Reply #24: My expert advice: Poisons not only kill rats but beneficial predators like owls, hawks and cats who [View All]

[zonkers]

might prey on a dazed, dying rat. Don't listen to the Orkin man. There are no safe poisons. Frankly, the more owls, hawks and predators exterminators can kill, the more you must rely on them for rodent control. THEY ARE ACTUALLY IN THE BUSINESS OF KILLING OWLS.

Read more here: http://www.hungryowl.org/services/rodent_control.html

I suggest bait traps and here is the fool proof method....

1. Seal all entry points to unit. No sense trapping if they can keep returning. I suggest hardware cloth or some similar tightly woven wire. Sometimes tin foil will work if you jam it in.

2. When practical, cut whatever trees and bushes are near the unit so the rats don't have "freeway" access.

2. Once entry points are sealed, start trapping. I suggest you handle traps with gloves to keep your scent off trap. I also suggest that sometimes with cautious rodents, you might even bait the traps without even setting them for a few days. Peanut butter. Luncheon meat. Whatever. The rodent will get comfortable with his regular meals. Then, one day, just set and bait all your traps. Also, you may want to tie string to your traps and secure them case the rat is only injured and tries to run off w/trap. Also, it makes the traps easier to check if you have placed them in hard to reach places.

3. I don;t set traps outside. I let those rats live.