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We are Fort Lauderdale Wildlife, and we solve conflicts between people and wild animals. From squirrels in your attic, to raccoons in your trash, to bats, rats, birds, and snakes, we do it all. We specialize in safe and effective solutions to Florida critter problems. We service the greater Fort Lauderdale region, and we offer fast service - we can usually schedule a same-day appointment. Give us a call at 954-372-8896 any time, 24/7, and we will discuss your unique wild animal problem, and give you a free price quote over the phone. We're ready to take your call now!

Fort Lauderdale Wildlife Education: What To Do About A Trap Shy Rodent

Trapping a rodent should be fairly straightforward. You figure out what type of rodent it is and then decide if you will be using a live trap or a lethal trap. Then you just have to set up the trap in an area that the rodent will pass through and place some bait on it. Theoretically, you will catch the rodent quickly and be able to enjoy a pest-free home. The problem, however, is that some rodents are trap shy. They have a sense of self preservation and get the feeling that traps aren't good to be by. Maybe they have seen them in use before or are simply afraid of the unknown. In either situation, there are some things you can do to help catch even a trap shy rodent.

Set Up More Traps
If you have the budget for it, you should always aim to set up more traps than there are rodents to catch. This increases your chances of catching the animal or animals, even if they are trap shy since it is harder to avoid multiple traps than a single one. If you are trying to catch multiple rodents, then be sure to set all the traps at the same time. Otherwise, the animals that aren't caught can become trap shy. In other words, setting up more traps not only prevents trap shy animals but it also helps increase the odds of catching them.

Let Them Get Used To It
It is common for rats and other rodents to be shy or hesitant around new objects. Because of this, they may stay away from a trap right away since they aren't sure what it is or what it does. To counter this issue, give them some time to get used to the trap. Place the traps where you plan to do so in the future, complete with bait, but do not set them. Once you notice that the rats start eating the bait or taking it for later, you can start setting them. As mentioned earlier, be sure to set all the traps at once to minimize the potential of future trap shy rats. You can also try hiding traps by burying them in sawdust or inside an empty box or pan.

Hire A Professional
Sometimes you won't be able to catch a trap shy rodent even if you try the above methods. When this happens, hire a professional. They have more tools at their disposal and know more about the behavior of these animals. As such, they should find it easier to catch the rodent, even if it has stayed firmly away from any traps you set.

Previous Education Articles
How to catch a stray dog in Fort Lauderdale
Do Fort Lauderdale catch, neuter, release programs work for cats?
Fort Lauderdale Opossum Trapping: How To Trap an Opossum
How to Get Rid of Fort Lauderdale Rats