Need Help Trapping Rats, Please

[redhen]

So we had suspected that we had rats in our goose house.. and possibly under my pig house also. Well today my husband actually saw one chasing a squirrel around the yard.. he thought they were playing...
I doubt that.. I'm sure it was the rat being a bully/protecting his food source/house. The rat was chasing the squirrel out of the goose house and around the yard.. then the squirrel would run up a tree and sneak back into the goose house and it would start again..
Sooo, yeah i guess we have a problem here. I have a swamp in my backyard.. So i can imagine there are more..

HOW do i get rid of these guys? Cant use poison..
Cant use snap rat traps because my other animals/chickens/pigs/geese and other wild animals can get caught in them..
Live trap? Do they sell live traps for rats? And do they work?
Not happy here..

 

[mnferalkitty]

You can use traps they have tube/incased ones that no other animals can get into, you just have to stake it down good so your animals can't pick it up and move it

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Why can't you use poison?

 

[mnferalkitty]

Why can't you use poison?

Because if any of the other animals gets a hold of a rat that has eaten the poison then that animal will die. or if the unintended animals get even a little bit of the poison they will die

 

[redhen]

You can use traps they have tube/incased ones that no other animals can get into, you just have to stake it down good so your animals can't pick it up and move it

Thanks!! I'll look for them! That would be a big relief if i dont have to worry about my other animals..

 

[redhen]

 Because if any of the other animals gets a hold of a rat that has eaten the poison then that animal will die. or if the unintended animals get even a little bit of the poison they will die

Yes, thats very true. I cant take the risk of my other animals getting into the poison or eating a poisoned rat..

 

[leadwolf1]

We used an electric rat trap and it worked well...they are pricey but because of the design, only the rats get zapped!

 

[redhen]

We used an electric rat trap and it worked well...they are pricey but because of the design, only the rats get zapped!

Could a squirrel get into it and get zapped too?

 

[speedy2020]

Could a squirrel get into it and get zapped too?

I used live animal trap and snap trap. The key is remove all food source at night. Here is the link to to Electric Rat Zapper Ultra. It has very good reviews and Amazon sale its for $42.
http://www.amazon.com/Agrizap-RZUIR...d=1339480732&sr=1-1&keywords=Rat+Zapper+Ultra

 

[zazouse]

Because if any of the other animals gets a hold of a rat that has eaten the poison then that animal will die. or if the unintended animals get even a little bit of the poison they will die

It takes about a tea spoon of rat poison to kill a rat, figure this, if a rat weighs under a pound then it would take an entire pack of rat poision to kill a 15 pound dog or cat.
I use rat poision about once in a while and i have never had another animal die from it, besides they usually die close to a water sorce so you should easly be able to find them with your nose if you are worried, just sayen you do have an option