Sticky glue traps? Humane and any good?

[nanaluvsgps]

We have a hudge problem with rats at the moment. I have tried every thing Bait shachets, Bait blocks, Snap traps, Live traps and a bath tub full of water (only got three that way). All except sticky glue traps. What are they, are they humane, do you have to kill the rats or do they die humanly. Last night counted 19 different ones. We lock up the chook food but for some reason they still come. Urgent advise and thanks ahead

 

[NCnarrator]

The sticky traps are somewhat effective, but definitely not humane. Basically, they are strips of paper or cardboard with a very sticky glue on them. The rats walk over them and get stuck. There isn't any poison, so what you find is an alive, panicked rat stuck in glue. They can sometimes pull themselves free, leaving behind skin, hair, and sometimes even part or all of their tail. You will have to kill the rats (or leave them until they starve or die of dehydration).

If the area you are trying to keep them out of has outlets, you might want to try a plug in rodent deterrent - it basically puts out a high-pitched noise that rodents don't like. Not good if you have pet rabbits/guinea pigs/hamsters, etc. The other thing you could try is peppermint oil (not peppermint flavoring, but the actual oil). It's a bit pricey, and you'll be craving candy canes, but mice and rats don't like the strong smell. Soak large cotton balls or balls of wool batting in it and put them in the corners of the space and around the perimeter or wherever the rats seem to be traveling the most.

Good luck!

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Well no, staying stuck to a piece of cardboard until you starve and dehydrate isn't at all humane. Nor is drowning. I really think the most humane methods are snap traps and shooting (yes, many people choose that method). I prefer snakes and cats for rodent control.

 

[krissteff]

I used sticky traps once and none of my rats stuck to them. They moved around a little and must have unstuck themselves. I did however have a small bird get stuck to one and I had to kill the bird. I will never use those again.

A stray cat found its way to our yard recently and likes to sit and watch the chickens. I've been finding some mutilated mice, so I'm hoping the cat hangs around for a while and gets the rats too.

I've used those bait cakes too, and the rats would come out of their hidey holes to die. Very unsettling!

 

[Darin115]

I am not very concerned about how humane a glue trap is but I choose not to use them. When I did use them I had to kill the rats once I caught them. I had them to get out of the trap with escape with a good coating of glue. They just don't always work.

I use snap traps. If the rats are too big for the smaller snap traps, go to the hardware store and buy the largest size that you can find. Put a eye screw in them and run a piece of wire to a stake. Stake the traps down and they can't carry them off.

When I tended horses in high school there were huge rats in the horse barn. They had holes all in the barn and tunnels under the bedding. We would cover all but two holes up and stick a water hose in one of the holes and stand at the only remaining hole with a shovel or a rake or a pitch fork. We would pound them when they came out. We them started shooting them with bb guns. It was very effective.

Good luck and let us know what works for you.

Darin

 

[CarolJ]

Our cat is the best mouse preventative we've ever found. I haven't ever seen rats around here, though - so I don't know how effective cats are with rats. With mice, though - they're great.

 

[AnotherSusan]

Emphatic no to the glue traps. They will only hold the small rats and they do catch unintended things and the glue is a mess to clean up if it gets where you don't want it.
Do use the snap traps and do use wire to anchor them. I have had mice make off with the trap and hide and die where I can't reach them, Be careful unintended creatures can't get to the traps and use care when setting them. The large snap traps can break a finger or the leg of a chicken or cat or dog.
Another alternative may be the Victor electronic rat trap, although it is pricey.
I have not yet dealt with rats in the coop. Not looking forward to having to. I wish you good hunting!

 

[Mattemma]

Get t rex traps to use over and over.The sticky traps while cheap will catch so many things you do not want caught,and sometimes the target pest will chew off a body part to get off the trap.If you do catch something you have to drowned it or let is slowly die on the trap. If you use them anyway keep some oil handy to get off non-target pests,but most likely they will die anyway.BTDT

 

[nanaluvsgps]

Thank-you, now I know what glue traps are no way in hell would i use them! p.s the bath is for our ducks and they just slip in What wouls you put on the snap a traps

 

[patty12]

I am not a usual finicky person and don't find things that other people think is bad as bad usually but I put sticky strips out once for mice and caught one, it was awful the poor thing was alive but couldn't get away. I killed the mouse and threw the other sticky traps in the fire burner. This was a fate worse than death for the mouse. It might come under the heading of torture!