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Author Topic: Mesh size for a rat trap  (Read 1998 times)

Womble

  • Joined Mar 2009
  • Stirlingshire, Central Scotland
Mesh size for a rat trap
« on: April 27, 2020, 10:26:07 am »
Hi folks,

A family of rats has moved in under our duck house, coinciding with a pair of tawny owls who I think are nesting in our big beech tree.


Ordinarily, I'd hope one might sort the other, but I don't really want to leave that to chance. What it does mean though, is that I don't want to risk putting down poison (unless anybody can tell me where I can buy 1st generation poisons, which are less likely to cause secondary poisoning to owls? I can't find anything anywhere).

Anyway, I have a sheet of 1" weldmesh here, and I was thinking of making a trap similar to the one in the attached picture. From the dimensions given on the picture, I think it's made from a similar mesh (the stuff I have is 12 gauge, i.e. 2.5mm wire). However, the holes look quite big to me, and rodents do have a reputation for squeezing through small gaps.

Before I waste an afternoon cutting up weldmesh, can anybody advise?

Thanks!
:thumbsup:





"All fungi are edible. Some fungi are only edible once." -Terry Pratchett

chrismahon

  • Joined Dec 2011
  • Gascony, France
Re: Mesh size for a rat trap
« Reply #1 on: April 27, 2020, 11:50:13 am »
We have a mink trap and a rabbit trap made of your 25mm material Womble- we've caught rats in them but they were big! Our proper rat trap is 15mm. So you may catch the big ones but I think the smaller ones will squeeze out.


We have never used poison for the same reason. Tried 4" fenn snap traps, which were very effective- until we caught a hedgehog. Never used them again.

SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: Mesh size for a rat trap
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2020, 04:32:25 pm »
I've always used 1" for rats but yes, I guess the smallest might get out.

Pay attention to weighting / pegging down the trap.  Our rats rolled the trap, twice.  First roll the food fell out, second roll the trap is out the way.  I always imagined them scoffing the bait then dancing around the upturned trap, mocking us...
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

 

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