They have very poor vision so they use the walls to guide them to the areas they inhabit.
Roof rat trap placement.
Always be sure there is fresh bait available until the rats stop feeding.
Place rat baits about 15 and 50 feet apart for rats mice bait placements are much closer.
This is where you will catch them.
Pre bait the traps without setting the traps to encourage the rats to the traps.
Roof rats may sometimes rest in the tops of trees or buildings thus the name roof rat traveling to the ground at night for food.
For heavier rat infestations set the rat bait closer to 15 feet measurement.
Step 2 placing the rat traps.
These areas may include darkened corners along walls behind appliances and objects and all areas where droppings are evident.
Place rat traps in high activity areas of the rat colony.
Since rats need to touch surfaces as they move place them accordingly.
Place your loaded and baited snap traps along high rafters and in places where you ve noticed rat activity like chewing or tunneling.
Because they prefer to be high in the air these rodents may climb on power lines or tree branches to get on the roof.
Probably the worst placement of a rat trap is under a light fixture in the middle of a room.
Try to place rat bait near their harboring areas.
Rats are thigmophilic that is they like to be touching a surface as they move.
Bait is placed in bait stations to keep other wildlife safe and to help prevent rain from molding the bait.
Tamper resistant bait stations can be effectively placed at the bases of trees and buildings to entice the roof rat to feed instead of seeking food sources further out.
Place rat traps spaced from 15 20 feet apart.
Because they prefer to be high in the air these rodents may climb on power lines or tree branches to get on the roof.
Roof rats like other species of rats and mice follow along walls.
The most important technique for effective trapping is good trap placement in areas of high rodent activity.
Choose the right place for your trap.
This rat is less of a climber so traps should be placed in hidden areas along walls in dark corners etc.
After placement of rat bait stations avoid moving them.
Statistics show that more rodents are trapped on the first night than on any other night.
The rats will either die outside or in a trap placed inside the bait station instead of dying in your home.
Roof rats can fit through holes as small as one half inch in diameter.
Set snap traps to effectively and quickly kill the rats.
Only the hungriest and weakest rats will venture out to the examine the bait in a trap in the middle of a room.
When they are scared is when they tend to scurry and branch off from the walls.
Thus traps should be placed off the ground in the attic rafters of the garage on shelves and ledges.
The most common trapping mistake is using too few traps.