BUGSPRAY.COM

PEST CONTROL HELP, ADVICE, TREATMENTS AND SUPPLIES

call to order: 800-877-7290 (EXT 1)
email questions: order@bugspray.com
text questions: 678-667-2284

  • HOME
  • CATALOG
    • BAIT
      • ANIMAL BAITS
      • BAIT STATIONS
      • GEL BAITS
      • GRANULAR BAITS
    • DETERRENTS
      • AEROSOLS
      • FUMIGANTS
      • GEL
      • GRANULES
      • LIQUIDS
      • POWERED
      • SOUND
      • VISUAL
      • WEARABLE
    • EQUIPMENT
      • BAIT APPLICATORS
      • B&G PARTS
      • CHAPIN PARTS
      • DUSTERS
      • DUSTICK PARTS
      • FIRST AID TREATMENTS
      • FOGGING MACHINES
      • GOLDEN EAGLE PARTS
      • GRANULE SPREADERS
      • NETTING
      • SAFETY GEAR
      • SPECIALTY TOOLS
      • SPRAYERS
      • STATIONS FOR BAITS, GRANULES, AND LIQUIDS
    • EXEMPT
      • AEROSOLS
      • ADDITIVE
      • DUST
      • GRANULES
      • LIQUIDS
    • INSECTICIDES
      • AEROSOLS
      • BACTERIA BASED (BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS)
      • DUSTS
      • GELS
      • GRANULES
      • INSECT GROWTH REGULATORS
      • LIQUID CONCENTRATES
      • PET SPRAY
      • SCALP (FOR USE ON PEOPLE)
      • WETTABLE POWDER
    • ORGANIC
      • LIQUIDS
    • SANITIZERS
      • AEROSOLS
      • GRANULES
      • LIQUIDS
    • TRAPS
      • CAGE DESIGN FOR LIVE TRAPPING
      • COIL SPRING TRAPS
      • CONIBEAR TRAPS
      • ELECTRIC TRAPS FOR ANIMALS AND INSECTS
      • FLY TRAPS
      • GLUE TRAPS FOR ANIMALS AND INSECTS
      • LONG SPRING TRAPS
      • LURES, BAIT AND SCENT
      • PAINT FOR TRAPS
      • PHEROMONE OR FOOD BASED TRAPS
      • POLES, SNAKE TONGS, GRABBERS AND OTHER
      • SNAP, SNARE AND TUNNEL DESIGNS
    • YARD AND GARDEN
      • BAT AND BIRD HOUSES
      • FERTILIZERS AND SOIL AMENDMENTS
      • FUNGICIDES
      • HERBICIDES AND WEED KILLERS
      • LAWN SAFE PAINT AND MARKING AGENTS
      • PRE-EMERGENTS
  • PEST
    • INSECT CONTROL AND SUPPLIES
    • NUISANCE WILDLIFE IN THE YARD OR HOME
    • ODOR, MOLD, WEEDS, FERTILIZER AND MORE
  • SAFETY
    • CHILD SAFE?
    • PEOPLE SAFE?
    • PET SAFE?
    • WILDLIFE SAFE?
    • SAFETY VIDEOS
      • AEROSOLS
      • CONCENTRATES
      • DUST
      • GRANULES
      • HOW LONG TO WAIT?
    • PRODUCT VIDEOS
      • FOGGERS
      • HOW TO VIDEOS
        • HOW TO IDENTIFY TREE BORER DAMAGE
        • HOW TO REBOOT SOLAR POWERED GROUND STAKE REPELLER
        • HOW TO RESET AN AEROSOL CAP
        • HOW TO WINTERIZE YOUR PUMP SPRAYER
      • VIDEO ANSWERS
  • ORDER STATUS
  • VIEW CART
  • ABOUT
    • CONTACT
      • 800-877-7290
      • E-MAIL
      • HOURS
    • NEWSLETTER
    • OUR SERVICES
      • SERVICE COMPANIES WE TRUST
    • PRIVACY
    • PROMO
    • RETURNS
Home » how to catch rat that won’t go in my trap by step trapping

how to catch rat that won’t go in my trap by step trapping

January 21, 2020 By Tech Support Leave a Comment

I have a rat that will not go in my trap. I’ve tried everything and he won’t go near it. I caught 3 and thought they were gone but then a week later, found more droppings. I set my trap right where I’m seeing the droppings but he won’t touch it. I’ve tried peanut butter, chicken livers, applies, marshmellows and fish heads. Any ideas? My cat seems to know where he’s at like sometimes he must be in the wall but mostly seems to like our kitchen and laundry room. I was hoping the cat was gonna catch him but that doesn’t look like it will be happening anytime soon so I need help.

