Many people have heard about electric rat traps, but not everyone fully understands how these devices work, how effective they are and when, in general, it makes sense to replace more traditional means with them. Well, we’ll talk about these traps in more detail and look at a number of interesting nuances related to their use in practice.
As you can guess from the name, the operation of an electric rat trap is directly related to the use of electric current. Moreover, we are talking specifically about the destruction of animals, and not about their capture alive. An important question that should immediately arise is: isn’t such a trap dangerous for other inhabitants of the house, including people? After all, electricity... We will also talk about this later.
In general, it can be noted that electronic rat traps are very simple and convenient to use, and the effectiveness of such devices is quite high - if used correctly, they can be used to exterminate even a large population of rats in a given area...
Operating principle of electric rat traps
The operation of an electric rat trap is based on a simple principle: an animal, climbing into the rat trap and trying to pull the bait out of it, closes an electrical circuit on itself. A high voltage current passes through its body, which leads to almost instantaneous death of the animal.
On a note
In some types of traps, contacts are made on the animal's paws when it climbs into the rat trap. In other devices, the rat receives an electric shock when it touches a baited feeder. Theoretically, in the first case, the rat has a chance to escape, but there is no practical difference in efficiency between devices with different circuits: rats are equally reliably destroyed by traps of both types.
It is clear that for reliable destruction of the pest, the voltage on the electrodes of the device must be high enough. To do this, voltage converters are often used, which make it possible to convert low voltage from batteries into several thousand volts at the output. So, in some traps, a rat or mouse receives an electric shock with a voltage of up to 8000 V (although the voltage can be lower - the standard 220 V is also quite “enough” for a rat).
Due to voltage converters, some electric rat traps are autonomous, run on batteries or rechargeable batteries and do not require a connection to the network.
Which bait to choose
Rats love to eat animal products. Therefore, the following baits are suitable for traps:
- fish;
- sausage;
- ground meat;
- salo;
- cheese;
- egg.
Care should be taken to ensure that the bait has a strong odor. In this case, the rat will smell the bait and will want to eat the treat, overcoming its fear. Smoked products (sausage, cheese, lard) are perfect for this purpose.
On a note. When working with bait, you should keep in mind that you should not touch the bait with your bare hands, as the smell of a person repels rodents.
If the bait remains untouched for several days, it needs to be replaced with something else.
The main advantages of such devices
One of the main advantages of an electronic rat trap is the “hygienic” nature of its use. This compares favorably with poisons, which have to be spread throughout the apartment (and then be afraid that neither the product itself nor the rat poisoned by it will be found by pets), as well as mechanical traps, which, when triggered, often leave dried blood stains on the floor.
In addition, electric exterminators are for the most part very effective: in practice, with their help it is often possible to get rid of even the most cautious rats (who are wise with experience and no longer touch the poison and bypass ordinary crush traps).
Other advantages of electric rat traps:
- The compactness of the device, the ability to install it in fairly secluded and hard-to-reach places;
- Humaneness (compared to some other types of devices) - the animal dies in a trap almost instantly, without suffering from pain. This makes electric rat traps significantly different, for example, from glue traps, in which a rat can die for several days;
- Ease of use - the trap does not need to be prepared for a long time, and even disposal of the animal’s corpse is very simple and takes less than a minute (you don’t even have to touch the animal’s corpse).
Meanwhile, with all the above advantages, the electric rat trap also has certain disadvantages...
How rats get into houses and why rodents are dangerous to humans
Rats are one of the most obvious signs of unsanitary conditions; they live where there is something to eat. Among the conditions that are favorable for the life of pests are the presence of food waste (crumbs, peelings, bones, cereals), protection from cold, and high humidity. Rats can also infest houses in the vicinity of their source. It is not uncommon for these animals to appear in multi-storey buildings where there is a garbage chute, along the walls of which rats successfully travel long distances, entering apartments through open doors or ventilation holes. The first floors are most susceptible to rat invasion, where rodents flee from basements and cellars located in the basement. The private sector suffers the most from these pests. Parasitic mammals love pigsties, chicken coops and other places where food debris is poorly removed.
