Beyond the well-known annoyances in dealing with a rodent infestation, there is a clear need to take the matter seriously. Mice and rats can slither their way through the smallest of holes. Entry is possible through any slight space. These pests find their way into our homes, supermarkets, restaurants, food processing facilities, and livestock and farming operations. The most common of pests are the everyday house mouse and rat which spreads allergens that can cause asthma and allergic rhinitis. Contamination of our food and water supplies can also result from their urine and feces. Rodent problems should be taken seriously, but there are important considerations when seeking the best rat traps on the market to get rid of them.
What is the Best Rat Trap to Buy in 2022
It would be ominous and too numerous to review all the types and brands of pest control products available. This overview will be limited to information on five top rodent control devices. The selection is based upon the features most commonly sought out by customers.
The Product Review Process
Our review will be limited to two snap trap designs, two live animal catch and release designs, and one electronic rodent exterminator. This review will not include the glue trap, bait stations, or simple rat poison options. Many customers find the glue rat traps to be particularly inhumane. Customer reviews indicate that finding live mice struggling in glue to be unpleasant. Likewise, simple poison packets allow for the dead animal to be found in any unknown place — also something found to be particularly distasteful.
1. Metal Pedal Rat Trap by Victor – Snap Trap Option #1
This particular trap is of the snap trap variety but is wood-based. The snapping mechanism that swings to exterminate the pests is made of durable wire and also has a metal trip pedal.
For cost savings, the base of the trap is made of wood. This is the most classic of all rodent control devices. It has stood the test of time, is very affordable, and results in an instant humane death.
The specific snap trap can be used indoors or outdoors. The wooden base makes this an affordable choice, but it clearly is not as durable as the snap trap designs made out of metal. It is not advisable to use this trap where it may be a danger to children or pets.
2. Classic Metal Rat Trap by Made2Catch – Snap Trap Option #2
The Made2Catch snap trap device is made out of fully galvanized metal. If you want a durable and reusable solution, this might be a good option for you. This device does kill the pests but provides a humane and instant death. This specific brand and variety offer benefit over many standard snap trap alternatives as it is made of galvanized metal, rendering it very durable and frost-resistant.
It can be used in areas that require withstanding bad weather. The product comes with a 100% quality guarantee. If unsatisfied, you may simply return the rat traps for a money-back guarantee.
3. Live Animal Humane Rat and Mouse Traps by AB Traps – Catch and Release Option #1
All AB Traps are registered with the USPTO which gives the consumer the confidence that they are getting a high-quality product. The AB Catch and Release device is essentially a small cage and will humanely trap rats, mice, rodents, and similar-sized pests. It is 10.5” x 5.5” x 4.5”.
The trap is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It does not come 100% ready for use, but setup can be done in seconds. The very simple concept involves placing bait in the cage which activates the door to close when the pests attempt to retrieve the food.
You then safely release the pests to a suitable location. This humane option is not among the lowest cost options but is quite cost-effective for those customers who seek a “no-kill” option.
4. The Ratinator Rattr Multiple Catch Rat Trap by Rugged Ranch – Catch and Release Option #2
This multiple Catch and Release trap can catch up to 21 rodents in one setting. This is a variation on the catch and release type of trap but enables you to catch multiple pests in one trap in a matter of hours.
This is among the most humane of traps as it neither kills nor injures the pests you capture. It is safe for use around children and pets. This design eliminates any need for poisons, chemicals, glues, or treacherous swinging snap trap mechanisms and it is completely a self-standing unit — no electricity required.
5. Rat Zapper RZC001-4 Classic Rat Trap by Victor – Electronic Rodent Exterminator Option #1
The Rat Zapper RZC001-4 is essentially a high-tech version of a bait station pests trap. Just as with the bait station, the pests are drawn into a maze and follow it to some sort of food bait. In the simpler version, the pests ingest the poison bait and rather slowly die inside the maze.
With the electronic version, when the pests travel through the maze and the system detects the pests entering the trap and immediately administers a lethal volt shock and instantly kills the pests. The electric shock results in instant death which is much more humane than the low-tech predecessor where the pests die a slow death after ingesting poison.
This Rat Zapper Classic Rat Trap is one of the best rat traps compared to the other electronic pest’s extermination devices. Rat Zapper RZC001-4 is perfect for attics, garages, basements, and sheds because it is designed for indoor use or places it will not be exposed to outdoor elements. The rat trap does not use poison or chemicals, but use it with caution if you have children or small newborn pets around.
