Do Mouse Traps Work on Rats?

What happens when you see a rat in your house, but you only have mouse traps on hand? Do mouse traps even work on rats? While mice and rats may look similar, they are very different when it comes to trapping. Using the wrong trap can lead to more frustration and no results. Let’s explore why mouse traps usually don’t work for rats, and what you should use instead.

Mouse Traps vs. Rat Traps: Size, Strength, and Trigger Differences

On the surface, rat and mouse traps may appear very similar. The differences between a rat and a mouse influence how their traps are designed. For example:

• Size: Mouse traps are small. Rat traps are much larger to fit a rat’s body.
• Strength: Rats are tough. They can survive a mouse trap snap or even drag the trap away.
• Trigger sensitivity: Mouse traps have light triggers. Since rats are heavier, they need stronger triggers to set off the trap.

Why Mouse Traps Usually Fail on Rats

There are several reasons why mouse traps often fail to catch rats. First, rats are intelligent. They can sniff around a trap and avoid it if it seems unsafe.

They’re also much bigger and stronger than mice. A snap trap designed for mice may snap, but not hard enough to hold a rat. Additionally, a glue trap designed for a tiny mouse might not be big enough to fit a rat.

So, do mouse traps work on rats? Not typically, unless they are specifically designed for larger rodents. If you want to know how to catch a rat, you need to understand which type of trap to get first.

Identify Your Pest First: Mouse vs. Rat Signs and Size

Before you set any trap, it’s important to know what kind of rodent you’re dealing with. Knowing the difference between a mouse and a rat will help you choose the right trap.

Droppings, Gnaw Patterns, Runways, and Footprints

The clues rodents leave behind are some of the best ways to figure out what type of rodent you’re dealing with.

• Droppings: Mouse droppings are small, like rice grains. Rat droppings are bigger, like jelly beans.
• Gnaw marks: Mice chew small holes. Rats chew large holes that can damage wood, wires, and even pipes.
• Runways: Rodents often travel the same paths. Look for dirty smudge marks along walls or baseboards.
• Footprints: In dusty areas, you might see tiny footprints. If they’re small, it’s probably a mouse. If they’re large, chances are it’s a rat. Mice have small prints. Rats leave larger ones.

If you see larger droppings, bigger chew marks, and wider runways, you’re probably dealing with a rat and not a mouse. 

What to Use Instead: Proper Rat Traps and Placement Strategy

In addition to using the right type of rat traps, there are other steps you can take to help end your infestation quickly!

Bait Choices For Rats Vs. Mice

Here’s an important rat-trapping tip: know what type of bait to use in your trap.

Using a rat’s favorite food will help lure them to your snap trap. Even though mice love peanut butter, chocolate, and seeds, rats prefer meat, cheese, and nuts. Peanut butter can also work if you add a bit of bacon or fish oil to make it more appealing.

After you’ve chosen the right bait for your trap, be sure to place a small amount of bait in the trap. Don’t overdo it. Too much bait can make the trap less effective.

If you’re wondering if a mouse trap will work on a rat, remember that adding bait may not always increase its effectiveness for larger rodents. In fact, it actually decreases the trap’s effectiveness. Glue traps have been professionally designed to catch mice and rats without the need for additional bait.

Safe, Effective Placement Along Walls and Travel Routes

If you decide to use glue traps, keep in mind that they are not designed to attract rats by scent alone, so you need to place them along the paths where the rats travel to maximize your catch. Since rats run along walls for safety, position your glue traps along baseboards, as close to the wall as possible. Avoid corners, where rodents tend to slow down their pace and can easily avoid being caught. Ideally, you want them to be at full speed so they cannot slow down and avoid the trap.

Look for signs of rat activity, such as droppings, chew marks, or footprints, and set traps where you notice them.

Don’t hesitate to use multiple traps, or even a combination of snap and glue traps, when getting an infestation under control. Rats are clever, and setting more than one increases your chances of catching them.

Remember to keep traps out of reach of pets and children. This not only ensures safety but can also improve the effectiveness of your traps.

Control Rats the Right Way With Catchmaster® Rat Traps

Catchmaster rat traps are the right choice. They’re strong, safe, and easy to use. Whether you’re dealing with one rat or a whole group, Catchmaster has the tools to help you win the fight. Our traps are:

• Built for rats: Strong enough to hold and kill large rodents.
• Pre-baited or easy to bait: Our traps either come pre-scented and ready to go, or require simple bait, like peanut butter, cheese, or meat.
• Safe to place: Designed for use along walls and in hidden spots.
• Non-toxic: Made with specially formulated, non-toxic adhesive.
• Trusted: Catchmaster has been used by pest control experts for 70+ years.

The effectiveness of mouse traps for rats is limited, but Catchmaster’s solutions target larger rodents, providing a more reliable way to catch these pests. The next time you spot a long tail scurrying through your house, turn to the pest control solutions the pros do – Catchmaster!