Second to ants, Rats have become a major pest in the Dallas area. You have choices, it is either snap traps or rodent bait. On the market are two types of snap traps, the old standby Victor but you need to look for the pro version that has a 2 inch square trip pan for the bait. The other trap on the market is the Kness plastic/metal trap that is easy to clean and set, women just love this trap. Tip on baiting, use the Texas 2 step approach. After placing the peanut butter on the trip pan, take a small piece of pecan half and put 1/2 in the peanut better and set the trap, then put the other half in front of the trap. Works like a charm. As a pest control specialist in Dallas for 30 years, I know what works. If you do go the bait route it is a MUST to use a tamper resistent metal or plastic bait station that is anchored to a 12" by 12" inch square patio block. This keeps pets and raccoons from getting to the bait. Need more help you can call me Michael at 972-519-0355.

Are these your products? If som you cannot advertise on this forum.

Thanks for the information!

Thanks for the information!

These traps can be purchased at ANY store in the metroplex. My intent is not to put an ad out but to inform people of usefull tips that I have learned over 30 years of being in the pest control business.

Just checking! Thanks for the info...

Just checking! Thanks for the info...

Actually, there is a third choice. Dogs.

I have two outdoor dogs. They've caught several rats in the area over the last few years. We're near water, and woods, so our circumstances may be different than true "inner city." They're both good at catching rodents, the American Staffordshire Terrier in particular. She's focused and stubborn and smart. (Unfortunately, she applies the same determination to other wildlife as well, including skunks.)

What about the obvious first choice, cats? We got three cats and the next day had three rats filleted and laid out for us at the back door.

I have cats, and I have dogs. I'll put the money on the dogs every time. The terrier, in particular. They were bred for this kind of work.

The American Staffordshire Terrier and Catahoula are both dogs bred for jobs (different jobs, but jobs, nonetheless). See how focused the pit bull is on the food in front of her? They're trained to not pick it up until I tell them. She has that absolute focus when she is hunting. Rats or dog treats, they don't stand a chance.



Neither do sprinklers.

Jack Russell terriers and rat terriers are perfect. My chow mix can't catch them. My cats can, though! As soon as I put the cats on the job we had a little funeral parlor for headless rats at our back door.

I wouldn't put out traps in any place where one of my animals could accidentally be injured by it. Rat traps (the snapping ones) are also really hard on fingers if you miscalculate. A friend has used sticky traps--listening to a trapped rat is pretty awful also. At least the dogs dispatch them very quickly, one might say, humanely.

A friend tells me that his catahoula is a great ratter, and that may explain why my dog was desperate to get into the part of the garage I usually keep bar them from. Kept going over the fence and getting scolded for it. I didn't find a dead rat, so apparently she wasn't able to catch it, but she had the drive!