Set up and operation are easy. You simply place food bait in the mechanism, turn it on, and then conveniently discard the pests through the bottom of the device. There is no direct handling of the pests. This truly offers a high-tech method that will give you minimal exposure to pests.
Each set of batteries kills up to 20 rats.
Best Rat Traps – Buyer’s Guide
The Best Pests Control for You
There are many considerations in selecting how best to deal with your rodent problem. First and foremost is deciding whether to hire a professional to come to deal with it, or whether you are open to doing it yourself. Hiring an exterminator is quite costly, but certainly, an option if you prefer having an entirely hands-off solution. For our purposes here, we will look at five do-it-yourself (DIY) options.
Factors to consider are:
- do you want to hire it done or opt for a DIY method;
- is the safety of children and pets an issue;
- do you prefer a humane method in removing the pests;
- how comfortable are you with hands-on involvement?
The ideal solution in dealing with pest control can be as varied as the customers who seek a solution. Carefully consider what factors are key in your situation.
Pests Control Methods
There are several commercially available approaches to pest control. There is the snap trap design which involves a baited trap that activates a metal snapping mechanism that instantly kills the pests. Snap trap designs come in metal/plastic and wood-based varieties. There are glue-based rat traps that involve capturing the pests in a strong adhesive. They become immobilized and stuck until they eventually starve or smother in the glue.
The simplest method is placing out poisons contained in small packages or boxes. The rodent eats through to the poison and is killed. Bait stations are very similar to simple poisons, but they involve a cover where the poison is cleverly hidden inside. There are also electronic extermination devices. Much like the bait stations, the pests go inside to seek the bait and are electrocuted and contained inside the device. Lastly, there are catch and release traps where the pests are not injured or killed but rather caught and removed from the premises.
Classical Snap Trap Designs
The classic snap rat traps are what generally comes to mind when we think of rodent extermination. They are the traditional design that has been the answer to rodent extermination for centuries. The snap trap design has withstood the test of time and has been a familiar solution for many generations. This design is based on a physical mechanism that snaps down and instantly kills the rodent. It is available in various materials:
- metal;
- plastic;
- or wood-based.
Advantages
This design does not involve the use of poisons or chemicals, making it ideal to use in areas near food and water. The snap rat trap option is usually re-usable. They are a long tried and true method and generally quite cost-effective.
Disadvantages
The snapping mechanism can be hazardous if children and pets are a consideration. Additionally, if you are squeamish about handling a dead rodent, discarding the dead pests mangled in the mechanism can be quite unsettling.
Conclusion
Snap traps come in packages with a variety of choices: 2 pack, 4 pack, and 8 pack. Generally, they are reusable, and operating them may not be as simple as some of the other devices, but the most difficult aspect is placing the food bait in the trap mechanism.
They can be made with various materials: metal, plastic, or wood. Snap rat traps made from metal are frost resistant and can withstand cold weather, unlike plastic traps that can break. There will, of course, be a cost difference between these two options so you will want to give consideration to your particular needs and evaluate what best fits your situation.
Recommendations
Choosing the snap trap option is highly dependent upon your particular situation. It is one of the simplest rodent control devices and can be used indoors or outdoors, but if you have pets and children who could be harmed and unintentionally injured if the snap mechanism is accidentally triggered, you may want to consider another method. Options that might offer a safety buffer for pets and children might be a more attractive option.
The bait station design holds the snap trap or poison inside the assemblies’ interior — and it is less likely that a pet or child can get inside the maze and bring harm to themselves. If you have a dog that might chew on the entire bait station. We would recommend giving strong consideration to the placement of the snap trap design if there are pets and children involved. If the snap traps will be used outdoors or in an outbuilding where they are out of access, this still might be a viable option.
If the snap traps are to be used outdoors or in an area where frost or weather is an issue, we recommend that you consider selecting a metal snap trap design in order that it will endure the frost and moisture. All factors considered, the snap trap design offers an instant humane death to the pests, is affordable, can be used in any location indoors or outdoors, and is a tried and true reliable method of eliminating pests.
