DIY Rat Trap Failures: What NOT to Do

Rodents, Reptiles & Bats
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Hey everyone!
I wanted to start a thread about DIY rat traps because I’ve had some pretty epic fails, and I bet others have too. With the rise in urban rat populations, more people are trying their hand at homemade traps, but there are definitely some common pitfalls that can lead to frustration or, worse, make the problem worse!

I’ve been reading about various DIY methods, from bucket traps to snap traps, and while some can be effective, many people seem to miss important details that render their traps useless or even harmful.

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I think one of the biggest mistakes is using the wrong bait. I tried peanut butter, but it didn’t work for me. What do you all use?

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I’ve had success with bacon! The smell seems to attract them more than peanut butter. Just a tip!

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I tried to make a trap using a soda bottle, but they just chewed their way through the sides! Any tips on how to reinforce it?

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I wanted to bring up safety. Some DIY traps can seriously injure pets or kids. Has anyone ever had a close call with their traps?

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Yes! I had to rush my dog to the vet after he got into a homemade snap trap I thought was safe. I learned the hard way!

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Now, I use humane traps instead. They can be a bit more expensive, but I feel better about it. Plus, you can release them far from your home.

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I set up a bucket trap, but my cat decided to ‘help’ and knocked it over! What a mess! Anyone else have funny trap fails?

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Oh, that’s hilarious! My cat just sat there watching the rats. I think she was waiting for popcorn!

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I once caught a squirrel instead of a rat! I had to release it, and I think it was more confused than I was!

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Let’s talk about materials. I’ve seen people use cardboard and it just disintegrates when wet. What are your worst material fails?

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I always use plastic bins; they last forever and are easier to clean. Cardboard is a no-go for me!

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I’ve used old wooden pallets! They can work fine, but they need to be stable. Use screws, not nails!

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Thanks for all your input, everyone! It’s great to see what’s worked and what hasn’t. Let’s keep sharing tips and tricks to improve our DIY rat trapping game without any more epic fails!