[dennis]

i've noticed some young rats in the garden
i was advised to get fen traps when i went to get them the person selling them advised me to buy the plastic type because they can be loaded a lot easier( i've not got a lot of strength in my hands ) i've set them and had them set for 3 nights now and got nothing i know the rats are going near them as i can see where they have been digging any help you can give me on encouraging them to the traps don't want to use poison if i can help it but don't want them to reach adult hood either

[joyfull]

try using peanut butter on the traps, rats and mice love peanut butter 

[8doubles]

It may take a while for the new plastic smell to wear off, spread a few free offerings of the bait around the traps to build up the rats confidence and they are more likely to try for the bait on the trap.

[joyfull]

also place the traps and the gloves that you handle them with in the corn container for a day or two so they take up the scent of that and not smell of plastic or human.

[dennis]

i put the traps in the chicken coup for a couple of days ( not set ) as i was told that will get rid of the smell at the moment they are in the compost heap there seems to be a lot of activity in there that should get rid of any other smells

[dennis]

went to check the traps this morning {put peanut butter on them}one trap gone off did not get the rat one trap rat got food trap not gone off any advice?

[8doubles]

Cadburys Freddie the frog chocolate, melt it in the wrapper and squeeze onto the bait plate which might need roughing up to get it to stick .
Harder to remove than peanut butter = snap.

[dennis]

thanks 8doubles i will give that ago