90 FERRET FACTS AND FANCIES. 



Figure 4 Trigger Trap. — The old-fashioned -box trap set 

 with a figure 4 trigger is sometimes useful to secure a wise 

 old rat that refuses to be enticed into a modern trap. Better 

 still is a simple deadfall — a flat stone or heavy plank — 

 supported by a figure 4 trigger. An old rat will go under 

 such a contrivance to feed without fear. 



Steel Trap. — The ordinary steel trap (No. or 1) may 

 sometimes be satisfactorily employed to capture a rat. The 

 animal is usually caught by the foot, and its squealing has a 

 tendency to frighten other rats. The trap may be set in a 

 shallow pan or box and covered with bran or oats, care being 

 taken to have the space under the trigger pan free of grain. 

 This may be done by placing a very light bit of cotton under 

 the trigger and setting as lightly as possible. In narrow runs 

 or at the mouth of burrows a steel trap unbaited and covered 

 with very light cloth or tissue paper is often effective. 



The best bait is usually food of a kind vliat the rats do 

 not get in the vicinity. In a meat market, vegetables or 

 grain should be used ; in a feed store, meat. As far as pos- 

 sible, food other than the bait should be inaccessible whiK 

 trapping is in progress. The bait should be kept fresh and 

 attractive, and the kind changed when necessary. Baits and 

 traps should be handled as little as possible. Ordinarily, 

 traps should be frequently cleaned or smoked. The use of 

 artificial scents, as oil of anise or rhodium, on the bait, is 

 advocated by many, but no doubt their importance has been 

 exaggerated. The experience of the writer is not favorable 

 to their use, but they may do some good by concealing the 

 human odor on the trap. 



Poisons. — ^ While the use of poison is the best and 

 quickest way to get rid of rats, the odor from the dead 

 animals makes the method impracticable in occupied houses. 

 Poison, however, may be effectively used in barns, stables, 

 sheds, cribs, and other outbuildings. 



