diy rat repeler - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: p.larner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2024, 02:23:28 pm
content: I live next to a restaurant so theres a lot of rats around,has anyone a cct to repel/deter them that works,with pcb artwork if poss?.

author: CaptDon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2024, 02:40:57 pm
content: The real high quality ultrasonic units with high SPL output seem to deter the rodents of all types HOWEVER they tend to operate around 22 to 25 KHz and although that is above the 'normal' human hearing range it can still be a source of migraine tension headaches and a bit hard on house pets also!!! I find a .22 high power pellet rifle works good AND provides entertainment!! When I purchased my horse farm I spent days with my old Crossman 1200 .22 pellet rifle getting rid of the pests. The prior owner was very sloppy in keeping his feed secure and generated an army of rodents. The rats actually ate the entire boxes and contents of the old style D-Con bait!!! They develop a bit of immunity to the warfarin based stuff.

author: p.larner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2024, 04:51:26 pm
content: i dont think the police or my neibours would be very impressed if i started waving guns about,i will leave that to the folks in the exited states of merrika!.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2024, 05:03:06 pm
content: Is a jack russel an option?

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2024, 05:03:30 pm
content: No such country.

author: p.larner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2024, 06:44:20 pm
content: no dogs allowed here.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2024, 09:05:50 pm
content: Quote from: p.larner on March 20, 2024, 02:23:28 pmThere's no strong evidence ultrasound rat repellers work. I've seen videos of rats running all over supposed rat repellers.Use snap or electric traps on your property and complain about the rats to the environmental health department of the council.

author: calzap
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2024, 09:42:50 pm
content: I have a ranch with livestock; so, rats are a continuing problem. Forget ultrasonic repellents … don’t work and annoy other animals. Electrical and mechanical traps have worked well. We have Jack Russell terriers. They a great rat killers, but a. they have to see or smell the rat (rats are good at taking hidden pathways), b. have to be on station (not practical for dogs to be on duty 24/7), c. must be able to reach the rats (rats are good at taking the high road). Most cats can't deal with adult rats. Projectile weapons are only good for the rats you see; most you won’t see. Poison baits can work well, but rats that eat a little, get sick and don’t die will avoid baits in future. And they may also have a metabolic resistance that can be passed on. Best baits may not be legal or be restricted use in some jurisdictions. Secondary poisoning of scavengers can be an issue as can poisoning of kids and pets.Mike

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2024, 10:22:42 pm
content: Ultrasonic repellers are worthless. Shawn Woods is your channel on how to get rid of mice and rats:https://mousetrapmonday.com/videos/proof-that-ultrasonic-pest-repellers-are-a-scam-class-action-lawsuit-for-fraud/

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2024, 11:05:27 pm
content: In the 50's, you were able to buy baited lures with strychnine at almost every hardware store. It was effective. No longer available. Resistance to anticoagulants has been around a long time and is common, particularly in city rats. In my barn, I found keeping LED overhead lights on helps. Mice are an easier problem and can be trapped or poisoned with moder rodenticides.

author: Konkedout
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2024, 02:59:52 am
content: Do bucket traps work well on rats? They work really well on mice; I guess it would need to be .....bigger.

author: NpR
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 21, 2024, 03:04:49 pm
content: Hi!The roller&bucket type trap does work for rats too, but has to be sized up accordingly. Back in the days in a farm, we used a large, relatively deep bucket/barrel (50-ish litres) with a corrugated handle from a weightlifting bar. We found the roller needed to be somewhat grippy for the rats to actually walk onto it, that's why we ended up with the handle bar after some experimentation. We did use barley as a bait and peanut butter as a binder (come to think on it, the PB might have worked as a bait also). We filled the barrel to about 20-30cm deep with water+propylene glycol mixture to stop the catch from jumping out and eventually drown and enbalm the bastards once they fell in. We did notice rats are quite smart though, and started avoiding the area where their packmates had gotten themselves in trouble so the contraption had to be moved frequently. The reason for not using rat poison (that was quite commonly used in other farms at the time) was my neighbors dogs, who occasionally caught (and ate) a rat or twoAnother reason why rat poison tends not to work on the long term is the rat's natural aversion to new food items. Rats are quite careful with anything they don't recognize and only eat very small portions of a new food that has been introduced to their midst. If they feel like they get sick, they automatically avoid the same stuff in the future. Rats cannot vomit, btw, that's why some strong poisons work on them. The same said poisons can be dangerous to other critters too, so IMHO it is probably for the best these are not sold to consumer customers much anymore.My two centsNick

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2024, 04:29:54 pm
content: Here's a more complicated method than the roller tank :https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/we-have-a-rat-problem.155371/#post-1343180I don't know if it works, but when our children were young, I made a potato cannon -- same principle but uses hair spray + spark as the propellant . They all lover it; my wife screamed at me. The potato went a lot further than expected.

