Humane Rat Traps

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There are many different ways that people can deal with a rat problem, but one of the most common and effective ways is by trapping the animals. There are some people who will consider that using a cage trap to catch and relocate rats is a humane approach, but in most cases the rat will not survive in a new habitat, so the majority of people who are looking for humane rat traps will be looking at those traps that will kill rats quickly and causing the minimum amount of pain for the rat. Here are a few of the rat traps that do deal with rats quickly and efficiently, and make it as easy as possible for you to dispose of the carcasses.



  • 1. Snap Traps


  • This type of trap is probably the most common and the most affordable type of rat trap, and it is usually set on a simple piece of wood, with a bar and spring that will then close and quickly kill the rat when it triggers the trap. Because of their low cost these traps are very popular, and when they are placed in the right location and have a bait to attract the rats into the trap itself, they can be a very effective and humane way of dealing with a rat problem.

  • 2. Crocodile Style Traps


  • A similar type of trap which uses a spring based mechanism to close the trap around the rat itself, these are usually made from a toughened plastic or from metal, and both can effectively deal with rats. They are called crocodile traps because instead of one bar to kill the rat, a ‘mouth’ of sharp teeth actually closes around the rat when the trap is triggered. This type of trap will also usually have a small cup inside the trap itself where you can place the bait.

  • 3. Electrocution Traps


  • These traps are a little more expensive and they are generally larger than the manual spring operated traps, but many people do favor them because they are very swift when it comes to killing the rat, and will do so with very little pain for the animal. These are usually battery operated, and will usually have a plastic cover with a handle over the trap that helps to make it easy to dispose of the rat without having to touch the animal.

  • 4. Gas Traps


  • Similar to a gas chamber, these are another type of humane rat trap as they will use carbon dioxide to kill the rat painlessly and efficiently, although like the electrocution traps, they are a little more expensive when compared with the spring loaded traps. These options will lure the rat into a small chamber, and when the door closes the gas is then released which will ultimately kill the rat within just a short period. Read more about Rat Trapping Legalities: What You Should Know.

Rat Removal Methods To Avoid

While humane traps are the best way to deal with rats, there are several other methods that people can use, and chemical options should be avoided, such as poison or rat repellents. Poison can be a problem as you don’t necessarily know where the rat is going to die, and it can take hours or even days for the poison to kill the animal, so as well as not being humane, it is also a hazard if you cannot find the rat’s carcass to remove it. Chemical repellents are also fairly common, but in most cases they will have very little effect on the rat. Another type of trap that you should avoid is the glue trap, as this can take a long time to kill the animal, and is not at all humane. Read more about Do Light or Sound Machines Work to Get Rid of Rats? and Can Live Trapping Rats Work to Get Rid of Them?


Go back to the Rat Removal page or read my guide for How to get rid of rats.

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