Ever tried the rat zapper?

Pleeeaaassse give me some ideas to kill the rats that are eating my plants! We love our dogs dearly and recently lost one that got a hold to a rat that had been poisoned, so poison that could be hurtful to them is out. We have tried traps, tried the gallon bucket with water, we go on 'rat hunts.' But they are still eating everything I work so hard for. I really hate to get snakes. Has anyone ever tried the rat zapper? The boxes that electrocute the rat when it goes in? It sounds really silly, but at this point I'm desperate!

Rat and mouse poison does the same thing to Birds of Prey that eat poisoned animals as well as other higher level predators such as fox.

The box that electrocutes them isn't silly at all. It's so fast it would be the equivalent of a bullet to the head. It's considerably more humane than rat poison. Try the Ratzapper2000, that's what everyone around here uses. They work. Very well I might add. The batteries will last for about 6 kills. Bait it properly so as not to attract desirable species such as chipmunks and such.

Here's a thread that gives more details on using the ratzapper=
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/560448/

I think there are about 50 people out there with this product and I don't think anyone would part with theirs. They really do work.

Best wishes to you.

ASH,
Not sure what you are baiting your traps WITH, but I suggest peanut butter. I know MICE LOVE it, and a rat is just a BIG mouse, no?? lol.
http://www.ratzapper.com/

EQUI,
Chipmunks are DESIRABLE?? LOLROF. Those are RATS with a furry tail.

Best;
bluelytes

Don't get me going. I have a love hate relationship with chippies. Right now, I love them. Come fall, I won't be at all sad when a few get carried off by hawks. Same deal with squirrels, rabbits, and deer. Sure do wish there was a 1000 lb Hawk that could lift a few deer off the ground and take off with them.

Equilibrium, thanks so much for the information. I'm buying one tomorrow! I wasn't sure if it was just another gimmick. I'd be willing to try if the results were just marginal, but it sounds like this is what I've been looking for. (You've also opened my eyes to how the things we use effect everything around us. I didn't look past my own nose to realize that other animals that feed on rats could be affected too.) thanks again :o))

For what it's worth I tried a little "defaut" experiment with batteries. I loaded it with EverReady and Duracell and it worked just fine. I ended up going through a lot of batteries there for a while as these were set up in a horse barn. For what ever reason I ran out of batteries and decided to try a pack of no name generics that came with a toy until I could get to the store. They lasted just as long as the name brand batteries that were twice the price. I bought a pack of the no name brand generic batteries and killed just as many before running out of juice. I bought even more no name generic batteries and the same thing happened. Why are we buying brand name batteries? I'm done buying name brand batteries because they don't last any longer than the elcheapo ones.

Zap on ashleykelly!

i've always wondered if there was really a difference! i stand in front of all those batteries, contemplating....is this one of those things where you get what you pay for or am i just being had?? i've moved to the rechargeable batteries because I could have bought 5 digital cameras with the money I was paying for batteries to keep the thing running. they don't last forever, but i sure do buy batteries a lot less.

It's the commercial with the cute little pink bunny banging on the drum that keeps us buying the more costly brands.

EQUI,
Your zapper mentions "D" batteries. A few years ago, Consumer Reports sawed some batteries in half. Not much difference, except that when they cut apart a "D" cell, inside it was actually a "C" cell, with and "extender" so it could make contact. The only "D" that was actually a REAL "D" at that time was from Radio Shack. I too have switched to rechargeables.

Best;
bluelytes

Good for remembering that blue! Why am I not surprised to read most Ds were extended Cs? I use rechargeables on some things to include my camera but not on enough things and I guess I never thought to get them for D batteries.

EQUI,
I dont know if you have "Big Lots" stores there, but I just bought a charger, 4AA batteries, 4AAA batteries, (it charges 9v also), for like 12.99. A similar "dura...."?? was 29.95. Great deal, IMHO, and it works GREAT so far.

Best;
bluelytes

What's a Big Lots?

EQUI,
Its a discount clearing house. They buy and resell stuff from places that have had flood, fire, out of business, etc. Also, check http://www.ratzapper.com

Best;
blue

What's their pricing on their units? I didn't see prices at the link.

EQUI,
I followed a link to one of their sellers. The ultimate zapper was going for in the ballpark of 45.00.

Best;
bluelytes

That's a good price. I paid over $50 a piece for the older style model which was the RatZapper2000.

You might be baiting your rat traps incorrectly. Are you putting peanut butter UNDERNEATH the trip mechanism.

