This year I grew tomatoes, and found rats are stealing them. I am certain it’s rats because I have seen them. Have tried netting the tomato plants, but rats found ways in. Called an exterminator to bait in the roof and under house. Feel ambivalent about it, because if a predator bird takes an affected rat it may get ill. But I’m located deep in suburbia and have never seen an owl or eagle so I think it’s unlikely. Didn’t work though, still have rats. Have given up on the tomatoes, plants are destroyed. What are your strategies for ridding yourself of ratty pestilences?
I recently dealt with the same problem using a live catch cage trap from Bunnings. The rat ignored the peanut butter I tried first but I bought the special rat attractant and had the little bastard within a week.
I had other kill traps out (nooski and electronic) but they didn’t work. He triggered the nooski a couple of times but got away unharmed.
Just stick the trap along your fence where you’ve seen him and wait.