A rat trap is something that most people don't want to need. Unfortunately, the need exists. Having rats around your house is dangerous. Rats tend to live in the sewers, vacant buildings, or homes that do not dispose of the trash that includes food. They could be carrying rabies or other diseases. Crops are lost by rats, and farms lose so much revenue by this happening. They are dangerous to pets by biting them and spreading their diseases. So, not only people suffer, but the animals they love suffer, too. Purchasing a rat trap is a necessity and an important choice to make. Hardware stores carry them as well as supermarkets. You can even make a homemade trap by following instructions in several articles on the subject.

One way to control rats is by using rat poison. Unfortunately, it has been found that this doesn't work too well. These poisons threaten animals, other species and even humans, and the rats become resistant to them. An easy solution is to make homemade rat poison. This will be much cheaper and more harmless than the typical poison you can purchase. The best way to eliminate the rat problem is to use traps or predators.

One of the many homemade rat traps is the wire-cage spring-door live trap. Using a cage, and springs, you can create your own trap. The rat gets caught in it, you can kill it, and never even have to touch it. Therefore, it is safe and efficient. Of course, you need to put bait inside of it to attract the rodent. Another homemade rat trap is a bucket trap. Using rope and a bucket, you need to trip the rat, he gets covered by the bucket and is trapped. Just be careful on lifting the bucket as the rodent could escape. These two traps are used commonly in China and Zimbabwe. It may be better for us not to make our own, but to purchase one.

A predator is not always an effective means to kill rats. Cats do not kill many rats, but they are scared away. However, the rats will just find another place to live nearby, and still can be your problem. Dogs like to chase them, but once cornered, the dog will not catch them...they know better. Cornered rats are mean, and will attack the dog instead. Owls are the best predator. If on a farm, and you have barn owls, seven of them can eat 3,000 rats in one season. They are the best creatures to rid your area of rats.

There is also electronic pest control repellants on the market. Consumers have found that they are useless against rodents or insects. Neither the electric type nor the magnetic type does the job. This brings us back to the subject of actually using a trap.

There are many traps on the market today, and come at many prices. The Victor trap comes in many styles and prices. There is the Electronic, M240, that electronically kills the rat. The price for this is $40.00. Another Victor is the Electronic one for $45.00. This one detects the rat and kills it instantly. Victor also makes a standard trap, large enough for a rat, but doesn't need bait. It costs only $4.09. The Tomkat Reusable Trap by Motomco costs $5.49. It has interlocking teeth that make escape impossible. There is a no-touch disposal of the rat. It can be used again, even after one rat has already been caught in it. A different kind of trap, is the Rat Glue Trap by Motomco. This uses a non-poisonous glue so it can be used where pets or people are around. It is also pre-baited and has an immediate grip. It costs only $4.19. Safeguard Products make a red squirrel, rat and muskrat trap with 2 doors. Use the safeguard products inside the wire mesh cage to trap the animal. This price is $37.99. The cheapest rat traps seen today runs at only $1.44, and it is the Victor M201 with Metal Bait Petal. It looks like a standard mouse trap, but has a strong spring to kill the rat.

After reviewing the many ways to rid your home or farm of rats, it appears that the rat trap is still the most effective means to do the job. It is necessary to keep them away at all costs.