Is there a humane way to get rid of rats?

[xjillianpaige]

Hey folks,

We had some new neighbors move in and they recently started a compost pile, unfortunately we think this has caused some rats to move into the neighborhood as well (that's the theory anyway - we haven't had rats in 18 years and this is the only new thing). Anyway, my family found a nest in our backyard and I know that we absolutely have to get rid of it + the baby rats, but it breaks my my heart to kill them. Has anyone else had experience with a rats nest and/or know a humane way to get rid of them?

Thanks!

 

[Skywalker]

I have no idea, but I just have to applaud you for looking for a humane way. You're good people.

 

[manning]

12 gauge shot fun. Kills them quickly

 

[larissawbb]

Rats can be aggressive and attack people. Call Orkin immediately.

 

[Jdbsfw]

Jack Russell Terrier.

 

[Imzadi]

There are trap & release cages. But, you have to take the filled cage and drive it quite a ways away, otherwise the rat will just find his way back. It's like they have a homing device.

Of course, you'd be releasing rats which may become nuisances to someone else, who may just trap & kill them.

 

[sonnyjane]

If they aren’t in your house I guess I’m not sure why they need to be removed? Either way, hawks and owls will take care of them naturally.

 

[momto3pirates]

Find someone who needs to feed their snake?

 

[low-key]

I was gonna put some dumb response, cause everyone hates rats, but I sure wouldn't want to kill a baby rat either

 

[Wubar]

Tell them to get a job and start paying rent. They'll probably leave fairly quickly, only to stop back now and then to raid the pantry and do laundry.

 

[xjillianpaige]

We have a husky who has already gotten four baby bunnies, but we're afraid of him getting sick if he gets these rats. They're still super small and blind, but they're well protected in their nest so nothing has gotten them yet. We also don't want them to become a nuisance for someone else, which eliminates bringing them somewhere.

I think my dad will either "take care of them" while I'm out of the house tomorrow, either by himself or by calling a professional. My soft little heart was hoping there was some sort of rat sanctuary to take them to, but I just don't think there is. I was hoping someone here might know of one. Haha!

Thanks for all your responses (both serious and silly)!

 

[Imzadi]

My soft little heart was hoping there was some sort of rat sanctuary to take them to, but I just don't think there is. I was hoping someone here might know of one. Haha!

Just drive them out into the countryside or woods, far away from anyone's houses.


Make sure your dad doesn't use rat poison if he goes the non-humane route after all. It's bad for other animals which may possibly come upon it or the poisoned rat. Once eaten, the rat really slows down, making it easy prey for a cat or dog. They bite into the poisoned rat and they ingest the poison. Rat poisoning is one of the most horrible, slow ways to die. Basically the kidneys shut down. There is NO antidote or remedy when a pet ingests rat poison.

Also, don't call Terminex. Their specialty is termites & BUGS.
BUGS ≠ RATS.They aren't even the same biological phylum or class of living things.

My former landlady called them and they charged her $70 to put out sticky glue traps that anyone could have bought from Walmart. They didn't even work. The rat did get trapped on it. But, after a few hours, worked his way off. The trap looked like the hairy residue of a hot wax hair removal strip. The rat was probably bald on one side afterward. But, still quite alive.

 

[L&Lfan]

I was gonna put some dumb response, cause everyone hates rats, but I sure wouldn't want to kill a baby rat either

Ok, Willard.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Ok, Willard.

I snorted so loud that I made the cat jump.

 

[NotUrsula]

In most US counties, you can call your local government's Vector Control (part of the health dept. usually) to have trapped rats removed. They are a health hazard because they spread diseases and because people use lethal poisons to kill them -- poisons that can kill pets or even children.

 

[shoney]

We had them in our shed in the backyard. I bought pure peppermint oil and placed cotton soaked pieces around. It worked!!!

 

[Imzadi]

I was gonna put some dumb response, cause everyone hates rats, but I sure wouldn't want to kill a baby rat either

Ok, Willard.

I snorted so loud that I made the cat jump.

(Warning: Not for the squeamish. LOTS of rats. )

 

[lifesavacation]

Something very similar is happening with my dad's home. His fiance will not let him kill the rats so he keeps trapping and releasing. And they keep coming back. He's convinced that they will have to learn to live with them (gross) or move.

 

[bcla]

Most rodenticides are slow acting, so they’re hardly humane. They can cause internal bleeding or slowly developing paralysis. There is a certain nontoxic rodenticide called RatX that supposedly causes dehydration since they’ll eat a lot of it, but even that tends to be slow acting.

I have no problem with killing rodents. Yes it sounds cruel, but that’s a human emotion working. The world that rats live in is full of predation, where all sorts of predators hunt them down. I believe it’s more humane to kill them quickly using snap traps.

 

[morgan98]

Yeah, I am not a mean person, but rats are not anything I want around that can get into my house...