Dealing with rats doesn’t stop with catching them. That said, you also want to know what to do with rat caught in live trap, especially if they are still alive. The right approach will help you control the rat problem and stop these critters from coming back. Generally, many people release them humanely back into the wild. But this is not the only method of handling captured live rats. If you live in an urban area, you might find it difficult to find a location to release the critter without causing problems for other people.
Rats tend to be used to their old environment and might struggle to find food in a new one, which can lead to their death.
What to Do with Rat Caught in Live Trap
If you have caught a rat in a live trap, you want to handle the situation carefully and humanely. First, wear gloves to protect yourself from any diseases the rat may carry. Then, take the trapped rat far away from your home before releasing it to prevent it from coming back.
You should choose a place with lots of vegetation where the rat can easily find food and shelter. Release them about 100 yards away. Do not release the rat near other people’s homes, as this will not solve the problem but will merely transfer it to someone else. I often recommend checking local regulations and laws to make sure you are allowed to release the rat in the area you have chosen. After releasing a caught rat, clean and disinfect the trap before storing it or using it again to prevent the spread of diseases.
How about what to do with rat caught in live trap if you cannot release them back into the wild? You can put the rodents to sleep humanely by taking them to an animal shelter or a vet. Another way is a sharp blow to the head. If this one is too hard for you, stick to the other options mentioned earlier.
Again, remember to wear gloves when handling rats and live traps. If you suspect the infestation is more serious, consider calling pest control experts.
Will Rats Come Back if You Release Them?
If you catch a rat in a live trap and then let it go, it is likely to come back, especially if it knows your place has food and shelter.
Rats have an excellent sense of direction and can find their way back even from long distances. They are also very good at remembering where they found food before. So, if you’re going to release a rat, you should do it far away from your home, like miles away, to reduce the chance of it returning.
However, even then, there’s no guarantee that the rat won’t try to find its way back or that it won’t find another place to cause problems. Rats are smart and resourceful, and once they find a good spot, they like to stick around.
Eliminate Rats with Snap Traps
Snap traps are better than live traps for catching rats and mice quickly and without causing them much suffering. They come in different sizes, so you can pick the right one for your rodent problem. You need a good-quality trap that can catch the rodent’s head completely when it’s triggered. Snap traps can be used multiple times if you clean them well after each use, and they provide a fast and humane way to control rat populations.
Read also: Why Do Rats Suddenly Disappear?