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2024, 07:38:22 pm
content: Quote from: p.larner on March 20, 2024, 02:23:28 pmWhile I understand your desire to solve the problem on your own, a public health hazard like that is more rightly the responsibility of the authorities. Perhaps the restaurant needs to be officially made aware of the problem.

author: p.larner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2024, 09:48:35 pm
content: it sad but the local authority east lindsey council (horncastle lincs) stopped dealng with rats about 3 yrs ago due to cutbacks.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2024, 03:18:15 am
content: your not asking the council to sort out the rats,your asking them to deal with an environmental health problem

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2024, 05:17:41 am
content: the mafia is good at this. Strong crime laws made England have a rat problem.

author: Konkedout
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2024, 03:54:46 am
content: I do not know the location of the original poster. But to my understanding, New York City (home of the famous pizza rat) has a continuing rat problem, and they now have a rat czar to try to deal with it.https://www.google.com/search?q=new+york+city+rat+czar&rlz=1C1RXMK_enUS1029US1029&oq=new+york+city+rat+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgBEAAYgAQyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQABiABDIHCAIQABiABDIHCAMQABiABDIHCAQQABiABDIHCAUQABiABDIHCAYQABiABDIHCAcQABiABDIHCAgQABiABDIHCAkQABiABNIBCTgyMDJqMGoxNagCCLACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

author: Teledog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2024, 05:33:01 pm
content: I use 12V LED strip lights inside the garage door edges, switched with a CDS/night-day switchJust testing a PIR with 6000/6500K strip outside on the edge of the deck (they seem to like to dig under the deck at night)It doesn't completely eliminate them, but the lights turning on at night are certainly a deterrent - a lot less critters around!The "walk the plank" 3D printed traps work sometimes, and one has to adjust the weight/magnet for big rats or tiny miceAnd the usual, ..don't leave food scraps around the BBQ, plastic bags of seed on the garage floor, etc.G' luck!PS: HAD a really bright Aussie Shepherd that blasted thru the dog door at all times of the night & "nailed" rats (and a few BAD encounters with raccoons)The late night loud bang of the dog door, then the scratching/racing around on the deck & the squealing of the rat being chomped.Latest Aussie puppy is dumber than a bag of hammers though..sigh.

author: Roehrenonkel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2024, 06:28:54 pm
content: Hi p.larner,is this what you are looking for?https://www.jogis-roehrenbude.de/Kurioses.htm(search for "Rattenfalle").....at your own risk.Good luck, best regards

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2024, 09:05:28 pm
content: if rat's poison or trap is illegal in your area, then this surely legal and effective...

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2024, 09:17:30 pm
content: Quote from: p.larner on March 20, 2024, 02:23:28 pmHopefully the rats do not manage to get inside the restaurant, just saying.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2024, 09:22:03 pm
content: In my rural area, Norway rats eat cats. I found a cat skeleton in the barn's loft. Cats are great mousers, but big rats? Years ago, I saw a mama rat parading up my drive with about 3 babies following her. She was big. I couldn't get a clear shot. Lights work, but are not perfect.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2024, 09:25:41 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on April 02, 2024, 09:17:30 pmIn HS, I worked weekends as a busboy in a local steak joint. I'm not sure they cared. We reused butter and rolls.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2024, 09:58:46 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on April 02, 2024, 09:22:03 pmget a bigger cat...https://www.trupanion.com/en-ca/pet-blog/article/largest-cat-breeds

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2024, 10:01:00 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on April 02, 2024, 09:22:03 pmWhat makes you think the rat killed the cat? It's more likely the cat died from some other cause, it might have been trapped in there and dehydrated or was just really ill and was then eaten by the rats.

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2024, 03:07:56 am
content: This is not be practical, but how do mice respond to loud noises that we can hear, likre from a speaker, like a dog barking, or anything loud when they trigger some alarm. I'm sure they'd get used to the same noise after awhile, so the noise might have to be changed, etc.But most people aren't going to place speakers all over the place, that play loud noises, when mice trigger some motion sensor.Maybe water jets could trigger to spray at them, but then again, that's hardly practical. I just use old fashioned traps.Sealing up any cracks and holes in a house, can help, but they can squeeze through really small ones, like 5/16", and most houses can't be sealed that tight.