I first saw a rat in the backyard after a neighbor decided to raise piglets without having the habit of keeping the animals clean. A few months later, a family of rodents was discovered and quickly eliminated in a woodshed located on my property.
The main threat that rats pose to humans is the diseases they transmit. You can become infected not only through a bite, but also through feces, which contain bacteria that are dangerous to human life. The most common diseases transmitted by rodents are:
- leptospirosis;
- rabies;
- tularemia;
- typhus, etc.
Disadvantages of Electronic Rat Traps
Like any electrical device, electronic rat traps can pose a hazard to pets and humans if not handled correctly. However, in fairness, it must be said that many modern models of electric rat traps powered by batteries, even with a gross violation of safety regulations during operation (for example, if you stick your fingers inside), are not capable of causing serious harm to human health.
On a note
The most dangerous devices to use are those made by yourself and powered by a 220 V mains voltage. Often, the circuits of such homemade products do not provide any protection - at best, a fuse that will not save you from a life-threatening electric shock.
In general, simple mechanical rat traps with a powerful spring can be considered much more dangerous to use than modern battery-powered electric rat traps. A trap can easily break a child’s finger or a cat’s paw, while electronic rat and mouse exterminators are designed in such a way that you cannot reach the electrodes with your fingers (or paw).
And even in the worst case, although the discharge will be very unpleasant for a person, it will not be fatal (a person is about 100 times larger than a rat, and the discharge power of a battery-powered device is simply not enough to cause serious harm).
It is also useful to read: Using ultrasound against rats and mice
Such traps also have other disadvantages:
- High cost - prices for electronic shredders start from 2,500 rubles and reach 10,000 rubles for the most modern models. For that kind of money you can buy several dozen ordinary mousetraps, or several tunnel traps that are safe for pets and are not inferior in efficiency to electric traps;
- Dependency on power supply. If the trap runs on batteries, they will have to be replaced periodically. If the device requires connection to an outlet, then it cannot be used where there is no network;
- The need to regularly check and release traps. If this is not done, then within a few days the rat will begin to decompose right in the device.
And yet, the main disadvantages of electric rat traps are their high cost and the danger to people and pets that is greatly exaggerated in the minds of the average person. This is what limits the popularity of these devices among the people.
Review
“When I was at my sister’s, I saw how they were fighting rats there. They have special electric rat traps for this. The rat climbs inside to get some bread, and then electrocutes it. While we were staying for a week, they caught three rats in their cellar. An excellent remedy, no brains scatter to the sides, no blood, I just took this trap, knocked it over, the rat fell into the bag - and that’s all ... "
Alina, Tver
Damage from rodents
The well-known ladies' exclamation “It smells like mice!” - not the saddest consequence of a rodent invasion on a household.
Mice and their larger relatives, rats, eat everything that is bad in kitchens, warehouses, pantries, cellars, sheds, barns, and other places where food is concentrated, often causing food supplies, especially in warehouses and in rural areas, damage comparable to fires. It’s not uncommon for them to spoil clothes, shoes and books.
In addition, rodents, leaving excrement, urine and saliva in human homes, are carriers of more than 70 infectious diseases. The ominous medieval plague epidemic, which wiped out the population of half of Europe, was brought on by rats on their paws.
And the simple appearance of rats and mice in women's company spoils the ladies' nerves and mood for the whole day.
Did you know? According to approximate calculations by scientists (since it is impossible to count accurately), there are half as many people on our planet as there are rats.
