Humane Rat Removal
Humane rat removal is the process of removing rats without making them go through extreme pain. Rats are attracted by scent, and can use the smell to find garbage and food wastes near them.
Being nocturnal in nature, rats are rarely seen during the day; they find nests in lofts, attics, and under decks and can also find shelter in basements or inside walls if accessible. They multiply quickly, so if you spot the rodent, there may be a colony of them somewhere nearby.
To keep rodents at bay, put trash bags under a sealed garbage container and keep its lid down. While disposing of, make sure the trash stays at a distance from the residence—so the smell stays away. As the rodents are attracted to smell, reduce waste and take out garbage cans frequently.
Rats also carry diseases and parasites that they can transmit to humans. To avoid suffering from such consequences, one must get rid of the rodents as soon as possible.
Protective Measures
Check for overlooked cracks and crevices as rats are fond of such places. Seal off home entrances and avoid leaving any food or water sources hanging, including simple plastic bowls.
Maintain cleanliness with no underlying food that rats may feed over. Once you remove the food sources, apply a humane trap where the rodents seem to be congregating.
Live Traps
Live traps are generally used by people who avoid killing rats. To determine whether the traps are humane, make sure that food, water, and nesting materials are available to prevent starvation and dehydration. Also, ensure the trap closes without catching the animal’s tail or limbs.
Live inspection should take every morning; Trappers are responsible for humanely releasing or killing captured animals. The traps should not be causing animals a slow death. Relocation of rodents is also a possible alternative. However, according to available data, relocation of animals to new places is not a more humane alternative to killing them quickly and painlessly since the survival rate of relocation is very low. Optionally, the animal can be transported quickly to the nearest veterinary clinic for humane killing in a live trap. Verify that the clinic can handle the procedure before setting the trap.
Rat Snap Traps
Snap traps are more humane and quicker than live traps. Available in a variety of sizes, one can use them for both rats and mice. A reliable, well-designed trap will assure the animal’s head is firmly inside it. Such traps also consistently ensure quick death for mice and rats—if designed and used correctly. The Trap can be used again, once cleaned.
Setting traps effectively can be achieved by the following tips:
Place the Bait within its designated area and keep the remaining trap clean. It will only injure the animal if the trap closes before the creature is killed. You may use Peanut butter, dried fruit, and fresh bread as bait and apply changes in foods to attract rodents if the traps don’t trigger. Check the traps every morning to see if it caught a rodent.
The trapped animal must be humanely killed (with a rapid, heavy blow to the head). It is also advisable to replace the failed snap trap with a new one of the same design or brand. Snap traps that kill animals instantly are an effective and reliable way to kill rodents. RSPCA, however, opposes the use of glue boards because they cause severe suffering to animals.
If you’re looking for professionals to remove the rodents humanely, consider hiring the All City Animal Trapping & Removal services rewarded with Google 5 star customer ratings.
Whether or not you choose a professional for rat removal services, you should be armed with some knowledge on how to prevent infestations before it gets worse. This is especially true if your property has benefited from an urban intervention such as pipes connected underground across culverts which provide new “shortcut” transportation ways between food sources and nest locations.
