Label all bait containers and bait stations clearly with appropriate warnings. Store unused bait, concentrates, and fumigants in a locked cabinet out of the reach of children or animals. Pick up all accessible dead rats after a poisoning program. Use rubber gloves or tongs and dispose of them by deep burial or incineration. Trapping can be an effective method of controlling rats, but it requires more skill and labor than most other methods.
Trapping is recommended where toxicants are inappropriate.
It is best to try trapping first in homes, garages, and other small structures where there may be only a few rats present. Simple, inexpensive wood-based snap traps are available at most hardware and farm supply stores. Wire cage traps are more expensive but somewhat more successful than snap traps. Bait traps with peanut butter or a small piece of hot dog, bacon or pizza tied securely to the trigger. The trigger should be set lightly so the trap will spring easily.