Rats, mice, voles and other small rodents can learn to avoid kill traps once they see a few of their friends get caught and killed. So if you’ve been using a “kill trap”, time to move onto our Live trap listed below.

Next, its always good to “step trap” whether using a live trap or a kill trap.

Step Trapping is basically a process by which you make the rodent “comfortable” accepting food in close proximity to a trap. It’s a process that takes time but its a proven method so if you have wary, skittish animals that won’t go near traditional snap traps, you need to make a change.

To Step Trap effectively, get our PECAN PASTE. This is our Trappers Choice brand made with all natural nuts they cannot ignore.  Get a jar and once received, plan on using it several nights in a row to effectively “feed” your unwanted visitor and make them comfortable. This might sound odd but once comfortable, they’ll be easy to catch.

MORE INFOSAVE ONLINE

QTY

 

The process of Step Trapping is done with Pecan Paste using small amounts. Placements should only be 1/2 teaspoon and the more the merrier. A bottle cap will work quite well at holding the needed amount you need to set out. Plan on making 3-5 placements. These should be made where you have found droppings, seen rodents or evidence where rodents have been active. Common areas for these placements include attics, garages, crawl spaces, behind appliances (stoves or refrigerators), pantries, linen closets and laundry rooms.

Make the placements mid day and leave them alone once set out meaning do not inspect them until the following morning.

If you find any offering was taken overnight, it means you now have a spot where a rodent is comfortable eating. Rebait the trap and see if they take your second offering. In most all cases, they will return nightly once they get a taste of Pecan Paste so its highly likely your second offer will be taken as well.

When ordering our Pecan Paste, you need to order at least one of our LT3310 LIVE TRAPS. if you’ve been using a kill trap. If this is your first attempt at trapping, our KILL TRAP will work to start and with any luck, be all you need.

Our live trap is well suited for catching small animals like mice, rats, voles, chipmunks, flying squirrels, gray squirrels and more. Its a live trap and as such, does not include harsh springs or “tension” rodents can feel and notice. After any one bait placement is taken twice, its now time to “step up” your offer by adding the Live Trap alongside the bait. Mind you its not time to use the trap, just time to get it out where the rodent is feeding. This will allow the rodent to get comfortable seeing it.

So for the third bait placement, you’ll use the same plastic bait holder but you will add the trap alongside the bait. DO NOT PUT THE BAIT INSIDE THE TRAP. Instead, push the door of the trap open and leave it in “set” mode but do not put any bait inside. The goal here is to get the rodent to feed while being able to look inside the trap. The trap door can be “taped” to the roof of the trap to keep it open. Duct tape can be used as the door is spring loaded and naturally wants to close.

Once your third placement is accepted, it means your rodent is not afraid of the trap. Now make another placement of pecan paste just inside the trap,  basically on the trap door as it lies down, so the rodent must enter the trap a little bit to get their reward (the much coveted pecan paste).

And once this offering is accepted, you’re now ready to finally make a real, live set and catch this pest.

For the final set, place a full teaspoonful in the bait holder and set it behind the trip pan of the trap. way in the back. Make sure the trap is working right by testing it. Do this by setting the door open and then using a pen, screwdriver or your finger, see if it closes nice and tight when you press on the trip pan located in the mid section of the trap body.

MORE INFOSAVE ONLINE

QTY

 

This sequence of trapping may seem tedious but its highly effective and works every time when done properly. Rodents cannot resist Pecan Paste once they get a taste. And the live trap does not present a visual threat to them; if anything it looks like something they’d like to enter since its a small, tight space they naturally “like”. In the wild, rodents naturally seek tight spaces to nest and this live trap presents a comfortable looking home to most any small animal.

One last thing. Once you catch this “singular” rodent, do not give up. Start over. Make another 3-5 placements of nothing but Pecan Paste and see if there is some other animal in the home still needing to be caught. If so, proceed as detailed above. Only when you go a full 2 weeks with no pecan paste being taken should you remove the free food, clean up all their mess and seal up access holes.

Now if this is your first attempt at trapping, our KILL TRAP will work for small problems, say 3 or less rodents. Use it the same way, inside or outside the home, and you should get positive results. These are heavy duty plastic, will last many years, and a great way to keep local rodent populations in check.

MORE INFOSAVE ONLINE

QTY

 

Now once you go 2 weeks or more with not hearing, seeing or trapping any rodents, you can consider sealing up entry points and “descenting” the home so no new rodents can figure out how to get inside.

