https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2019/07/24/rat-poison-wildlife-death-rat-population-booming-california-cities/

California is tightening the use of poisons used to kill rats in order to save wildlife including mountain lions, raccoons, etc.

Pet owners complain that coyotes are killing their pets, but coyotes are the chief predators of rats and mice. Therefore, measures to kill coyotes are backfiring as the rat population increases in the cities and suburbs where coyotes coexist with humans.

As a result of coyote control and poison discontinuation, the population of rats is increasing across California especially in San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco where the homeless population is also increasing. California takes better care of illegal migrants than the homeless who have lost their jobs, who are mentally ill, or who are on drugs.

Traditional rat traps do not work very well. Please share any rat traps that you have built yourself.
Here in the foothills, we are plagued with mice, voles, and rats.

Here are some suggestions for  building better rat traps:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=building+better+rat+traps

Here is an inexpensive and simple rat trap that can be built with a 5 gallon bucket, scrap lumber (ramps), glue gun, grain or crackers to use as bait, bottle caps, cardboard, and a few other things found around the house. Pour two inches of soapy water in the bottom of the bucket. The soapy water helps to kill fleas.

This trap is a little expensive at $200.00. However, it works if you live in a rat-infested area where you need to trap seven to 100 rats per night.

The down side is: how do you dispose of all those rats? No solution was given.

I have made and used the roller bucket trap having chicken feed around my barn and it worked great. Rats are very intelligent though and after a few of them bite it the others will learn to avoid it.

This trap is a little expensive at $200.00. However, it works if you live in a rat-infested area where you need to trap seven to 100 rats per night.

The down side is: how do you dispose of all those rats? No solution was given.

Two methods of extermination :--
1)  Attach weights to the cage and submerse it in water for half an hour.
2) Place cage in an enclosed box or bag.  Attached to car exhaust pipe.
Dump out dead rats and dispose of by burial or incineration.  
It's a nasty job, but somebody has to do it!

Two methods of extermination :--
1)  Attach weights to the cage and submerse it in water for half an hour.
2) Place cage in an enclosed box or bag.  Attached to car exhaust pipe.
Dump out dead rats and dispose of by burial or incineration.  
It's a nasty job, but somebody has to do it!

We filled out city garbage container with water and then submerged the trap for one hour.
Rats are survivors. It worked.

Our city garbage bins do need to be washed out periodically anyway.

If you like to sew, you can assemble your own rolling mice trap.

NOTE: Does not work for rats because they are larger and can use their feet to avoid falling into the bucket.



In the winter, use a little peanut oil instead of water in the bottom of the bucket to prevent the mice from jumping out and escaping.

After the mice have been caught and have drowned, these mice can be placed outside at night where feral cats, coyotes, possums, skunks, and raccoons can devour them. During the day, hawks and eagles will eat these mice if placed on a log near a stream. This is a much better alternative than placing them in the city garbage bins.

I prefer to use a little detergent in the water so that the fleas will die. Next, the rodents can be rinsed off before being offered to predators.

Since the rodents have not been poisoned, they are safe to feed to predators.

Of course, these mink and dogs must be trained, but mink are natural predators and in the wild, they wreck havoc on rats, muskrats, squirrels, etc.