How to Choose the Right Rat Trap for Your Needs

Trapping rats may not be the most pleasant job, but it’s essential for protecting New Zealand’s native wildlife, preventing costly property damage, and maintaining a healthy, sanitary environment. With so many rat traps on the market, how do you know which one is right for your needs? The answer depends on where you’ll be setting the traps, the presence of other small animals, and the surrounding environmental conditions.

Our friendly team of experts here at Traps.co.nz have created the guide below to help you identify the best trap for your unique needs, so that you can get the best results.

Which trap best suits my needs?

Indoor Use: Consider the Victor Professional Rat Trap or Hippo Rat Trap for their sensitivity, effectiveness in confined spaces and easy to use nature. They’re ideal for use along walls, ceiling spaces, basements and kitchens.

Backyards & Sheds: The Victor Professional Rat Trap placed inside a Kill Trap Tunnel is the best option for suburban outdoor areas and backyards due to their sensitivity and easy to use nature. The Kill Trap Tunnel must be used with it to protect non-target species like pets and birds as well as to prevent false triggering of the trap due to outdoor elements. It’s ideal for trapping in areas like sheds or along fences.

Outdoor Bush Areas: The BT200 Rat & Stoat Trap (Zinc & Stainless) and the BT200 Rat & Stoat Trap (Stainless Steel) are recommended for their durability in tough outdoor conditions. They're ideal for use in farmlands, conservation areas and local parks. They must be used with kill trap tunnels/boxes to protect non-target species as well as extend the lift of lures.

For Bird-Sensitive Areas: The BT200 Trap and Box Set is designed to minimize non-target captures.

Stoat Control: The Modified Victor Stoat and Rat Trap is tailored for humane stoat capture. This trap can be used for trapping rats, but smaller rats may fail to trigger the trap if bait isn’t placed correctly. It is a more cost-effective and lightweight alternative to the DOC 150 and 200 in a wooden box.

What is a Kill Trap Tunnel / Kill Trap Box and why do I need one?

These are large boxes that a trap is placed into, to prevent pets, birds and other non-target species from getting caught in the trap. It only allows the intended pest (rat, mouse or stoat) to access the trap via a correctly sized opening.

Trap tunnels also help animals enter the trap the correct way i.e. headfirst, so that kills are quicker and more humane.  In fact, for some traps like the BT200 and Modified Stoat Trap must be used with a Kill Trap Box to meet Predator Fee 2050 guidelines. Kill Trap Tunnels also provide the added benefit of protecting the traps and baits from the elements, as well as creating small, dark tunnels that pests feel safe entering into and as a result improving catch rates. In summary they protect other animals, improve catch rates of your target pest and help to provide humane kills.

If you’re still feeling unsure about which trap suits your needs, feel free to reach out to our friendly team for advice.