How to Catch a Wild Rat

If a wild rat has found its way into your home, shed, office or other place and you want to remove him but not kill him there are a few things you'll need to do in order to make this as stress free for both of you as possible.

Where is the rat

Depending on where the wild rat is staying you have a few choices as to how you handle catching him. First thing you have to look for are signs as to where he has taken up residence. You can tell they have been there because they leave behind droppings and bits of food. You will also spot whatever they have gathered to use as bedding and probably find some things he's chewed on.

How to keep wild rats out of an outdoor shed

When you have figured out where the wild rat has been sleeping, you need to find out how he's getting in and out. If for instance the wild rat is sleeping his nights in your outdoor shed and you want to make sure he stays out, there's an easy fix for that problem.

Find a place like pestproducts that sells humane traps that don't kill the rats and set the trap where you think he's getting into your shed. You should nail a mesh wire over all small holes except the one you have the trap by so the wild rat has only one way in and out. Bait the trap with peanut butter, it's one thing rats love and can't resist.

It may take a few days for the trap to work but the smell of peanut butter will be too much for the wild rat to resist after a while and you will catch him. When you do and are sure he is out of the shed, use mesh wire to cover the hole the rat was coming and going from so he can't get back into your shed.

What if a wild rat gets in my home?

The same general rule goes for wild rats that get in your home, office or any other place you find them. Look for the telltale signs where they are living and set humane traps out where you see droppings, food and signs of gnawing. Again, it may take a few days for the wild rat to go into the humane trap but if you remove all food sources from where he's been hanging out, the peanut butter will call to him and he won't be able to resist it for long.

I've caught the wild rat, now what?

Once you have the wild rat in the humane cage, you can find a place to set him free. A park, wooded area or field would be a good place to give him his freedom. Or if you just want to set him free outside that's fine too. If you're scared of getting bitten or afraid he might have germs you can wear heavy work gloves when handling the humane trap. Make sure to turn the opening of the trap away from your body before opening it. The wild rat will probably be scared and run as fast as he can in whatever direction the opening of the trap is facing.