To get the best bang for your buck with traps, it’s a good idea to use a bait. This is simply because it makes rats more likely to trigger the trap. Yet picking the right bait isn’t all that simple. It’s best to first figure out what type of rat is causing chaos in your home and to then tailor the bait to their natural diet. Some, like the Norway rat, will gladly eat human food and meat. Others, like the Roof rat, tend to prefer food that’s naturally found in the wild, like fruits, berries, and nuts. But if you aren’t sure, you can just go with good old peanut butter.

There you have it. If you’re looking for how to trap a rat, first choose a trap type that meets up with your goals; second, figure out where they’re coming from and place the traps where rats are most likely to step; and third, try to tailor the bait to the rat species causing you trouble. With that, you can sit back and relax as your traps handle the rest.