Fortunately, the rats didn't get into the house while we were gone. We kept filling in the one area where they seemed to come in and I think it worked. However, the little bit of snow made it easy to see the tracks all over the yard. The small TomCat brand bait stations didn't attract them so far this winter; so I went to two home stores (on my best bus route) to see about getting the industrial bait stations that the exterminators use. The nice staff person at the Valu explained to me that since the new law banning the sale of separate poison and bait went into effect, that they no longer carry them and that is why I would have trouble finding them. I explained that if they sold the large ones with the poison already in it, that I would buy it, but obviously they are nowhere to be found. The HomeDepot staff tried to get me to fall for buying plain rat poison and leaving it out. This wouldn't work because it could hurt other animals (not too concerned since pets are supposed to be on leashes) and it would not last in the rain or snow. So, I decided that we would make a station to contain our spring traps:
The idea is that it is enough of a box to shelter the trap set up and the lid can come off to remove the snap traps. Since it doesn't appear that reasonable products are available for outdoor rat trapping, I feel entitled to give this a whirl. In the past I paid for very good, but expensive exterminating (when they got in the basement - not the living space, thank God). Now, trying to handle it on our own, there are no appropriate products available for purchase. I am not clear if this is concerned appropriate, but we are trying it. Let me know your thoughts and I will keep you posted on if it works.
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