I need to trap alive dozens of wild Norway rats for my research. What kinds of places and what ways of live trapping would you recommend? I have used many kinds of traps and baits and I have tried out many kinds of places (barns, cowsheds, sewers, basements, landfills etc.). It always takes days or weeks and the success is usually limited to a few individuals. The remaining rats develop trapshyness and the 'hunting' is over - usually for weeks. Any hints or tips appreciated.
I recommend that you use closed sherman traps. Perhaps if you put a bait in traps could increase the success of capture. A combination of peanut cream, vanilla essence and pork could help you, is very effective for other species of wild rodents.
Good luck!
Try Sherman live traps, but set it in crop fields near towns, those norway rat specimens are not that smart as the ones living in houses, barns, that know humans and are afraid of them.
Suerte!
Give access by pre-baiting the traps for at least 3 consecutive nights to overcome neophibia and trap-shyness and then set the trap-on on the 4th night. Give 3-4 weeks gap to repeat trapping at any particular habitat.
I have recently used Sherman live traps catching a large mouse size lemur in Madagascar and they are very effective for catching fast moving species. I would recommend open both sides of the trap for 4-5 days to get the rat habituated to it. Use small amounts of peanut butter as it is harder to remove from the trap in a hurry increasing the chance that the rat will depress the pressure plate and close the trap. Although as Sherman traps are light weight if the rat is left for too long they will be able to chew through the metal. Hope this helps.
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