The Catch and Release Option
If you would prefer are more human method in dealing with your rodent problem, you may want to consider one of the live animal catch and release options. The catch and release concept is obviously for those who want to eliminate rats, mice, and other similarly sized pests from an area without killing them. This pests control option involves a cage design that traps the pests without killing or causing any injury to them. While all generally operate on the catch and release concept, there are a wide variety of types. They all generally involve a cage that is impermeable to being chewed through and bait to attract the pests to go inside the cage.
Advantages
The catch and release option is humane for the pests you’re wanting to remove as well as not presenting any risk of harm to other animals that might be caught unintentionally. There are no poisons, chemicals, glues, or electricity involved. This design is also safely used around children and pets. Another obvious advantage is it goes easy on your conscience when you can actually purge the pests from your living area without having to kill them.
Disadvantages
While you escape having to eradicate pests, you then have the issue of dealing with the live pests that you caught and must now release. If you are against having to deal with the rodent in any way, this probably isn’t the solution for you. Secondly, you must make a wise choice in releasing the rodent in order that it doesn’t return.
Conclusion
There is extra effort involved in taking the captured live animals to another location to release them. There is also a definite hands-on component when you are required to see and handle the actual live rodents. The catch and release options are appealing as they are among the simplest methods of pests removal, without actually requiring that you exterminate the pests. Additionally, it does not involve poisons, chemicals, glues, or electricity. These traps are slightly above the cost of snap traps or simple packets of poison that you lay about, but they are within a moderately priced option for pests control.
Recommendations
The catch and release design are very clearly not for the customer who doesn’t want to see or deal with the rodent in any way. If you are the guy or gal who feels compelled to climb up on a chair at the idea of that mouse is running about, this is not the pests control option for you. However, if you aren’t squeamish about dealing with the pests, catch and release methods have some distinct advantages:
- it is simple;
- safe for children and pets;
- doesn’t involve any messy and dangerous poisons, chemicals, snapping devices, or electrocution.
And for those who can’t stand the idea of killing a little pet (even if it presents the possibility of filth and disease), you might be willing to overlook the added inconvenience of handling the little rascals.
Electronic Rats Extermination
Electronic extermination is the most recent and high-tech option of rodent control. In this case, you place bait within the trap and when pests go inside the device to seek and food, they are given a lethal zap of electricity instantly killing them. This type of trap is most appealing to those who want a solution that involves the very least exposure to seeing or dealing with the rodent. Electronic devices are the most expensive among rodent control options.
The process is very simple. The user places bait within the device and plugs it in. When the rodent has been captured and killed, you simply take the device over to a trash can and discard the pests through an area designed to dump the contents. This method is very similar to the basic bait station design where pests are also drawn in by food bait and then die inside a maze. In the basic bait station, the killing mechanism is the rat poison. In the more high-tech electronic option, the killing mechanism is electrocution.
Advantages
Electronic rodent extermination eliminates the risk of pests escaping attempts for good.
The volt of lethal electricity instantly shocks and kills the pests. Disposal of the dead vermin is easy and mess-free.
Disadvantages
The primary disadvantage of using an electronic rodent exterminator for most would be the cost. While it is reusable, the device is among the most expensive options. It is not advisable for use with children and pets. Lastly, this method involves electricity and is not an option for locations where you can’t plug into an outlet.
Conclusion
The electronic methods of pests control offer the most minimal exposure in handling the pests. You simply place the bait, wait for the capture and kill and then cleanly discard the pests carcass in the trash from the opening in the bottom. Electronic zapper devices are generally the most expensive method to deal with rodent control. The operation of these devices is very simple. The most difficult aspect is placing the food bait. They provide an instant humane kill and there are no poisons, chemicals, glues, or snapping mechanisms involved.
Precaution should be taken in using electronic methods if you have children or pets!
Recommendations
Those with children or pets should avoid choosing electronic pest control devices. Be advised, the machine clearly posts a warning that it should be kept away from children and pets. The Electronic Rodent Zapper is a humane, low involvement, and high-tech way to deal with pest control but great care must be taken in cases where there are children and pets who might be harmed. Electronic pests control is the best for the person who loves all things high-tech, would elect to have minimal exposure to the pests and doesn’t mind if it’s one of the pricier options. Also, this device can obviously only be considered if you can plugin.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
List of Sources
- The Rat, Animal Care and Use Committee, Johns Hopkins University.
- Salmon T. P., Whisson D. A., Marsh R. E., Wildlife Pest Control Around Gardens and Homes, University of California.
- Timm R. M., Salmon T. P., Marsh R. E., Rats, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California.
