I'm the Mad Ratter!

syncroid · 05-20-2012, 01:11 PM

I got woken up last night to the sound of something chewing away at something in my attic. I get the ladder out and go into the attic at O dark thirty (2:00am). I don't see any critters but found lots of rodent crap.

Little bastards! I have baited two traps with peanut butter and set them right in the path of their blazed trail in the insulation. 24 years in this house and I have never had rodents in my attic.
Will update later with results.

Jim Bremner · 05-20-2012, 01:55 PM

add in raisins to the p'nut butter.

Protip: run string or wire from the traps to a beam. I had rats in my yard. 1 2#drug a trap 20 feet away and was still kicking when I got there.

If you don't have a pellet gun a small trashbag full of water helps with aiding the rate to assume room temp. The first year in my old house I killed 13 I think I've assited 25 or so to kick their oxygen habit.

syncroid · 05-20-2012, 02:49 PM

Raisins. Good idea. Just checked the traps. No love yet.

Jim Bremner · 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syncroid

Raisins. Good idea. Just checked the traps. No love yet.

They feed at night. place it along L shapes. they do not eat in the open only along walls tec if you look at a place that has a ton of rats you'll see a dirt mark along walls. 2" from the ground. the rub along as they go from place to place.

I was in a bike shop that was CRAWLING in them NASTY STUFF.

Better than cats, Jack Russel Terrorist are. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh84o5STysk&feature=related

Rick V · 05-20-2012, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

Better than cats,

Depends on the cat. I have four and three of them will play with a mouse, This one has but one reason to exist, and that is to kill.

Jagshund · 05-20-2012, 04:27 PM

That freakin' cat just looks like it wants to kill something.

MBAtarga · 05-20-2012, 04:37 PM

I add a Cheetos snack stuck in the peanut butter. I think it is a very tempting treat for them - one they can't pass up. I got two youngsters with one trap one night.

Rick V · 05-20-2012, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1968Cayman

That freakin' cat just looks like it wants to kill something.

We named her Panzer for a reason.

Jim Bremner · 05-20-2012, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1968Cayman

That freakin' cat just looks like it wants to kill something.

Death with claws.

syncroid · 05-20-2012, 08:00 PM

Just checked again. Still no love. I'm quite sure we will hear the "SNAP" about the time I need to drift off to sleep. Little bastards! When I baited the traps with the peanut butter, I wrapped it with a small amount of paper towel so its anchored to the trigger. They will have to tug at it a bit for the prize rather then just lick it and get away. I see dead rats in my future. >

I do need my sleep though. 5:00am is coming soon. (My normal get up time)
Got my MaD Ratter hat on and ready to go!.....

syncroid · 05-20-2012, 08:04 PM

On a side note. I have two cats, (both good ratters) we just have never had them in our attic before. Different territory. When I last checked it was about 120 degrees up there. Gaaaa!

vash · vash's Garage

I like snickers for bait. And I put it underneath the trigger. They have to wedge it up with their heads. It triggers all the time. Peanut butter with Cheetos is brilliant. Bonus is you have some to eat.

HardDrive · 05-20-2012, 09:40 PM

Look around the house for places that tree branches touch the house. We had issues at our home as well, but as soon as I cut back branches that led to the roof, the problem was solved.

syncroid · 05-21-2012, 05:30 AM

Both traps went off last night. One about 2:30am and the other about an hour later. I checked them this morning and no rats! These guys must have the reflexes of flies. Bait is gone too. Hmmmm. Need to anchor the bait a little better so they have to tug on it. Thinking of trying some dried salami as bait. Stay tuned...

Teutonics · Teutonics's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

...a small trashbag full of water helps with aiding the rate to assume room temp....

More details on this? How does it work?

After an incident in our attic, I keep baited traps around the yard to proactively keep them at bay. I've probably gotten close to 50 over the last two years or so. The best bait I have found (and was given the tip by a professional exterminator) is Slim Jims. Cut a small 1/2-3/4" piece and hook it in the trap hook and they are hard to pull off. I have never had an empty tripped trap. I hate those bastiges!

Squirrels are right behind them on my list...

sc_rufctr · 05-21-2012, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick V

Depends on the cat. I have four and three of them will play with a mouse, This one has but one reason to exist, and that is to kill.

He sounds a lot like my "Sonic"... Once he knows there's a rat or mouse around its only a matter of time before the corps is at my back door.