Most everyone puts in on TOP, which is just a buffet for the rat. If you put it underneath the trip, the rat has to 'work' at getting to the bait, and gets his neck instantly broken ie dies instantly.

I have trapped FIFTY groundsquirrels in just a month, and have a kajillion more to trap!

Hey KayJones, the zappers work a little bit differently. The rats never actually make it to the food.

thanks for the advise. i have one on the way! i bought the 'ultra,' i think. i forgot what they called their top of the line model, but it was $45. supposedly the deluxe model allows for 30 kills before you have to change the batteries. can't wait to try it!

EQUI,
But you NEED "bait", even if they cannot make it TO the food, no?? What gets them to step into the execution chamber and stay there??

Best;
bluelytes

I didn't say I didn't bait the traps. I just said that they didn't make it to the food. I put the food in the tops of 1-liter pop tops and slide those to the back. I've gotten double kills. One rat gets electrocuted and another one crawls right over the "sleeping rat" to get to the yummies and then that one gets zapped too. Two for the price of one I guess or a twofer.

I think KayJones is referring to the standard snap trap by Victor. My parents used to use those and she's right, unless you "work" the bait under the trip, they somehow manage to get it off without triggering the bar.

Are you a collector? Do you yearn for that ever so elusive antique or collectible? For those with discerning tastes-
http://people.hws.edu/cicciarelli/trapic1.html

This is the best thread ever! Thanks to Equilibrium for your excellent advice and to Blue for the link to the Rat Zapper- I'm getting one too, just based on what you and the testimonials at the website have said.

We feed birds and also have goats, so where there's feed rats do follow. Rats live in our garage attic, you have to watch them crawl up the wall ( or my garden tools ICK!) get to a rope that anchors a lowering attic ladder where they tightrope walk across to live and breed in that attic. Neither my big brave husband nor I care to ever go into that garage attic without full body armor and a couple sedatives. it's going to be a real surprise to find how much stuff is chewed, nested in etc.

There's a huge old cedar stump adjacent to a few bird feeders. A couple chipmunks (which I like) and rats share it like a giant rodent condo and the rats come out at night brazenly feeding as if we fill the feeders for their toothy little palates. NOT. Even though we are in a "no shooting" zone (we are far in the country with only a few houses around,) one night a huge buck rat was on the feeder and I begged my husband to get the .22 out and dispatch it. I thought "it's just a .22, how loud can it be?" well KABOOM, it wasn't nearly as discreet as I had thought so as to avoid a gigantic fine and disparaging looks from the neighbors, that was the end of our illegal rat hunting attempts. He missed anyway LOL!

Traps? Are you kidding me? I snapped a little mousetrap on my poor finger at least 62 times before I gave up trying to set it. Yes, I counted, and I'd like a medal for perserverence, thank you very much! There is no way on earth I would try to set a rat trap. Hubby set one for me once and made me carry it into the barn. I moved like I had a nuclear bomb ticking in my hands.

Hubby set traps for about a month once, nabbed a couple rats, one twofer LOL, until he checked one morning and all he found was a little rat hand!!! He had nightmares for weeks thereafter and proclaimed his rat trapping days were over.

That leaves poisons, but with pets all over the place, no way will we risk poisoning them too.

So you guys have sold another Rat Zapper right here at DG because it sounds like exactly what we need out here. YAY. I AM SO EXCITED- thank you very much!

I use the rechargeable D batteries for my automatic litter box. They last about a day and a half and then I have to spend a day recharging them again. The regular D batteries last almost two weeks before they die.

I have some kind of varmint eating my plants, but I won't put poison down. A neighbor cat waltzes through my back yard regularly to come up to the screen and tease my cats. I don't want to take the risk of hurting him.

I hope I don't have rats. Yuk! I'm assuming it's squirrels.

This message was edited Jul 4, 2006 5:03 PM

WHIT,
Ummmm, quirrels ARE rats, just in a more furry coating. They ARE RODENTS, just like rats. How OLD are your batteries?? Are they NICAD, NIMH, or what kind. If you got them awhile ago, they may not be as efficent as some are today.

POOC, I EXPECT a full report since I "made" you buy one, lol. Make SURE that you give the company my name so I can get my proper commission, ;) :) lol.

Best;
bluelytes

Blue, can you forgive me, I forgot to give them your name! I was so excited I ordered the Ultra version and the Rat Tail 12 foot corded light indicator dealy bopper. I cannot wait to get that box fired up, wired up, baited and waiting for its first little furry victim. Hope it's not a chipmunk.

