Hey everyone!
After setting rat traps for the first time, I realized I probably made a few beginner mistakes. Some traps didn’t catch anything, and in one case the bait was gone but the trap never triggered.
For those with experience, what are the most common rat trap mistakes homeowners make? Is it placement, bait choice, not using enough traps, or something else entirely?
Trying to avoid rookie errors this time around.
Biggest mistake I see is putting traps in the middle of the room instead of along walls.
Using too much bait. Rats can sometimes grab it without triggering the trap.
Another mistake is trapping without sealing entry points first. You’ll just keep catching new ones.
@BaitMasterBeth Totally agree. A pea-sized amount works better than a big glob.
Not using enough traps is common. One trap for multiple rats rarely works.
People also forget to wear gloves. Human scent can make rats cautious.
@SealEntrySue Do you recommend sealing before trapping or doing both at the same time?
Checking traps too infrequently is another issue. You need consistency.
Wrong trap size can be a problem too. Mouse traps won’t reliably handle larger rats.
Patience is underrated. Sometimes it takes a few days for rats to trust a new object in their path.