Backyard Rat Trapping

Te Korowai o Waiheke Backyard trapping kitsets are now available to purchase on the island, so it seems like a good opportunity to talk about all things rat trapping.

Trapping in your backyard has loads of benefits. It can help save wildlife, prevent costly property damage, keep homegrown food safe, prevent an infestation, and halt the spread of diseases by rats. It also offers an alternative device for rats that may be bait shy because of a bad experience with a bait station.

The Backyard Trapping kitsets are available to purchase from Waiheke Art and Craft Supplies for $20, with $10 from each sale donated to Native Bird Rescue. They are the same model that is used in Te Korowai o Waiheke’s operational trials. Using H3 fencing timber, they are made for outdoor use, with an easy-open mesh door to service the trap. The trap included is a T-rex snap trap, which is easy to bait, set and empty.

Do I have rats on my property?

Chances are pretty good you've got them in your backyard. You may not see them during the day as they are nocturnal and usually come out to feed at night. Waiheke is notorious for rats and on an island with plenty of composts, luscious gardens, fruit trees, birds, eggs, lizards and insects to fill their stomachs, they are never too far from a meal.

But I haven’t seen any rats.

Autumn and Winter are when people tend to notice rats most. The rain and cooler weather drive them inside for shelter and food. Common hiding places include roof spaces, the garage, outside shed or chicken house. If you’d like a little more hard evidence, you can use a detection tool like a chew card to see where they are on your property. You can purchase chew cards here or make them yourself by following the instructions here.

Will trapping really make a difference?

It really does, and the advantage of trapping is that you actually see the results of your efforts. If you record your catches on the Waiheke Backyard Trappers App here, you can see which of your neighbours are also trapping and how many they are catching too. The more rats you remove from your neighbourhood, the safer your garden is for our unique native wildlife to live and feed.

Is the T-rex snap trap considered humane?

Yes, the T-rex is a spring-loaded kill trap that is designed to kill the rat instantly. It has also passed NAWAC testing when set in a bait station or a trap box.

What is the best lure or bait to use?

While cheese might be the meal of choice for the famous rats of the cartoon world, peanut butter is proven to be the favourite in the real world. If you don’t want to sacrifice your PIC’s that’s ok too, low-cost peanut butter is just as effective. Like us, not all rats have the same tastes and Nutella is thought to be another great alternative.

Where should I put my trap?

There are a few key things to remember when it comes to the placement of your trap. Make sure it’s on a flat surface against a wall, or near food sources like compost or rubbish bins, ensuring the rat can see through to the other side of the trap box. Rats don’t have very good sight, so they travel along the edges of fences, walls, or objects rather than open spaces. 

How often do I check it?

Every three days to begin with and as the catch rate goes down, just once a week. But it’s important to be diligent. If the trap is full then another rat can’t be caught in it.

OK. I've given it a go, but my trap doesn't seem to be working.

Give it time. Rats are wary of anything new or unfamiliar in their home range. If you’re still not having any luck, try a different spot remembering the things that rats are most attracted to, food and water.

What do I do with the rats that I catch?

Bury them in the garden or wrap them in newspaper and put them in the rubbish bin. 

I haven’t caught anything for a while, is the trap no longer working?

There are a few things that influence catch frequency. If there is lots of food around such as fallen fruit or vegetables it can be harder to lure a rat into a trap. You could move your trap to intercept rats that use a different route and with bait remember fresh is best. If the peanut butter isn’t taken, refresh it every week or so. 

Will trapping stop rats from coming to my property?

That is only likely to happen if there are multiple properties in your neighbourhood catching rats. A great idea for you and your neighbours is to join forces and create a community trapping group. Predator Free NZ has a funding round open for community groups now. Applications close on March 9th.

Well, there you have it, the A-Z of backyard rat trapping. If you have any questions or want to share your photos and successes with us, we’d love to hear from you. Send us an email at info@tekorowaiowaiheke.org or tag @tekorowaiowaiheke on your socials.

 Happy Trapping!