If I recall correctly, medieval ratcatchers used rat terriers working in teams with ferrets. Supposedly rats flee the smell of ferrets. Terriers are stationed outside the building, ferrets released inside, and the rats driven into the waiting terriers. One website says that a proper working rat terrier must be “rock steady” at identifying and not attacking ferrets (presumably when the ferrets emerge from the holes behind the rats). (I won’t link to the site because it promotes sport killing.)
So you need the complete team – a squad of sharp rat terriers, a big sack of angry ferrets, and a squinty, snaggle-toothed medieval tradesman with a bad reputation and a long stick.
<furiously updates resume for immediate submission>
Hmm… I’ll need to outsource for the sack o’ weasels, but I’ll come armed with (mostly) period-appropriateweaponry. I’m even a leatherworker by trade, nearsighted and never had braces. ;)
Have prior experience, references provided upon request
smooth peanut butter doesn’t work, use crunchy and lodge a nut chunk under the food hook on the trigger. apple chunks especially with the peel under the food hook work well, they are also good bait because of their strong smell.
practice setting the traps. you want the trigger wire to just catch the trigger to hold it. if you fully engage the wire it can hold it too tightly for the trigger to release under a light weight mouse. hold down the snap wire with thumb and index finger on each corner (from the loaded position end) and engage the trigger wire and lightly let up on the snap wire, do it slowly and gently, you can see it tension or let slip. you can see it without having to let the snap wire fully loose. practice until you can set a hair trigger, then handle the trap from the loaded snap wire end.
Okay, one of my big fears is birds. I CAN NOT have a falcon in the house dispersing with the mice/rats.
deep breath
Okay, I’m better now. Otherwise if you want to come by with weaponry and can provide corpses for proof you did the job I will gladly pay you to remove the vermin. You get $8 and you can take 2 popcicles from the fridge.
If you’re going to use snap traps remember: they must be placed perpendicular to the wall or an object with the bait side closest to the wall so that the rat will get nailed on the neck and not just get part of its face trapped by coming in at some other angle (which is truly Not a quick or pleasant death)
