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Humane rat dispatch...

Michael Cox

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posted 3 years ago

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Hi Folks,

We have a bit of a rat problem around our chicken coop. It is a decent distance from any human dwellings, so not causing a direct nuisance to us, however we do want to get on top of it if we can. I have an air rifle, but due to real life obligations, I don't have sufficient time to spend out there controlling their numbers.

We are looking, therefore, for a trap solution that is both humane AND can catch large numbers of rats quickly.

Here in the UK it is considered inhumane to dispatch rats and other critters via drowning, so I am looking for effective and safe alternatives. Poison is out - our dog loves to explore the garden and would happily eat a rat if he found one. What ever solution we come up with needs to be safe for the humans involved - no potential exposure to rat bites or the like.

I have seen highly effective multi-catch traps that use a large bucket or plastic barrel to drop them into. These are usually US designs, and filled with water to make them a lethal trap. I'm trying to work out if I can come up with something similar that will let me catch large numbers at once, but then do a humane dispatch afterwards.

Ideas so far:
CO2 - but I'm not sure how to reliably make a lethal kill setup, and the risk of transferring them from a catch chamber to a kill chamber is fairly high.

Air rifle -but a bunch of moving targets in the bottom of a barrel is again not a great plan. Lots of potential for unclean shots etc...

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Anne Miller

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posted 3 years ago

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At one time there was a product called "Tin Cat" that is essentially a metal box with a door the rat can walk into but can't walkout.

Live traps, like this, are the only humane was that I know of that will not kill a rat and also will catch several at the same time.

My best suggestion would be to contact a feed dealer locally or order a "Live Trap" from an online source.

Then of course there is the bucket method mentioned in several threads. I am not sure how humane this method is.

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Michael Cox

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posted 3 years ago

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To be clear, by "humane" I don't mean non-lethal. I mean a way to dispatch the rats without suffering. Releasing them is both illegal and unethical here. If I release them on my property they will just come straight back. If I release them elsewhere I am just causing issues for someone else.

The actual live catching of multiple rats is not the issue. The dispatching of them once caught is.

In practice, I believe that many people will be using water. I'm not comfortable with that.

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Anne Miller

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posted 3 years ago

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Michael Cox wrote:To be clear, by "humane" I don't mean non-lethal. I mean a way to dispatch the rats without suffering. Releasing them is both illegal and unethical here..

I am betting folks on this forum will have lots of different opinions on this.

Luckily, I did not suggest releasing them as I only suggested catching them.

Put the live trap full of rats in a plastic bag tightly seal and wait for them to run out of oxygen.

Or feed them to chickens or pigs, snakes, etc.

Sell them to pet stores, people who raise snakes, pigs or chickens, etc.

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Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

Tereza Okava

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posted 3 years ago

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I have seen DIY CO2 setups for lab animals and it's possible but usually meant for euthanizing a few sick animals, not an entire bucket of squirming rats that are jumping around, I think the potential is high for problems (and it's just not safe for you in biting range).

Honestly you don't have many options, if it were me I'd put down many snap traps for a night, keep the dog inside, a few days later try again in different places with different bait, and keep going like that.

Skandi Rogers

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posted 3 years ago

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Our old neighbour used to use CO2 to kill feral kittens He used an old fridge with a hole drilled in it. CO2 sinks so anything that's watertight can be used I would think you could either design a bucket trap where you can replace the lid and then fill it with CO2 Or use a wire trap and transfer the entire thing into a old chest freezer or fridge and again fill it with CO2 Just remember to vent it well before you stick your own head in it.

The option I would go for would be an air rifle.

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Sarah Elizabeth

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posted 3 years ago

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Tereza Okava wrote: I'd put down many snap traps for a night, keep the dog inside, a few days later try again in different places with different bait, and keep going like that.

These traps can be very humane as they kill instantly. You can get the snap traps which sit inside a specially made plastic box so "non-target species" cannot get hurt.

Michael - here is a UK link:

rat trap

The box is plastic - so not that eco - and there is a cost involved but they are effective and much more humane that rat poison.

You can also just buy the snap traps separately and make your own safety box. I have read of someone re-purposing a large, old flower pot for this purpose by making a hole in it and inverting it over the snap trap. It is also possible to just recycle an old plastic storage box as the safety box by making a hole in it and putting the snap trap inside.

The big question then becomes: what is the best bait...

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Matt McSpadden

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posted 3 years ago

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Hi Michael,
I can completely agree on the humane methods for killing mice and rats. I don't mind killing them, but I believe God has called us to not cause undue pain and suffering when we need to kill. One of the best I have seen (though it is out of my price range for right now) is the Good Nature A24 trap. It auto-resets and can take out something like 24 rats before needing a replacement cartridge. The killing is done mechanically and is extremely fast and extremely lethal. Check out the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT0N8Z-VP34

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Michael Cox

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posted 3 years ago

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Matt McSpadden wrote:Hi Michael,
I can completely agree on the humane methods for killing mice and rats. I don't mind killing them, but I believe God has called us to not cause undue pain and suffering when we need to kill. One of the best I have seen (though it is out of my price range for right now) is the Good Nature A24 trap. It auto-resets and can take out something like 24 rats before needing a replacement cartridge. The killing is done mechanically and is extremely fast and extremely lethal. Check out the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT0N8Z-VP34

We have one. Sadly we have had zero success with it - the rats have been totally uninterested. Might try it again.

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Matt McSpadden

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posted 3 years ago

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Good to know when things are not magic solutions :)

Are they going for any other traps/baits? I winder if placement or a different bait might help... regardless of the trap.

Michael Cox

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Location: Kent, UK - Zone 8

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posted 3 years ago

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They are accustomed to the chicken feed. I suspect that I would actually have most success simply using that, as they won't be suspicious of it.

Moderator, Treatment Free Beekeepers group on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/treatmentfreebeekeepers/

Anne Miller

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posted 3 years ago

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Michael Cox wrote:We have one. Sadly we have had zero success with it - the rats have been totally uninterested. Might try it again.

What are you using to lure the rats to the trap?

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

Michael Cox

pollinator

Posts: 3919

Location: Kent, UK - Zone 8

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posted 3 years ago

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We haven't used it recently. When we did, we used peanut butter. That has been our go-to for mice and squirrels in the past. No joy with these rats.

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/treatmentfreebeekeepers/

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