Brands of electric rat traps
Perhaps the best known electric traps in Russia are electric traps from the Victor company. There are several models, differing in design complexity and price:
- The simplest Victor trap is mains powered. After catching the animal, you need to unplug it and throw the catch into the trash can. The price of this model is approximately 3,300 rubles. Analogues are Sititek Antirats and Ecosniper GH-190;
- Victor Rat Zapper Classic – kills up to 20 rats on one battery charge and works for up to a year in standby mode. Price - approximately 3500 rubles;
- The Victor Electronic Rat Trap is the most popular model, killing up to 50 rodents with one set of batteries. Price - about 4500 rubles;
- Victor Rat Zapper Ultra – runs on batteries, kills a rat with a discharge of 8000 V. Equipped with an indicator that shows that a dead animal is in the trap. Using one set of batteries, the device can kill up to 60 rats, and works for up to two years in standby mode. The price of the model is about 5,500 rubles;
- Victor Multi Kill Electronic Mouse Trap is the company's most modern model. It provides for automatic movement of the pest's corpse into a storage chamber that can accommodate up to 10 rodents. The electric shock occurs in a special cone-shaped compartment, from which the rat cannot jump out even with a quick reaction. The same model has a reliable safety system: a special fuse and a tunnel-like circuit do not allow a child or pet to touch the dangerous elements of the trap with their fingers or paws. This model costs approximately 8,500 rubles.
Also on sale you can find imported electronic rat traps Rat Killer Yutec and Rat Zapper 2000 - analogues of the Victor Rat Zapper Classic and Victor Electronic Rat Trap, respectively.
Today you can easily buy Victor rat traps in online stores, with delivery throughout Russia. Occasionally, imported electronic rat traps can be found in physical retail outlets.
Review
“I bought myself such a bomb thing in Moscow - an electric rat trap. The device is not cheap, I was a little worried that it would be a waste of money and there would be no effect. But no, in three days I’ve already killed two rats...”
Rinat, Almaty
Rules of application and safety measures
Electric rat traps are quite easy to use. To catch a rat you need:
- Place bait in the device - for this there is a special feeder on the inside of the back wall of the device;
- Connect the rat trap to the network or insert batteries into it - depending on the model;
- Install the device where it can be easily reached by a rat or mouse attracted by the smell of the bait. It is advisable to choose a place to install the trap where pests are most often (where they leave their traces);
- From time to time (but at least once a day) check the indicator signals in the rat trap. Each model has its own mode of operation of the indicator, described in detail in the instructions;
- After catching a rat, you simply need to tilt the trap so that the animal falls out of it. If the corpse needs to be removed from the device by hand, the power in it is first turned off. In a model with a storage chamber, only the chamber itself is cleaned.
On a note
The Victor Rat Zapper Ultra is sold complete with a remote indicator that can be placed in an easily accessible, visible location. This is very convenient: the rat trap may be somewhere in the pantry behind a box of potatoes, and it will be difficult to look there regularly. It is enough to put the indicator on a shelf in the room and only check it. The rat catcher will only need to get it when the corresponding light comes on, indicating that the rodent has been captured.
Minced meat with onions, smoked sausage, scorched lard or bread lightly moistened with vegetable oil are good baits for rats.
It is also useful to read: Poison for rats and mice Storm (manufactured by BASF) and reviews of its use
Electric rat traps should only be used in areas where children and pets are not present. The exception is the Victor Multi Kill Electronic Mouse Trap, which is well protected and does not pose a danger to pets and humans.
Electric traps should also not be used outdoors. Here harmless and sometimes very useful animals - shrews, birds, hedgehogs, lizards and snakes - can climb into them and die. In such cases, the harm to the site will be greater than the benefit from destroying the pests with a trap.
Fine mesh construction
Manufacturing requires welded material with small cells. It is necessary to prepare a tool for metal processing, since you will have to cut the mesh. Each component must have a rectangular shape. This will result in a cage with dimensions of 60x30x20 cm. To connect the parts, it is not necessary to use a welding machine. You can use simple wire or clamps.
It is recommended to equip a handle to move the product from place to place. It is better to place the element at the top of the structure. The front door must be equipped with a spring mechanism.
You will need a piece of twine or cord. It is necessary to place the bait close to the back wall. At one end of the cord there is a hook on which the food is located. The opposite end of the rope runs along the top of the structure and is secured to the trap door. If a rodent gets inside, an attempt to eat the bait will end with the door slamming shut.
Is it possible to make an electronic rat trap with your own hands?
It’s easy to make an electronic rat trap yourself from readily available radio components. An important task in this case is to find a reliable housing in which, in fact, all the elements will be placed and which will serve as the trap itself. The easiest way for this purpose is to use a regular food container, in which a hole with a diameter of 6-7 cm is cut out for the animal to enter.
