Make a PVC Rat Trap
Datetime:2014-04-25 Hits:
Rats can be a troublesome pest to have around. Besides the potential of carrying and spreading disease within your home, rat droppings can make an unsightly mess, and the rats' claws can damage floors along with damage caused by gnawing. Commercial traps can be expensive, and are often lethal for the rat. A homemade rat trap can be made out of a piece of PVC pipe and a bucket, and will trap the rat without killing it, allowing you to move the rat outside your home.
Instructions
1
Cut a piece of PVC pipe that is at least twice as long as the height of the bucket. If your pipe is slightly shorter than this, the trap can still work, however a rat is less likely to climb up it, as the pipe will have a very steep angle that the rat may have a hard time ascending. The pipe must be wide enough for a rat to fit through, however rats are able to squeeze through very tight spaces, so you should use a pipe that is at least 2 inches in diameter.
2
Secure the PVC pipe to the top of the bucket with the duct tape. One open end of the pipe should hang a few inches over the lip of the bucket, while the pipe extends down towards the ground on the outside of the bucket. When the bucket is placed down, the one end of the pipe will be over the bucket, and the other will rest on the ground.
3
Place the bucket in an area that the rat is frequenting. Look for signs of a rat inhabiting an area, such as rat droppings, food scraps or scratches on the floor.
4
Bait the trap. Rats will be attracted to common household foods, such as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Beer also works as an excellent bait for rats.
5
Check the trap regularly to prevent a rat from being stuck in the trap for an extended period of time, leading to a slow, painful death from starvation.
6
Wear long sleeves and protective gloves when moving the bucket, and carry the bucket by the handle, not by the lip of the bucket, to lower the risk of being bitten or scratched by the rat.
