First Rat

[Snadger]

I have been using the same one for about 20 years it is a mink trap but the rats don't know that.
Do not forget to have your gloves on when baiting the trap old gal marley usually brings a Mackerel head from the fish mongers they work brilliant as bait...jacob

Should do..............I can smell it from here!

[Two_Sheds]

old gal marley usually brings a Mackerel head ... they work brilliant as bait...jacob

I just read that somewhere else. Or use anything else meaty and smelly, eg bacon, garlic sausage.

Rats are neophobic (wary of new things) so they'll be suspicious of a new trap. Hopefully now though they're used to seeing yours Janey and you'll catch a few more.

[FB.]

Good news there. You're not "allowed" to release vermin though are you? Get Snadger round to despatch it pdq

That's my understanding of the law; it is illegal to release vermin. I expect that it's especially illegal to release catch vermin and then release them onto private property.
The problem has now been dumped on someone else. I'm sure that you'd not be happy if you caught someone dumping pests onto your land.

If I'd seen the original thread, I'd have possibly offered to pop over for an evening chat, cuppa and a few biscuits, while sat waiting in ambush with a night-vision-equipped, high-powered airgun; I do some pest-control for a few farmers, smallholders and landowners in the Cambs area.

[Tuffwood]

I've heard that peanut butter is supposed to be a great bait for rats, and if put on a traditional sprung trap they can't sneakily steal it off without setting off the trap.
Personally not keen on killing things myself but sorry, make an exception when it comes to RATS, far to many of them around carrying many potential diseases, ask anyone who works in pest control.