Trapping

Most woodrat problems inside of structures can be solved using traps. The standard rat-sized snap trap has been used to catch woodrats. Its best to tie or glue the bait to the trigger. Baits include nut meats, bacon rind or dried fruit. Pre-baiting will improve trapping success. Put bait on the traps without setting the trap, feeding the woodrats for several days, then set the trap. This is the meaning of "pre-baiting."

Cage-type live traps are very successful in capturing woodrats. Both single and double door cage traps work well for woodrats. The trap size needs to be 5" x 5" x 15". The same baits can be used, but other baits include shiny objects, like a ball of tinfoil hung from a string inside the trap, back beyond the trigger of the trap.

Place these traps along trails, near the nests or against walls wherever you suspect or see the woodrats. The home range of individual woodrats is normally about 100 feet in diameter. The ranges of individuals often overlap since several rats may nest close together. Woodrats are not as numerous as Norway rats. A person may need to catch only one or two woodrats to stop the damage.

Glue Boards

Sometimes under a car hood, it is difficult to properly set most kinds of traps. A glue board can work in these situations. A glue board is a tray, made either of cardboard or plastic that has very sticky glue in it. When the woodrat, or other small animal, crosses the glue surface, the rat gets stuck.

Glue boards tend to lose their effectiveness in dusty areas and during periods of extreme temperature. These conditions may affect the tackiness of the adhesive.

The woodrat will not die immediately when trapped on a glue board. In any of these traps, woodrats can be killed by drowning. Remember, all traps and glue boards must be placed so that children, pets and nontarget animals do not have access to the traps. Glue can be broken down with vegetable oil, freeing anything caught in the glue.

Once the problem woodrats have been removed, it is a good idea to consider rodent-proofing the place where the damage occurred and looking for nearby nests and destroying them, if practical. This may reduce re-invasion by other woodrats.