There are many ways to get rid of rats. Some drown the pests in cages while others prefer rat poisons. But don’t you think that these methods are cruel and inhumane? Here are five ways to humanely kill rats….
Why you should humanely kill rats
You may be asking, why would you even care about how you get rid of pests, considering that they are such a nuisance and a health risk? There are philosophical and practical reasons.
- You are not a savage. First of all, humans are top of the food chain. We rule the world, so we should know better. We can establish a safe environment for ourselves without causing too much suffering to everybody else.
- You don’t want to prolong their suffering. The problem with many rat control methods is that they take too long to kill the pests. Drowning makes them suffer for a few minutes while poisoning can take weeks to become fatal. Why would you choose these methods when there are others that don’t make the rats suffer for too long?
- Releasing them back to the wild may not be a good idea. You should humanely kill rats not just out of the goodness of your heart. It’s also practical. If you happen to catch a rat and injure it in the process, it may not be a good idea to bring it back to the wild where it won’t have the physical capability to thrive anymore. Sometimes, finishing it off is better than letting it suffer a slower death in the wild.
Effective ways to humanely kill rats
1. Use a strong snap trap
Snap traps are traps that, well, snap to kill the prey that try to get the baits placed on them. Snap traps are great because they can instantly kill rats, preventing unnecessary suffering. However, there are things you should do to make them truly effective.
- Make sure you are using the appropriate size. Snap traps come in different sizes to cater to the differing sizes of rats and mice. Make sure to choose the right size for the right rodent. If you don’t, you may end up using one that is not strong enough to kill the rodent on your property. The last thing you want is a trapped rat that is still alive. It’s an entirely new moral dilemma.
- Place the bait properly. Snap traps have designated spots where you should place the rat bait. Make sure to place the bait properly in these spots. If you don’t, the snap traps may not function as optimally as you would like and you may end up with an injured rat. The snapping mechanism may not even capture the rat if you don’t place the bait properly.
2. Swiftly Inflict blunt force trauma
Blunt force trauma occurs when a rat receives an incredible force, usually with a dull object, to kill it instantly. It is different from a penetrating trauma where a pointed or sharp object is used to penetrate the rat’s skin.
- Try other methods if you are doubtful. This method requires your active participation. You have to swing a bat or another heavy object and hit the head of the rat to kill it quickly. If you think you can’t inflict a strong enough blow, consider using other methods. You may only end up with a rat with a severe head injury, making it suffer for longer.
- Consider firing a projectile. If you don’t want close contact with the rat, try firing a projectile, like a bullet. Use a low-power gun to avoid ricochets. But remember that this method can also be complicated. Rats are not exactly stationary targets.
3. Get a cat
If you don’t want an active participation in getting rid of rats, you can consider getting a cat and letting it do all the dirty work. After all, killing is still killing. And you may want somebody else to get their hands (or paws) dirty.
- Let nature run its course. You can argue that getting a cat for rat control is not humane at all. But there is the argument that at least it is natural. Let nature run its course. The classic predator and prey method works.
- Be wary of this method if you are using poisons. Rats can give your cat an extra food source. But be careful of using cats when you are already using rat poisons on your property. Your cat may ingest the rat poison from the corpse and suffer from its effects.
4. Use a containment trap instead
Containment traps simply contain the rat, not harming it whatsoever. Sometimes, the most humane way to get rid of rats is by not actually killing them and just releasing them back to the wild.
- Make sure the trapped rat is not injured. Some containment traps may have injuring mechanisms. If the trapped rat is severely injured, there is no point in releasing it back to the wild because it will just die a slow death. When you catch a rat in your containment trap, make sure that it’s actually healthy and ready to thrive in another environment.
- Consider going to the veterinarian before complete release. There are some traps that severely injure a rat. The victim may have severed limbs or whatnot. But there are times where traps only cause slight injuries that are easy to heal. If this is the case, you can consider going to a medical professional and get the injuries healed before releasing the rat back to the wild.
5. Rat-proof your home
You don’t have to worry about how to humanely kill rats if you don’t have rats on your property in the first place. Rat-proof your home now to prevent rats from thriving.
- Store food and water properly. Food and water are some of the primary reasons why rats are attracted to your home. Make sure to make these inaccessible. Store them in cabinets, containers, and refrigerators. Clean up after eating and drinking. And practice proper waste management.
- Close all entry points. Another reason why rats are attracted to your home is that they are trying to find shelter. This is especially true during the colder months where they are also looking for warmth. Keep doors and windows closed. Seal cracks, holes, piping issues, and other passageways that they can use to enter your home.
There are ways to get rid of rats humanely
Rats are dangerous pests. They can spread diseases like leptospirosis and salmonellosis. But there are ways to free yourself from these dangers humanely. To humanely kill rats, make sure to strike them fast and strong enough to kill them off instantly. You don’t want them to suffer for long.