Advice needed, Rats in the rabbittry

Shipping container was moved yesterday. It had to be empty or the company wouldn't move it. When we emptied it out we found a gap varying between 1-3 inches wide for several feet in the floor board. No wonder the furry jerks were getting in.

I was at work when it was moved but my boyfriend was there and said at least 6 rats went running from underneath the container when it was lifted onto the truck. Placement at my folks house was almost exactly where I wanted it, there is room on one side to set the rabbit hutch against the container. They are supposed to be moved today.

When I did the night check on the rabbits last night there was a rodent hiding along the framing. It scurried off before I could find something to whack it with but I tracked where it had gone, and then I went and grabbed the traps. I set them up so the rodents would have to walk past/over the traps to exit their hiding spot. This morning there were two rats caught by the traps. I'm hoping for a repeat tonight but I would settle for no rodents on the property at all. Current tally is 17 snap trap 3 rolling log.

Trap placement:

Keep going! The rats are losing!

Rabbits were moved yesterday, and as we were loading up the last two we heard something towards the rat zone. We looked after securing the rabbits in the car and it was a small rat, caught in one of the traps. It wasn't even dark! Darn things must have been panicking their food source was going away.

Haven't checked this morning yet. 18 snap trap 3 rolling log.

Update after a long day of packing, moving, and cleaning. We caught 2 more rodents in the snap traps using the same locations. 20 snap trap 3 rolling log.

We almost were able to add human to the method-of-rodent-reduction scoring system, but those suckers are fast. My boyfriend had started to move a tarp which had been left on the lawn overnight and discovered a small rat underneath. He grabbed a shovel and I grabbed a piece of wood and we moved the tarp which made the rat run. I grazed it but it kept running, away from the house and towards the property line. Hopefully it kept running and is someone else's problem now.

I think bunnyrabbit.com might have j feeder lids. If you've not checked there.

Yesterday we got another rat, big one this time. I don't know where they are still coming from, we really cleaned up the yard. Going to get rid of more stuff today. 21 snap trap 3 rolling log.

Have you thought more about the RatX?

So on Friday night I went outside to close up the lower level of the house (no internal stairs) and I find a rat (actually rat sized, one of the big ones) chilling on the patio. I yelled for my BF and we tried to get it but it did some crazy parkour climbing up the railing and then jumping down the stairs.

On Saturday we checked the traps and there was a rat, I think it was the same one, who had set off the first trap with his leg, and second trap with his tail. We put him out of his misery as soon as we realized he was still alive, poor thing.

We are now at 22 snap trap 3 rolling log.

AmberLops said:

Have you thought more about the RatX?

Click to expand...

I'm still wary of using it because I don't know where the rat will crawl off to die. I don't want to cause a smell or nuisance at the house, we are trying to list it this week.

We got the kitchen cabinets painted and should be able to get the cabinet doors done by Tuesday.

If any rats show up while showing the house, quickly give it a name and claim it as a pet. Assure the prospective buyer that "Ralph" will move with you!