Nova wrote:

Robert Allison wrote:

My question is about rats. I have a shop that has been invaded
by rats and I am currently without a cat that catches mice and
rats. My old cat kept them at bay, but the new one just likes to
watch them, apparently.

Anyway, I have set out rat traps and I have shot 2 with my pellet
gun. The first night with the traps I caught 3 rats. After 3
more nights with reset traps and new bait, not a single rat.

I am wondering if rats learn to avoid traps after they see what
they do, or did I get them all the first night? I don't know if
I am just lucky and there were only five rats, or whether they
all left after realizing they weren't welcome, or whether they
have learned to avoid being seen and to avoid the traps.

Anyone know?


I noticed that you said that you reset the traps. Assuming they are the
snap type traps, I was always instructed to discard a used trap as it
will carry a scent that rats/mice will avoid. I've always used a fresh
trap.

Victor, the maker of traps, suggests the same thing (question 18):

http://www.victorpest.com/faq_mouse_rat.htm#q18


Well, I put out poison, reset the traps, sprinkled some talcum
powder in a few places to see if I could see any tracks. I went
out last night and sat in the dark with the pellet gun again and
never saw a thing. No tracks, no nibbles on the bait poison, no
sounds of movement, no signs of anything.

Perhaps I got them all. I just find it hard to believe that I
got them all in one fell swoop.

I will keep my eyes open and keep the traps and poison out. I
just don't want it to get any worse than it was.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX