Help trapping rats
Well, we have closed up the compost piles, removed all debris, dilligent about cleaning up after pets and put all food into plastic bins. Have they left? No, they decided to move from tunderneath the house and attic to the garage - this may also be due to our very rainy, cold April. This is too close to inside the house. They are getting desperate and chewing on almost anything. I am hoping that they will eventually leave. But, I am afraid this will not happen in the near future. (On the plus side, I think they ate any roaches, snails and other invertebrete pests. Haven't seen any for almost a year.)
I want to trap and release them. I have a few questions. Where can I get live traps? How do I use them? To where can I safely and legally move them?
You can get live traps free from animal control, but they may not allow you to use them to catch rats. I've used them before for squirrels. But you'd have to ask about where you could release them and such, it may not be legal.
get a havahart trap! i got one and trapped and released 5 mousies from my stove! they totally work, you just have to set it up right, test it a few times to make sure it closes completely, and set it up again.. do it in the evening before you go to bed, put something yummy for rats in it like bread or fresh veggies and when you catch them (one at a time, unless you get a bunch of traps) cover the trap with a cloth so you don't scare them to death, and release them at least 5 miles from your house.. you can get them online or at some hardware stores..
http://www.havahart.com/