Getting rid of rats can be time consuming and difficult. Using traps or baits to manage them is one of the more common ways to take care of a small number of rats.
Bait placed in traps can consist of a number of different materials. Rats are natural scavengers and enjoy different types of food. Roof rats prefer fruits and Norway rats prefer meat or cheese. These two types of rats are the most common household invaders. Knowing what kind of rats you have in your home will help you set the traps with the most effective baits. Peanut butter is also common bait that can be used for both types of rats. All of these baits can spoil in traps, though, so they need to be monitored to stay fresh.
Another type of rat bait is poisonous bait that can be placed in bait stations. These can be harmful to both pets and humans, so managing these methods of extermination needs to be done carefully. Baits should be housed in stations, not just exposed, and should be handled with extreme care.
Rats avoid things that appear to be new objects in their pathways, so when placing baits or traps, you need to make sure they are in areas that rats travel through. Check them frequently to see if they are being eaten. If baits appear to remain untouched for a period of time, be patient. Rats need to get used to new items.
Baits and traps both can be dangerous. Rats and their waste should never be handled without gloves and a facemask. Before using any baits or traps, it's best to consult with a pest control expert.