How do I find the best location for my A24 trap?
One of the most important factors for success with your A24 is the right location. But how do you find it? A good way to find this spot is to use tester cards, as they help you think like a rat. To be successful, it’s very important that you observe (rather than guess) where to place your A24.
The bait cards show where rats in your area feel safe enough to eat. That is where you should set your trap. It may well be somewhere other than where you have seen or heard them.
Where should I place my bait cards?
The best places to catch rats aren’t always the ones where you see or hear them. Rats are cautious and usually only stop to eat in places where they feel safe. An open area is therefore often not the best choice.
Place your cards in various sheltered spots to find out where rats feel safe enough to eat, as shown in the example below.
Look for spots that are far away from competing food sources such as compost bins, fruit trees or animal feed. Remove or limit these alternative food sources as much as possible.
If you haven’t had any success at the first location after a few weeks, you can always move the trap. Do give the trap a little time before moving it.
How do you use the location cards?
- Tear the card apart
- Place bait of your choice near the hole in the middle
- Fold the card so that fresh bait is visible
- Stick, screw, or nail the cards in various places around the potential trapping location.
- Leave the location cards in place for three nights and check for signs of activity.
- You should see clear bite marks; the cards with the most gnaw marks are good places to set your trap.
The main difference between bite marks from rats and mice is that mice have small teeth and jaws, leaving very fine marks with a clean finish. Rats, on the other hand, leave a rougher finish and you may see confetti-like debris on the floor under the card . Rats may also completely destroy the card.