Rats in the Attic

What is the Best Bait to Catch Rats?

Bait: many baits, such as peanut butter, work. But wait! Bait doesn't matter! Repairs to entry holes and trap location are far more important!

Rat Bait - What is the Best Bait to Catch Rats?

Rats are comparatively easy to trap with snap traps, because they are curious and explore a bit, and are generally fearless. Many types of traps work, but the old standard wooden snap traps are actually the most effective. Just spread some peanut butter on the trip pan. However - bait is actually of least concern. You actually don't need any bait at all. You will have far more success if, before you even start rat trapping, you seal shut every possible entry hole using steel mesh, which rats are unable to chew through. This first step is by far the most important thing, and the only crucial thing you must do for permanent rat control. Once that is done, catching the rats is a cinch, regardless of bait. Once the building is sealed, and the rats are trapped inside, set at least a dozen or more snap traps in the attic, on areas of rat activity (look for droppings and trails in the insulation). You actually don't need bait, but it does help so bait with peanut butter. That's all you really need. Sure, chocolate, or slim jims, or pineapple, or pretty much any food will work. But since peanut butter is easy to apply and works as well as anything else, that's what I go with. But remember, setting some rat traps with peanut butter randomly in the house or attic will catch a few rats, but not all of them, and the problem will last as long as you have open holes leading into your house. Read more about rat trapping for tips and proper techniques.

Rat Bait - What is the Best Bait to Catch Rats?

Peanut Butter is Easy to Use

Just smear some peanut butter on the trip pan. They have to lick it off and spend a little time on it, and will trigger the trap.

Use these Wooden Traps with Yellow Pan

These wooden traps are the best, for both rats and rats. The brand is Victor, and the ones with the yellow trip pan are the most effective.

Don't Use Poison!

Some people call rat poison "rat bait". If that was what you were searching for, read all of the reasons rat poison is ineffective.

Location Matters As Well

Location of the rat trap is far more important than type of bait. Here are traps placed on a popular rat travel pathway in an attic, on square air ducts.

Information About Rat Bait - What is the Best Bait to Catch Rats?

Anytime you have a rat on your property, you will want to get it off as soon as possible. Rats can cause all sorts of damage, such as chewing on wires and furniture or even spread disease. Because of this, the sooner you catch and remove the rats, the better. When it comes time to trap the rats, it is common to wonder which bait is the best option since every animal is interested in different foods. While bait may make a difference, you will find out that other factors are actually even more important.

Effective Bait Ideas
Peanut butter is among the most highly recommended rat baits to use because it attracts the animal and is incredibly simple. You most likely already have peanut butter in your home and when you spread it on a trap, it will stay in place. Since the rat can’t just pick it up and take the bait with them, they are more likely to be trapped. While peanut butter is a popular choice, you can also use whole nuts, bacon, berries, gumdrops, or dried fruit. Generally speaking, roof rats will prefer foods that are plant based while Norway rats will prefer items with a lot of sugar, protein, and fat. Either species likes peanut butter and dried fruit.

Things That Matter More Than Bait
Using the proper bait can make your rat trapping more effective, but it will still be useless if you haven’t selected the right types of traps and laced them correctly. You should always opt for snap traps since these are highly effective and will kill the rats instantly, making them a humane method. Glue traps are inhumane and not as effective and live cage traps require you to relocate the rat, which is a sure death sentence since these rodents keep to a small area. In addition to placing the traps correctly, you also need to use enough. Start with a dozen traps at a minimum since rats are social creatures.

Focus On Location
Experts will tell you that even if you skip the bait but place the rat trap in the right location, you will have success. On the other hand, the best bait and a poorly placed trap are unlikely to lead to results. This involves inspecting the attic and looking for the rat paths. These rodents go over the same paths repeatedly and you can typically recognize them by their grease and droppings. Place the traps along these paths and you don’t really need to use bait. If it makes you feel better, put some peanut butter or dried fruit on the traps and wait for it to work.

The Bottom Line

Rat Bait - What is the Best Bait to Catch Rats? Remember, the only thing that matters is that you seal the house shut. After that, trapping is easy! And when you do start trapping, location of the snap trap is far more important than the type of food you put on the rat trap. If you're using a cage trap bait it with peanut butter and seeds, or bread or whatever you want. And if you're using the term "rat bait" in search of rat poison, be aware that poison is just plain ineffective, and has a chance of leaving stinky rats in your attic or walls.