffus traps: a post-mortem examination study, Animal Welfare, 24: 1-14. Having a rat infestation, whether it’s just a few determined rodents or a whole mischief (which is, funnily enough, the collective noun for a family of rats) can be both damaging to your home and dangerous for children and animals. It’s also more than a little unsettling knowing that they’re in the walls or loft or running rampant around your property. A number of older designed traps no longer in production were removed. For other commonly used trap designs there was in effect a use-up period until 1 April 2020, including for stoats.

The drop-down door is triggered automatically by the treadle tray/bait hook, and once your rat has taken the bait and is secured inside, the noise it makes as it tries to find a way out alerts its young, all of which can then enter the cage via the single entry door, trapping themselves inside along with the adult. Baker, S.E., S.A. Ellwood, P.J. Johnson, and D.W. Macdonald. 2016. Moles and mole control on British farms, amenities and gardens after strychnine withdrawal, Animals, 6: 39. Special edition on: Ethical and Welfare Dimensions of the Management of Unwanted Wildlife. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/6/6/39.

Bladder Traps

Animals released from live traps will return if released nearby and may suffer and not survive if they are released further away. The Victor Metal Pedal Rat Trap is my number “1” choice on the ROCC-O-METER® for snap bar traps due to affordability. It is important to think carefully about the whole process of managing wild animals before taking action, including what you will do if things do not go to plan. For example, are you confident about what you will do with a live caught rat or mole? Will you be able to humanely kill a rodent caught on a glue trap or unexpectedly still alive when caught in a lethal snap trap? Would you know what to do if a non-target animal is caught by a trap? If you are not sure then seek advice from a trained and qualified pest controller to manage the problem. Failure to treat an animal humanely once you have captured it may be a criminal offence. Where used for grey squirrels, the trap must be fitted with baffles for grey squirrels supplied by the manufacturer or constructed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Baffles fitted onto a trap must be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. There is more than one way to trap a squirrel. Here are three different styles of squirrel traps. Flat Snap Traps

Baker, S.E. 2017. A Voluntary Trap Approval scheme to end trap welfare inequality in the UK, Animal Welfare, 26: 131-33. There is no recommended size the floss should be, but trying about 1 inch in length first and seeing if that works. Do not make it too short or too long. Other Nest Building Materials Dizney, L., P.D. Jones, and L.A. Ruedas. 2008. Efficacy of three types of live traps used for surveying small mammals in the Pacific Northwest, Northwestern Naturalist, 89: 171-80. Pesticides Safety Directorate. 1997. Assessment of humaneness of vertebrate control agents. Evaluation of fully approved or provisionally approved products, no. 171. A report by Defra and the PSD. York: UK.

Sticky Traps

Cholecalciferol is toxic to non-target animals and primary non-target poisoning is a risk through access to poison baits. Secondary poisoning of predators or scavenging species (e.g., cats, dogs, badgers and birds) may be possible but is not thought to be a major issue. The effects are difficult to reverse and antidotes are not readily available (Defra 2011). If you suspect a pet or another non-target animal has been poisoned, call the the vet straight away and if possible provide the toxin’s name, strength and the amount the animal has been exposed to, as well as the animal’s weight if that is known.