Rat Control Resources
A 2021 community survey found that 61% of Waiheke households surveyed had carried out rat control in the previous 12 months. There are lots of ways to detect and control rats in your backyard. Some people are very comfortable handling rats and others are not. For that reason, there are a variety of different control options available.
Tracking tools
Chew cards and tracking tunnels are great tools to find out where rats are on your property. Place them where you have seen rats or think rats might frequent. Near compost bins, chicken houses, rubbish areas, woodpiles and water sources are a good place to start. Once you know where they are, you know where to put your traps or bait stations.
Where to buy:
Traps
There are two common trapping devices used for backyard and bush rat trapping. Snap traps (T-rex or Victor) and A24 self-resetting traps. Snap traps are a low-cost investment and are easy to check as you walk around your property. Once a snap trap catches a rat it needs to be cleared and reset before it can catch another. For the safety of children, and other animals, snap traps are recommended for use inside secure boxes.
A24 self-resetting traps are a higher cost but do not require the rat carcass to be removed from the trap as they fall to the ground after impact. The trap resets itself up to 24 times before the canister needs to be replaced. This option often suits property owners that do not live on Waiheke all year around. For more information on trapping, click here
Bait
Bait stations are another cost-effective way to control rats and do not require frequent checking as the bait will remain effective for at least four weeks. They can save time, money and resources when controlling large areas where rat numbers are high. All toxins should be contained in lockable bait stations. Bait stations keep baits fresh and also allow predator species to access bait while restricting or minimising access by non-target species. For more information on bait and bait stations click here
Where to buy:
Placemakers, Ostend, Waiheke Island
Where to buy:
Placemakers, Ostend, Waiheke Island