I appreciate the input on different baits too Equilibrium, I think,that were posted above or elsewhere; using the bottle caps etc. Very clever you are!

White Hydrangea, could you try Liquid Fence in case it's a rabbit? It is working very well for me keeping hungry deer at bay so far. I can't imagine any animal with a sensitive nose would care for it. It stinks during application and then fades so we can't smell it anymore, but it sure deters the deer and is supposed to work on rabbits too.

Imagine my glee when UPS pulled up with the Rat Zapper Ultra in tow today! It's hooked up, fired up, wired up, baited and waiting for the first customer in the garage attic. I haven't been this excited about something new in years..... since I got my chainsaw!

I only hope it lives up to the many cheers its received online. I won't post unless it's a total disaster/flop/fraud. Otherwise, just assume I am living poison-free, trap-free, rodent free.

POOC,
Oh, BEHAAVVEE!!! You cant get us all THIS EXCITED, then NOT post, :((

Best;
bluelytes

PS Dont forget the pics, ;)

Braggart! Braggart amongst us!

I can't believe you flaunt the new Ultra model whilst all most of us have is the 2000 or the Classic. For shame! Please do let us know how it works for you and please also share what bait you use. Does your UPS man think you are nuts? Mine thinks I'm certifiable too. He walks past rows and rows of plants to deliver more plants. He's a good sport. He tries to stick any plant deliveries in the shade for me so they don't fry during the day until I get home from work.

updates on the zapper: we've killed one with the zapper. but still trying to fine tune our tactics. we are having trouble getting them to go into the trap. i did put dog food out in front of the zapper and inside and that's how i got the first one. what sort of food are yall putting in them. also, will the zapper continue to zap after the red light is blinking? because sometimes, something is setting is off put not killing anything.

ASH,
Peanut Butter

Best;
bluelytes

thanks blue. i'll give it a try. :o))

Can't answer your question about the blinking red light ashleykelly, I don't have that model. I bait with caps full of milk of all things and sometimes I toss in a little left over chicken or fish but maybe you better experiment a little. Some people use canned dog food but I've heard of virtually everything stuck in as bait.

Blubaby, she might get a chipmunk with peanut butter. I don't think she wants a chipmunk. she wants rats.

I think my hubby used the enclosed dog food that came with the Zapper. Since it is high up in the attic, even our dog won't get to it. Not so for the poor UPS man, since she knows he has dog bones, she goes right up into the truck while he rummages around for the right package. Shamless.

We will use sunflower seeds as well, perhaps peanut butter as bait.

Yes, Equil, UPS thinks I'm nuts because I was jumping up and down clapping my hands when he came up the driveway LOL."What is it?" he asked. I asked if it was from Agrizap. "Yes." OOOOOOHHHH it's my rat electrocuter!

He just smiled and said "have a great weekend" on his fast track far, far away from me.

Ohhh, in the attic!

Use the chunky peanut butter like blu said.

My UPS man is into plants these days. I send him home with goodies for his wife.

Ashley, did you save your directions? I think they said if the red light is blinking: either you have a "guest" or the unit needs to be cleaned. Moist bait was not recommended, at least for the ultra. Apparently they do get soiled and you need to soak the bottom one inch of the entire unit periodically- after removing batteries, of course. Seems weird to me, to soak/rinse an electrical type thing, but the wiring is all in the upper reaches of the unit, I guess.

if you want I can check my directions further if you lost yours.

LOL Equil, I gave my Schwan's man dahlia tubers and now I can't get him to leave: all he wants to do is hear and talk about dahlias!

Ah ha ha ha, same problem here with the FedEx man. My husband said he was even trying to talk to him about plants and he had to tell him that was his wife'd deal but that he was into birds.

EQUI,
They are BOTH RATS!!! lol. I dont think there is specific bait JUST FOR rats, lol.

Best;
bluelytes

Umm, not exactly but I have to run for the day. One note, their diets vary considerably. Have fun everyone!

Hey Pooch, here's hoping you got #2 over night!

the reason i asked is because equilibrium said that he had two kills at a time?? i was just wondering if there is a rat inside that has been zapped does it need to be reset or can you have multiple kills? (sorry to sound so harsh with the 'kills', but i these little animals gross me out!! and i want them all dead. unfortunately i feel like i have to bit my tongue sometimes now that i've been reading the thread about killing the birds...not to start any controversy;o)