On four occasions now, the rat has been found dead on top of the sprung Victor rat trap, but not actually caught in the trap itself. This has happened all on the same trap line, all have been large Norway rats. Has anyone else found a rat like this? I am wondering if it died by heart attack when the trap has snapped?
@jenayaclare Interesting! If the rats are fresh enough when the traps are checked, are there any indications that they may have been caught under the bar but managed to pull free before then dying due to injuries? If so, I’d guess that the spring of the trap has weakened a bit and it might need repair or replacement.
Otherwise, are there any toxin operations in the area? Perhaps the rats were poisoned, used the tunnel as a shelter rather than searching for food, and only incidentally set off the trap by trying to push it out of the way? Generally toxins used in outdoor operations have side-effects that encourage the rodents to seek shelter (which reduces the chance of secondary poisoning of predators/scavengers) rather than toxins used in houses (where you really don’t want rats decomposing somewhere inaccessible).
no part of the rat’s have been caught under the bar. Its occurred three times in one trap, and then once in another about 300m further up the stream. All instances have occurred within the last 6 weeks. This trap line is in an urban area so there very well could be poison being used in a nearby household.
I’ve also experienced this phenomenon on another streamside trap line, but it was stoat found dead halfway out the entrance of a rat trap box which had a sprung Victor trap inside. Again, no part of the stoat was under the bar of the trap, and there were no visible injuries.