Next, two metal plates are placed on the bottom of the container so that the distance between them is more than 1 cm (more than the length of the rat’s paw). This will avoid a situation where the animal “locks up” only one paw, it gets burned, but does not die and runs away. If there is one or more paws on one plate, and another on the other, then the current will flow through the animal’s body, which will lead to death.
On a note
An option is possible when power is supplied to one contact at the bottom of the rat trap and to the hook on which the bait hangs. In this case, the likelihood of the rodent dying when the trap is triggered will be even higher.
The drawing below shows one of the options for the electrical circuit of the device:
Such a trap is installed where the rat is likely to find it. After catching the animal, the rat trap must be unplugged from the outlet, the capacitors must be discharged with a conductive object (insulated from hands), and then the animal’s carcass must be removed.
It should be understood that the danger of such a homemade device for humans and pets is incomparably higher than in the case of using a factory device powered by batteries.
Review
“We bought a Victor electric rat trap, it looks solid, right for the money. We put it in the nightstand under the sink, where the trash can is, and began to wait. Nothing in the morning. In the evening, too, nothing, but no one climbed into the bucket. Every other day in the morning I open the bedside table and the tail is sticking out of the trap. I took it, turned it over, and the rat fell out. Everything is fine, no blood. It’s a good rat trap, it works.”
Pavel, St. Petersburg
Mechanical
Homemade or ready-made devices for catching rodents are used as mechanical traps. Let's get to know them in more detail:
Rat trap made from a plastic bottle.
A tunnel is made from a plastic (liter) bottle by cutting off the neck and bottom. A rod (stick) is pierced through the resulting “apparatus,” the length of which should cover the diameter of a bucket half filled with water. This mousetrap works very simply: the rodent climbs onto a stick and a bottle. Under the weight of the rodent, the plastic tunnel rotates and the animal falls into the bucket.
This is how a plastic bottle rat catcher works. Such a trap can be installed in different habitats of animals in the house or in the barn. In a similar way, you can use a barrel half filled with water.
Cage trap for rats from a flower pot.
This homemade “device” can be made in a few minutes. Turn a large flower pot upside down and place a coin or a ruler edgewise under one of its faces. It turns out to be a simple and effective trap, where an inverted flower pot is its lid.
A treat is placed on the opposite side for the rodent, who, in search of “yummy food,” will accidentally catch the placed object (coin or ruler). The result of this is the pot overturning and the animal being caught. The resulting cage is secure, and a rodent that gets caught in it will not be able to get out on its own!
Live trap for rats.
A live trap is a small rectangular cage, the walls of which are made of wire. In terms of size, a person’s hand can easily fit there. The bait is placed here, for which the rat comes. After sipping the treat, the tin door, attached to a special locking handle, quickly slams shut. A rodent caught in a trap is not injured and remains alive until the owner of the trap arrives.
Important! Rats are capable of jumping to the height of a human being, so you should not drive them into hopeless situations without special means of protection.
Options for replacing an electric rat trap with other types of traps
No matter how simple and convenient electric rat traps are, in many cases one or another of their shortcomings does not allow home owners to use them.
In such cases, more traditional means can be used with the same reliability:
- Conventional mechanical traps are much cheaper and about as simple and effective to use. When installed in a special bait house, they will not harm anyone. If it is not a problem for you to remove a rat with a broken spine or a crushed skull from a trap, then such devices can be used;
- Tunnel strangler traps are completely safe, but they work well mainly only for catching mice;
- Live traps - these devices are suitable for situations where there are pets or children living in the house, and you don’t want to risk their health. They are good if you do not want to kill a rat or mouse, but only plan to catch it, take it away from the house and release it;
- Rodent repellent glue and glue traps based on it are perhaps the most undesirable and inhumane means of fighting rats. Stuck rodents will die for a long time on the sticky surface, or you will have to finish them off yourself.
A good option (if used correctly and carefully) is poison for rats and mice. They are very inexpensive, effective, and if placed in bait houses, they are quite safe - neither children nor pets can get them.
If you have personal experience using electric rat traps, be sure to share the information by leaving your review at the bottom of this page.
