# A rat has invaded my home. Help me annihilate the fucker before I start shooting holes in my walls. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 18, 2013, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677 "2013-02-18T06:26:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/21 "2013-02-18T19:37:42Z")
I recommend using peanut butter for bait on snap traps. The trick is to tie a little string around the trigger mechanism for the trap. Smear that with peanut butter. This ensures the trap will go off as the rat or mouse pulls on the tied string. Otherwise you often end up with a still set trap that’s had the bait licked clean off of it and it never went off. I set many traps, all right together. I’ve never had to deal with rats, but it works great on mice. The concept should scale up without a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/22 "2013-02-19T00:40:05Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > Do I need to worry about them leaving behind diseases? What kind of post-infestation cleanup routine do I need to adopt? Standard chlorine bleach cleanup should work just fine. Bleach containers normally have instructions on how to dilute/mix up an appropriate solution. Wear rubber gloves. The biggest problems 1) getting bitten by a live rat (if that happens save the rat carcass if possible, but in any case consult a doctor ASAP) and 2) fleas from rats. Fortunately, they are not the disease vector they were in medieval Europe and in most cases this won’t be a problem but if you live in an area where rat-borne diseases are endemic be on the look out for symptoms. As a general rule, if there is no direct contact between you and the rat(s) you should be OK. If you do get sick with something go see a doctor. The odds of it being of rat origin is low by why take chances? I’ve lived in situations a few times with a need for rat extermination, and certainly mice. No illnesses so far. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/23 "2013-02-19T01:01:24Z")
go for a head shot, you don’t want to ruin the meat. a rat snap trap will kill if you get it to go for the bait, secured hard to the trigger. handle carefully it can cause some damage. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/24 "2013-02-19T01:20:34Z")
We need to get you together with MeanOldLady so you two can compare notes and drive up your blood pressure together. Better yet, when you do capture your rat, package it up and mail it to MeanOld Lady and ask her opinion on disposal. Sure, she’ll have a conniption fit but it’s all worth it for the entertainment value! ::d&r:: ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/25 "2013-02-19T04:35:41Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#): > > Obviously, traps/poison are a good approach but the first thing you need to determine is how they are entering your home and seal the area. Otherwise, they will continue to breed and come and go as they please. > > Start by thoroughly inspecting the outside of your home looking for any small opening in areas such as foundation vents, crawlspace doors, areas where utility lines/pipes penetrate the outside wall, etc. A small opening about a quarter size of your fist will give a rat entry to either a crawl space or the outside wall cavity. > > From there, the rat needs entry into your home through another opening. This can be where plumbing lines enter the wall or behind furniture or appliances where a rat can gnaw through the interior wall but they usually try this where there’s a partial opening to begin with. This. I had to deal with roof rats a few years ago and the solution was to spend some time sealing up all their entry points. Check with your county vector (disease) control office, they may have a service where they send an inspector out to your house to help you identify how the critters are getting in. I patched some holes, trimmed back some vegetation and no more problems. Plus, no traps to bust a finger or paw, poison that accidentally gets somebody’s pet and no stinking corpses to find and dispose of. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/26 "2013-02-19T14:06:12Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > There is absolutely no way I can seal up my house. It was built in the 50’s, and the original owner built lots of neat built-in drawers, cabinets and cupboards in all the rooms. The backs of these open into the empty wall spaces behind them. Also, the house has been added on to at least twice, so there are gaps in the walls and openings in the crawlspace. There is no basement. Read your lease to see if rodents are specifically your responsibility. If not and barring other exclusionary language in the lease, why not bring the issue to the landlord pointing out the obvious points of exterior/interior entry and see if the landlord will take action to correct the issue in order to maintain a habitable dwelling. ---
**Author:** ![indian3478](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@indian3478](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indian3478)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/27 "2013-05-13T17:46:17Z")
Rodents do not like Peppermint , get some x tract and through it around, plant it out side, if you use a trap I used cheese then put a match to it a bit for smell.I know a fella who does this for a living and he uses Sardines ,You need to clean up the rat poo. the dust off it is deadly.I.ve used a vacuum. ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/28 "2013-05-13T18:22:22Z")
When I moved in my current home 3 yrs ago, the previous folks had lots of mice traps in random areas. oddly enough, just last night, I got up to get a drink from the fridge, and I heard my cats making a new sound. They had cornered a mouse under a kitchen roll cart. My first rodent in 3 years! They(cats) were very smart, and used teamwork to trap the mouse. They chased it left and right about 20 times, while it was under the cart. It finally made a run for it behind one of those wire racks you hang on walls to hold dinner plates, that I had on the floor awaiting installation. Again, they covered both ends. the mouse actually cried in frustration. I got my Crossman variable pump BB gun and pumped it 2 times (7 is max) which planted a BB in his butt without a mess. I knew not to use my Beeman 1200 fps pellet gun, as it shoots a pellet faster than the speed of sound, and would ricochet like a .22. I had always read that mice or rats will not enter a house with cat(s). This one entered on the lowest of 3 floors, when I left the French doors open to air out the house. I have