VictorM326-9 Professional Expanded Trigger Rat Trap

After seeing a Youtube vid about getting rid of chipmunks I noticed the chap was using these traps. Also, you need an rectangle plastic planter about 18 X 5''. Next cut a hole about 3/4 of the way up on the 5" side. Put a glob of peanut butter on the edge of the trap and stick a bunch of sunflower seed on the peanut butter and then sprinkle a few just in front of the trap. Next put the plastic planter over the trap so the trap is in the middle with the seed side facing the opening.In two weeks I trapped 30 of those little rascals. Either I got them all or they headed for greener pastures since I haven't seen any for about two weeks. Oh, by the way, the plastic planter is so birds can't get at the traps. One doesn't want to do aways with those little cuties.Be very careful when setting these traps because unless your a masochist you'll end up smashing your digits a goodly share.

My wife and I have a vegetable garden in our yard (summer 2013). We've been harvesting several types of peppers and tomatoes, as well as other veg, all summer long. Life is good - our garden is exploding. We have an abundance of plants producing an abundance of food. We're able to share with neighbors and friends, eat our fill and can/pickle/preserve the rest -- all home grown, pesticide free vegetables. Then, to our dismay, we noticed some of the Chablis peppers had been decimated by a critter. I figured - we had a good run but the party was over and the neighborhood chipmunks and/or squirrels finally found our food oasis and would be frequenting the smorgasbord buffet for the rest of the season. I've seen chipmunks in the yard and found their holes in various places. I even saw a squirrel eyeballing the garden one afternoon; however, it walked off when I started eyeballing it. So, our abundant produce would have to be shared with the local wildlife - and life goes on. Then, it all changed, the sunshine and rainbows in Happy Town turned to darkness and screams of terror as we learned ... we had a rat problem.My wife and I were grilling on the patio one evening when to our great dismay I watched an opportunistic rat scurry across our lawn in the fading light of early evening. It maneuvered through the grass, ran under my car to maintain cover and then, in a single movement, jumped from the driveway over the 2x10 that makes the edge of the raised garden bed and under the fencing that surrounds it. Amazing, it was almost like it flew, graceful like a dance. Needless to say, my wife was not pleased. I knew the war was on.After reading several reviews and deciding against the collateral damage that glue traps and poison could cause, as well as watching several videos on how to make various bucket traps, I decided the classic Victor M326 Professional Rat Trap would best suit my needs. What can one say ... it's an oldie but a goodie. I placed the order from Amazon and waited for Prime delivery. In the interim I watched and plotted. I watched that bold lil' rat scurry from the outskirts of the yard across the center of the lawn, again. It cruised under my car, paused and checked to see the coast was clear, and then it gleefully jumped into the garden. No, I'm not crazy, the movement with which the rat entered the garden was gleeful, almost like it was prancing. It was out for a night on the town at our expense. I could do nothing but wait for the traps; however, el raton made one critical mistake - now I confirmed its entry point to the garden and knew it's approximate feeding time, it was the second evening in a row it entered the garden at the same spot and same time out cruising for grub. I couldn't wait to get that rat bastard.The box of traps arrived in a timely fashion and I set to work baiting the traps with peanut butter and setting only two before the rat's seemingly regularly scheduled dinner time. I placed one along the base of a fence I'd seen it use as its own personal rat highway. And, I placed the second one in the garden among the Chablis peppers and the rat turds that were the size of small logs. The trap along the base of the fence was well situated, directly in the rat's path and facing the fence, as the instructional videos recommend. The plants along the edge of the yard provide good cover for animals as they move along the outskirts of the yard, obscured from direct line of sight. And, the one in the garden was among the half eaten remains of peppers that had already fallen prey to the rat's insatiable appetite. Then, the hard part ... waiting.After about an hour I went and checked the traps. The trap along the fence remained undisturbed. The trap in the garden had been sprung but no rat. I thought maybe the breeze blew the pepper plants and maybe one of the hanging peppers bumped the trap mechanism and set it off. Regardless, nothing. However, I remained undeterred in my pursuit of victory. So, I re-set the trap and again ... waited.I came out the next morning before work and both traps had been sprung. The trap set along the fence - nada. The trap in the garden - success! I disposed of the rat and re-baited and re-set the traps because I suspect where there's one rat, there's many. So, with the Victor M326 Professional Rat Trap as my weapon of choice the Great Garden Rat War of 2013 will rage on ... and any remaining rat's days are numbered.

Old school trap with a new school lever. I like the pressure pad because it gives more area to trip the trap. Super strong snap, I have reset these traps hundreds of times and they still go off in my hands from time to time and scare me.Some things I have noticed/ tips for use.-I write my name/ a number on all my traps so I know which ones are mine/ record the number of kills each trap gets.-Once a trap gets a kill it seems like the rats are drawn to it. location is key but once you get a few kills it seems everyone wants to take a look... most kills on one trap 15.-I only bait 1 out of every 4 traps. it might be my thinking but I want to kill passing rats not bring in new ones (main placement is outside or in an area with holes that open to the outdoors like a garage)Final note: I took 25 mint tea bags and brewed them in a garden sprayer the ones for weed killer. I sprayed it on the inside of a garage and under a porch that was like a rat super highway on the ground around the corners and up the walls. I then took the tea bags out and threw them around the edges and where they were coming in. 2 months later I have yet to see a dropping or catch a rat. Try that out and see if it works for you.

I was using these to eradicate a major chipmunk problem. First night, all traps sprung, only 2 kills. Lost one trap in the process. It looked like it exploded, could not salvage it. Second night, all traps sprung, zero kills. Now I have 2 functioning traps. Same problem, they look like they exploded. That is 7 broken traps in 2 days, with only 2 kills. I am going to buy the metal clips next, maybe they have more functionality. I bought these because they were supposed to be easier to set. Will try and post results after I've used the metal clip rat traps.