Why Norway Rats Aren’t Taking The Bait
If you want to get a rat infestation under control, using the right bait is essential. If you use the wrong type of bait, the rats will not be drawn to your traps, and depending on the products you use, to the poison that you planted. Not only that, but you have to be mindful of the species of the rats in your home. Some species will prefer certain types of foods over others, and in this article, we’re going to take a look at the type of bait that attracts Norway rats.
Baiting the Norway rat
The Norway rat is a species that originates from China, and is widespread around the world. It lives in close proximity to humans, and it will often invade the home. This rat is brown or gray in coloration, and its diet consists of almost every type of food out there. It will enter the home looking for shelter, warmth and food.
Catching the Norway rat will require a strong trap – it will be able to escape a mouse trap for example. In terms of baits, since these rats are so omnivorous, almost any type of food will do the job, but even these rats heavily prefer some foods over others.
Some of the best baits that you can use are nuts, peanut butter, bacon, dried fruits, sausages, hot dogs, candy, chocolate, gumdrops, and unflavored dental floss. Of all these foods, peanut butter is perhaps the most effective. It is high in calories, protein, fats, and it is made out of nuts, which are a preferred food for Norway rats.
When baiting this species, you may have to switch baits after a while. The rats are quite intelligent, and if they notice a rat die in a trap, or if they escape a trap themselves, they will avoid baits that smell like the ones you used in previous traps. So after a while, you may have to switch from peanut butter to bacon or dried fruits in order to deal with a larger population.
Extra baiting problems
If your baiting problems continue, you may need the help of a pro to completely eliminate the rats in your home. We can help you out. Contact us today with any questions you may have about baiting, trapping and poisoning rats, or if you would like to set up a Norway rat control appointment.
