Let's be honest. Most people honestly don't like rats at all. They don't want them in their home, in their business, on their property. If they found one inside their house, they would simply place the traditional trap out or place out a block of poison, hoping that it would terminate the life of the rat quickly and easily. The quicker the animal dies, the better off they will feel.
However, not everyone feels this way. There are those who would prefer to protect rats. They see them as the creation of God, and want to give them every chance of survival, just not inside their home. This is why they would rather capture the animal and release it somewhere else. If this sounds like you, then you may want to know if cage traps are a good idea to use to capture a rat?
They Are Quite Successful
While these traps are not used as frequently as the traditional rat trap that collapses and kills the animal, they have a proven track record of success. If the proper bait is used, it will lure the animal into the cage, where it will be trapped. The animal can then be relocated to another spot where it has a chance to thrive.
While this can be quite successful, it is important to be cautious. Rats are the carriers of a number of diseases and parasites. You can easily contract one of these diseases even if you don't come in direct contact with the animal. Their feces and urine often carries parasites and bacteria in them. Simply breathing in the dried waste can lead to a serious illness. This is why you should always protect yourself by covering all exposed skin, wearing gloves, and a surgical mask to protect your airway.
Making Sure It Lives
Also, before deciding to transport the animal, you need to make sure you choose a location where it has a good chance of surviving. Understand that the odds of a relocated rat living beyond a few days are quite slim. They don't know the area, don't know where food and water can be found, and face a number of predators they may not be ready for.
You can greatly increase those odds by contacting your local wildlife rehabilitation or preserve to get recommendations on where to take the rat. There are ideal locations in almost any community where the rat would have a good chance of survival. It would find a mate, maybe even a colony that it could become a part of.
You have gone to all this trouble to capture the animal and give it a chance of survival. Now you need to go the extra mile. Place a call to one of these centers and see what options and areas they recommend. It will give your rat that extra advantage in helping it to thrive. Then you truly will be a great humanitarian.
Go back to the West Covina wildlife removal home page.