baited traps hidden in the same places as the previous owners, and in 3 years no mice. So, get some cats, and a variable pump BB gun. Be sure to wear safety glasses. Rats burrow into the ground, as do mice. So you may want to borrow someones Rat Terrier, and buy one of those high amperage prongs you force into the ground, then dump massive wattage in their cottage. If they are in your walls, you will need an infrared camera to see them, which some fire departments have, as do the US military. Other than turning loose some black rat snakes in the attic. I would rather sleep in a house with black rat snakes in the walls / attic, than rats in the pantry or chewing on me in bed. Black rat snakes will not harm a human, unless provoked & cornered. Remember the black plague and Bubonic Plague? they were caused by black (not brown) rats. PS last year, a man in Oregon was confirmed to have contracted Black Death plague from a mouset: > **[The Black Death Returns: Oregon Man in Critical Condition with the Plague |...](https://newsfeed.time.com/2012/06/15/the-black-death-returns-oregon-man-in-critical-condition-with-the-plague/)** > > In 21st century America, most of us don’t expect to meet our maker in certain arcane ways: arrow wounds, say, or Viking maurauders. Or the Black Death. And yet a man in Oregon has contracted the most feared disease of medieval Europe and is in... Last, call Terminix. I have a yearly contract with them, for everything from ants, spiders to rats. They come out every month. If you don’t want long term coverage, just have them out for 3-4 months. ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/29 "2013-05-13T18:24:08Z")
> [@indian3478](#): > > Rodents do not like Peppermint , get some x tract and through it around, plant it out side, if you use a trap I used cheese then put a match to it a bit for smell.I know a fella who does this for a living and he uses Sardines ,You need to clean up the rat poo. the dust off it is deadly.I.ve used a vacuum. I didn’t know about the peppermint effect; I have peppermint growing around the perimeter of the house as well. ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/30 "2013-05-13T18:36:41Z")
read the last paragraph: [http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/wvwildlife/2011/ww110713.shtml](http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/wvwildlife/2011/ww110713.shtml) black rat snakes: " if you see them in your yard, you will not see rodents in your house" I posted earlier that I have many snakes in my 10 acres that border a state forest and has a 3 acre pond. Many black rat snakes - I never kill them. So if you don’t like my idea of placing snakes in your attic, then set some loose in your yard. ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/31 "2013-05-14T01:28:30Z")
I wouldn’t use poison. Takes too long to kill them. They will have plenty of time to watch over your shoulders as you watch Ratman Returns, then they die in the wall. Good luck finding the source of the stench even with an infrared cam. Also, their heat seeking fleas will abandon their cold bodies in favor of yours. My sister just moved into an old house with bats in the basement. I offered to turn loose some black snakes to eat the bats, and she freaked out. I would rather have non venomous snakes in my attic and basement, than rats in my walls and bats in my belfry ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/32 "2013-05-14T05:01:30Z")
It’s been three months. I wonder if **Lancia** is still dealing with rats? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/33 "2013-05-14T06:49:03Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > I’m ready to burn my house down. Tonight. Could be [worse](http://cheezburger.com/7431377408). ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/34 "2013-05-14T07:26:15Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Could be [worse](http://cheezburger.com/7431377408). I hate you. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/35 "2013-05-14T07:30:22Z")
You can’t hate me yet. First I have to get everyone with usernames starting with A through Y to hate me, THEN it’s your turn. ---
**Author:** ![indian3478](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@indian3478](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indian3478)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/36 "2013-05-14T22:55:26Z")
Try throwing peppermint levees around the house ! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/37 "2013-05-14T23:19:42Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Horse people I know give the [Rat Zapper](http://www.amazon.com/Agri-Zap-RZUIR1-Zapper-Ultra/dp/B000BWFESU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361204007&sr=8-1&keywords=rat+zapper) two hairless tails ups. > > StG I’ve used it, and it works great. No mess. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/38 "2013-05-14T23:40:57Z")
Another vote for snap trap, my variation is to tie a piece of Ritz cracker to the trigger (broken off to the correct size, then cover with peanut butter, but I may try the Jelly Belly trick next time, sounds much easier. I’m thinking about buying my son a good pellet gun and declaring open season on the squirrels who strip my fruit trees. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/39 "2013-05-14T23:49:28Z")
Peanut butter is irresistible to mice, and unlike some loose bait like crackers, where they can remove the bait without triggering the trap, peanut butter encourages them to gnaw and trip the trigger. Don’t know about PB & rats; I haven’t encountered any yet, but that’s the first thing I would try. > [@cochrane](#): > > It’s been three months. I wonder if **Lancia** is still dealing with rats? It’s a new generation. Rat grandchildren. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677/40 "2013-05-14T23:52:17Z")
I used stuff called, “Just one bite”(I had to order off the internet) I had to secure the bait/poison to a solid object to keep the rat from dragging it off somewhere but it worked well, one rat died in the house and was quickly disposed of and the area throughly saturated with bleach cleaner. the other(s) left the premises never to be heard of again. One place they were getting in was around the window unit air conditioners. I do not have pets or children around my house. i used 3 of the bait/poison things and I wire them to a paperback book that I can throw away after I am done with it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rat-has-invaded-my-home-help-me-annihilate-the-fucker-before-i-start-shooting-holes-in-my-walls/650677.md?page=1)