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Best Live Rat Trap

Rats are very intelligent living creatures and should be treated humanely and with compassion whenever possible.

If you are trying to be the most humane as possible, then a live catch rat trap is the best way to catch and release these animals.

Below is the information you need to know before choosing to live trap and my review of the 4 best live rat traps available today.

Using Catch and Release Rat Traps

Using a live catch rat trap is very simple and easy to do.

Live traps usually have one door, but some come with two entrances.

Inside the trap is a trip pad that shuts the door quickly catching the rat in the cage alive.

To use the traps successfully, place them in locations where rat activity is occurring.

Use peanut butter to lure them in for the best results.

When the rat is caught, collect the traps and remove them from your property.

So far things sound pretty easy, right?  Well, here comes the hard part!

What You Need To Consider When Using Live Rat Traps

First, before even starting to trap an animal alive,  you’ll need to check your local trap and release laws.

Believe it or not, it may be more lawful to use a lethal trap than a live trap for nuisance animals.

Second, you will need permission to release a live rat on land that you do not own.

If you have a state of federal forest near your home, it is most certainly not lawful to release any animal without permission.

If you are stopped by a wildlife law enforcement officer,  you could face a heavy fine or even get arrested.

The third, and probably the trickiest part, is keeping the rats alive long enough to release them.

If left in a trap without food or water, in a hot summer attic, or even a cold area during winter, a rat can slowly die, which would be even more cruel that a deadly trap.

Also, are you going to make one trip per week to release the rats you catch, or a separate trip each time you catch a single rat?

If one trip per week, where will you keep the rats till you release them?

Finally, since rats carry some really bad viruses and bacteria if you get bit or scratched by one,  you could get sick.

It is true, that even a dead rat can transmit diseases, but a live one requires additional care when handling.

Be sure to at least wear wildlife gloves to protect yourself.

If you have changed your mind about live rat traps or want to read information on other methods, here is a link to my post on the Best Way to Get Rid of Rats in the Attic.

If not and you are set on being as humane as possible, then enough said, let’s get on to the live rat trap review.

Live Catch Mouse Trap Comparison Chart

In the quick comparison chart below on the best live catch rat traps use the ROCC-O-METER® to quickly determine the best humane traps for rats.  It is a simple number rating system.  The lower the number the better the product with 1= Best, 2=Good, 3=Average, 4=Poor.  For more information on The ROCC-O-METER® Click Here.

ProductFeaturesMore InfoROCC-O-METER®Shop Now
 Atomic Barbie AB Live Rat Trap
  • Affordable
  • Easy Setup
  • Single Door
  • 10.5  x 5.5 x 4.5  inches
AB Live Rat TrapScore=1
 Havahart Easy Set Live Rat Trap
  • Pro Quility- Made in USA
  • Easy one hand Set/Release
  • Single door
  • 17.63 x 6.63 x 7.38 Inches
Havahart Easy Set DetailsScore=2
Kensizer Small Animal Cage Trap
  • Affordable
  • Easy Setup
  • Single door
  • 10.5  x 5.5 x 4.5  inches
Kensizer DetailsScore=1
Havahart Small Professional Style One-Door Animal Trap
  • Pro Quality – Made in USA
  • Easy Setup
  • Single Door
  • 18.17 x 7.95 x 8.18 inches

Havahart Small Live Trap Details

Score=2

The Atomic Barbie (AB) Live Small Animal Trap For Rats

The Atomic Barbie Live Small Animal Trap is great for catching medium-sized rats and small squirrels, chipmunks, and mice.

The trap is easy to set, with dimensions of 10.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 inches.

However, be aware that you will need a 4-inch clearance above the trap for the door handle to swing freely.

It has a nice trip pad and is well constructed from galvanized steel and 1/8-inch wire mesh that will work well for medium-sized rats and mice.

While it can be used for larger rodents such as squirrels, they may chew through the mesh to get out.

Unfortunately, there is no handle on the trap, so you will have to pick it up with gloves when moving the trap with a live animal inside.

The Atomic Barbie Live Small Animal Trap is made in China but is well made for the price.

Overall the AB Small Animal Trap For Rats on Amazon.com is well made and should work for most rat situations.  

The Havahart Easy Set Live Rat Trap

The Havahart Easy Set Live Rat Trap is more of a professional quality level trap.

The larger 17.63 in x 6.63 in x 7.38 in dimensions are ideal for catching all-size rats, squirrels, chipmunks, and even some small opossums or small rabbits.

It has a nice one-handed set and release handle on the top of the trap.

The trap is designed with smoothed internal edges to protect and prevent injuries to the animals inside.

Havahart traps are made in the USA by Woodstream Corp. and use high-quality galvanized steel that larger rodents will not be able to chew through.

With the premium quality expect to pay a bit more for this trap.

Woodstream Corp. provides a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year manufacturer’s defect warranty.

The Havahart Easy Set Small Animal Trap for Rats on Amazon has great reviews.

Kensizer Small Animal Cage Trap

The Kensizer Small Animal Cage Trap is another very affordable live rat trap that works great for mid-size rats, mice, small squirrels, and chipmunks. 

It is made of a durable lightweight aluminum body and has a highly sensitive trigger mechanism.

Once the trigger is touched, the door will be auto-locked immediately and keep the critters in it.

The trap is very easy to use and is made to last and is also available in a larger size.

This one is 10.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 inches and requires an additional 5 inches of clearance above the trap to work properly.

The sides are covered by a 1/8-inch wire mesh, which may be an issue for larger rodents who can chew through the wire.

Due to its ease of use, quality builds, reasonable cost, and great reviews the Kensizer Small Animal Cage Trap is the perfect live catch rat trap on Amazon.com.  

This trap is a great choice for most rat problems. 

Havahart Small Professional Style One-Door Animal Trap

The Havahart Small Professional Style One-Door Animal Trap is a pro-grade live catch and release trap.

It is made of a durable galvanized steel material made to resist rust and corrosion.

This trap is the largest of the four with dimensions of 18.17 in x 7.95 in x 8.18 inches, making it great for all-size rats, squirrels, rabbits, and even skunks.

As with the Havahart Easy Set, the till trap has smoothed internal edges to protect and prevent injuries to animals.

The trap has a handle making transporting live animals a snap. 

Havahart traps are made in the USA by Woodstream Corp. and are high quality ensuring that larger rodents will not be able to chew through and escape.

Woodstream Corp. provides a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year manufacturer’s defect warranty.

The Havahart Small Professional Style One-Door Animal Trap comes in a “2” pack for a reasonable price and offers a lifetime warranty on Amazon.

Best Live Traps for Mice Conclusion

Live catch traps can be one of the most humane ways of getting rats from your home and when used properly, they can be very effective.

However, several important things to consider when using live traps are:

  • Is it lawful in your area?
  • A rat may die if left in the trap too long.
  • Rats have a decreased chance of surviving when relocated.

If your local laws permit live catch and release methods and you have a good place to relocate the animals then humane traps are a great choice!

Otherwise, consider using other trapping techniques such as  Best Snap Traps For Rats,  Best Electronic Rat Traps, or Best Glue Traps for Rats.

To learn more about mice and how to get rid of them, read the post on Best Way to Get Rid of Rats in the Attic.

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