For this you’ll need to spray your homes exterior with T.O.N. This odor neutralizer will remove all the scent trails rodents use to gain access to your home. T.O.N. should be applied to foundations, siding, attics, crawl spaces, along fence lines and basically anywhere rodent trails, feces, urine or chewing was found.

T.O.N. will not hurt plants, grass, people or the environment; its merely an odor neutralizer. Remember, rodents don’t “see” your house as a place to live. What does happen is they find old scent trails and follow these “scent highways” to access points that lead into living spaces. If you remove these highways, you’ll remove the risk of another animal getting inside.

To treat with T.O.N., add 4 oz per gallon of water and expect to get 500-750 sq/ft of coverage per gallon when spraying. You can also wipe down T.O.N. with a sponge, rag or mop.

MORE INFOSAVE ONLINE

QTY

 

More on HOW TO STOP RODENTS FROM COMING BACK TO MY HOUSE can be read in our article here:

How To Stop Rodent Reinsfeations: https://bugspray.com/eliminate-animal-odor-to-stop-rodents-from-returning

Filed Under: mice, rats, rodent trail

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Shopping Cart


Total: 

Your Shopping Cart

View Cart

SOCIAL

  • youtube
  • tiktok
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • mail

OUR YOUTUBE

WE POST “HOW TO” VIDEOS ALL THE TIME!!

REVIEWS & QUESTIONS

  • Patty godale on NO SURVIVORS ENZ-A BAC DRAIN PIPE TREATMENT 32 OZ
  • Tech Support on BEST WAY TO TREAT A BASEBOARD AND WALL VOID FOR INSECT PESTS
  • Maria Gasca on BEST WAY TO TREAT A BASEBOARD AND WALL VOID FOR INSECT PESTS
  • Tech Support on FS MP INSECTICIDE 15 OZ AEROSOL
  • Pati on FS MP INSECTICIDE 15 OZ AEROSOL
  • Tech Support on ADVION WDG .33 OZ
  • Mike C. on ADVION WDG .33 OZ
  • Tech Support on RODENT BAIT STATIONS
  • JD on RODENT BAIT STATIONS
  • Tech Support on CRAYFISH CONTROL
  • Mike B on BUGSPRAY MIST FOGGER 11O VOLT 1.2 GALLON
  • Tech Support on MAXFORCE COMPLETE GRANULES
  • Richard Rebello on MAXFORCE COMPLETE GRANULES
  • Tech Support on How to Control Ground Pearls in Lawn | BUGSPRAY
  • Mike on How to Control Ground Pearls in Lawn | BUGSPRAY
  • Tech Support on BEST SPRINGTAIL TREATMENTS AND CONTROL | BUGSPRAY
  • Tech Support on LEMON AIR PLUS or SANNI SHINE INSECTICIDE “DOWN THE DRAIN TREATMENT” 128 OZ
  • Matt on BEST SPRINGTAIL TREATMENTS AND CONTROL | BUGSPRAY
  • Matt on LEMON AIR PLUS or SANNI SHINE INSECTICIDE “DOWN THE DRAIN TREATMENT” 128 OZ
  • Tech Support on BUGSPRAY POWER INJECTOR

COMMENTS

  • BUGSPRAY FEEDBACK AND USER RATINGS
  • CAN WE HIRE YOU TO TREAT OUR HOME
  • STOP CAULKING YOUR HOME IF YOU HAVE THESE PESTS!
  • Power Injector vs Dusting
  • Psocids questions about how to treat
  • Wood Borers in wood treatment
  • how much should I buy
  • how much spray should i buy?
  • springtails coming from the bathroom wall
  • springtails in my door
  • POWER
  • BEST BASE OIL FOR THERMAL FOGGING AND EC FORMULATIONS
  • rodent droppings in my garage
  • POINT OF RUN OFF WHEN SPRAYING BUG SPRAY
  • RODENT BAIT STATIONS
  • TEMP VENT
  • automatic vents for my crawl space
  • CARPET BEETLE LARVAE
  • HOW OFTEN YOU SHOULD SPRAY TO KEEP PESTS OFF YOUR HOME
  • how often should I be spraying for bugs?

CUSTOMER LOGIN

CUSTOMER LOGIN

ORDER TRACKING

CHECK ORDER STATUS & TRACKING

OFFICE HOURS

MON - FRI       9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
LOCAL                770-985-9388
TOLL FREE          800-877-7290
FAX                    770-985-9319
EMAIL: order@bugspray.com
Text A Tech: 678-667-2284

NEWSLETTER!

*
Your Email Address:
*
Preferred Format:
    First Name:
    Last Name:
*
Enter the security code shown:

SITEMAP · Copyright bugspray.com © 2025