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A friend was holding one of my male rats last Friday; she thought that he was tamer than he is. She did not hold him firmly enough, so he jumped down to the floor, then he ran and hid under a large piece of furniture. This is Monday, so far, he is still under the same dish-and-linen-hutch, which I can't reach under. We tried pushing him out with a yardstick, but he only jumped over it.

He has only had a few pieces of cereal to eat, we were trying to lure him into a live-catch trap; and no water, I have a bottle on the trap. The live-catch trap is really for larger sized animals, like skunk, or pack-rat; its mesh is 1 inch square. I hope, if he ever does go into it, that he doesn't just squirm right out again.

What else can I do to recapture him? He is almost size large, but not jumbo like his father.

SnakeyLakey

That is why I have a Cairn Terrier. You can buy live traps from feed stores. They work great. Use peanut butter on the trip lever, they can't just grap it and run. Or you can tie a piece of apple to it. You should have him trapped in about an hour.

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Shannon in Reno
2.3 dogs
1.0 cat
Bunch O fancy rats and mice
50 something chickens
1.0 Black rat snake
2.0 Albino corn snakes
0.1 Chissel tooth kangaroo rat
0.1 Rosy Boa
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Amazing Boyfriend

Thanks for answering.

I have had a live trap set up since his Friday escape. It is baited with a slit carrot top slid over the edge of the trip plate. I also have a water bottle on the trap, he must be very thirsty with no water since Friday.

We have a cat, but she is NOT interested in rats; except as entertainment, like watching TV. We have the Wide World of Rat Wrestling in one tank (channel), and All My Children in another tub (channel).

I don't think a dog, even one as small as a cairn terrier, would fit under the dish & linen hutch that Dagwood Rat is below. At least, he doesn't appear to be going any place else. We blocked off most of the openings, so he CAN'T wander all over the rest of the house. I look underneath, with a flashlight, several times a day. Each time, so far, Dagwood has been somewhere under there, but out of reach.

SnakeyLakey

i would try to capture it soon, as it wil be a termite to your hutch, can a vacuum hose fit under there? use that to scoot it to you or to suck it to you lol just handle by tail as it will be pissed by then. i capture any lose ones right away, either safely or end up in the freezer.
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1.4 various boas(Flicka,Felony,Nova,Alias,Alibi,confessa,custody,Ms.Demeanor)
0.1 BRB Abalone; ABBI
1.0 Rott X (OSO)
2.0 cats (Simba, Morris)
fish & feeders

If he isn't getting hydtation from the trap he has to be getting it from somewhere. A rat can not live that long with NO food or water. Is he going in the trap and not tripping it? Try the peanut butter or apple. Rats usually can't resist these things, even wildlife fall for them. If he does get into your reach and you grab him, he is going to bit the hell out of you. When rats get out and are out for more then a day they get VERY wild. Thats why when I bred to stock the pet shops in Baltimore I got my Cairn. I had about 300 breeders. The rats were just too wild to hand catch and then put back in a cage. Terriers are much better at catching rodents then cats will ever be. Thats what terriers are bred to do. Keep us updated.

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Shannon in Reno
2.3 dogs
1.0 cat
Bunch O fancy rats and mice
50 something chickens
1.0 Black rat snake
2.0 Albino corn snakes
0.1 Chissel tooth kangaroo rat
0.1 Rosy Boa
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Amazing Boyfriend

Tuesday morning: This morning Dagwood finally went into the live-catch trap. He is now back in with his 3 brothers. So far, they seem to still get along with each other.

Last night (or technicaly in the wee hours of this morning) I tried to entice him out with a fresh carrot. He would come part way out, then zip back under. He sure is fast. I did NOT try to grab him; I wanted to regain some of his trust. (Actually he never presented himself long enough for me to grab.) I did get Dagwood to put his head and shoulders into the trap, but not far enough to trip it.

After, Snowball, the cat came to snoopervise; he wouldn't even stick his nose out anymore. So, I tried something different; I covered the area between the hutch and the trap with carboard pieces. I also leaned some cardboard on and against the trap, to make it darker. Then I went to bed, it was already starting to get light out.

About 2 hours later Mom called me to tell me that the trap was sprung, and Dagwood was in it. I took his home container and the trap into the bathtub, and made the transfer behind closed doors.

SnakeyLakey

This is why I only use fully socialized rats that I have raised myself as breeders. If they were to run away I'd just call them and they come right to me.

Before this happens again, make a friend with longer arms than yours.
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