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Post by T-Bar on Nov 10, 2004 12:31:40 GMT -6
Everyone always says to set around rat dens, when I have actually never found one yet. I trap mainly small creeks, and I have never seen a rat house yet.
What's the best way to go about finding them?
If I am catching more rats in certain sets, is it safe to say that the house is closer to those sets?
Otherwise, how do you locate bank dens?
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Post by DaveLyons on Nov 10, 2004 12:58:53 GMT -6
Well T-bar,
Just do as I do walk along the creek and when you fall into a hole up to your knee you have found a rat bank den.
For real now. The rats will leave a trail in the sand or mud what ever you have sand for me. Where that trail meets the bank check with your foot for a hole going into the bank.
Dave
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Post by foxtail on Nov 10, 2004 15:19:12 GMT -6
A really easy way to find dens that you can't see in the day is to take a strong light to the creek where you are trapping and shine along the sides going upstream.
Many of the dens that are hid by the glare of the sky will show up amasingly well under the slanted light of a spotlight or strong light of another type.
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Post by T-Bar on Nov 10, 2004 15:30:05 GMT -6
I set about 15 traps today, and the creek I'm on is really stained. I didn't see any runs at all. I found some holes in the banks, but I don't know for sure if they are dens or not. Didn't really want to stick my arm up into them.
How deep do the rats usually enter the bank?
Do they pile any mud or brush on top of the bank like beaver?
It just seems weird that I haven't found a rat den yet, I'll probably do some more wandering around and really check things out after I start catching some. I'll try the spotlight trick and see if that works at all.
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Post by bblwi on Nov 10, 2004 16:49:02 GMT -6
in slow water or ponds, the active dens will have muddy water at the entrance.
When walking or wading fast water always walk up stream the water is clean in front of you and it will make runs and den searching much more productive.
If you find an area with a cluster of feed beds, stoops and or slides, dens are near by. Set the other sign, it seems the rats do not become as anxious when setting away from the dens plus your coon and mink catch will be higher, if you want that to happen.
Bryce
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Post by ScottMc on Nov 10, 2004 17:03:23 GMT -6
Actually, Dave hit on something that is a dead giveaway.
walk along the banks and if you find deep holes on the edge of the creek that just look like the ground collapsed, that is a good place to start. Generally those are Dens that have collapsed because a deer walked on them too much, or they just finally gave in. Generally a new hole will not be far.
Also I have noticed that on the creek that I am trapping, the holes seem to be on the outside of the banks.
For example, if there is a bend in the creek, the holes seem to be on the outside where the fast water is. Not sure why though. I wold think they would be where the water was slower but that doesn't seem to be the case. I would also go before season, or at least before the snow and Ice and mark the holes with a stick and a piece of ribbon or something. Don't do that however if it is Public property. LOL. Don't do all the work for for someone else.
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Post by T-Bar on Nov 10, 2004 17:12:57 GMT -6
Thanks for the tips guys!! Thats what I was hoping to get on this post is some location tips! Should make my searching a little more productive.
ScottMc it is public land, so I'll have to be subtle if I find any. I guess I figured they would be easier to find, but like I said, never found any yet and I really want to to make trapping easier.
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Post by ScottMc on Nov 10, 2004 17:41:32 GMT -6
Honestly, they aren't hard to find if they are there.
Look for spots where it looks like fresh dirt has been thrown into a path. I found that in creeks some of that dirt will be in front of the hole. Once you find one or two, you will be finding them pretty easily.
I used to be baffled by finding them also. LOL. but now I can almost look at a creek from a distance and tell you where they are gonna be, LOL> Not always right, but Not wrong as often as I used to be. LOL
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Post by woody on Nov 10, 2004 20:14:05 GMT -6
T-Bar, look for spots close to the bank, were the bottom is clean, no slit. that is where the den will be, most rats will keep the entrance clean when they leave the den, their feet will kick off the bottom and the motion will wash the silt away from the bottom, there will also be a depression there that a 1 1/2 and will fit in if you want to use a foot hold  I'll try to get a pic or two posted this weekend for ya. Them hole you found, are they above or under the water line  If they are under the waterline, I would set them woody |
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Post by thebeav2 on Nov 10, 2004 20:23:23 GMT -6
T-Bar on creeks with trees along the bank most rats will dig thier dens under the roots of these trees. You will have a hard time finding these dens.
In my opinion just set on sign and don't spend valubale time looking for rat dens.
Beav
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Post by T-Bar on Nov 10, 2004 21:44:53 GMT -6
No trees, its a creek through a marsh.
Woody the holes I found were about 1 foot below the waterline, and they were about 8" or so wide. I was going to set them, but ran out of stakes today, I'm setting more when I check tomorrow, and hopefully remove a few rats also.
Beav, I just set every pull out point today, but its just a personal thing that I would like to find a den just so I know what to look for in the future.
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Post by foxtail on Nov 11, 2004 7:00:51 GMT -6
I like finding them as I put colony traps in front of them and that is fun.  |
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Post by T-Bar on Nov 11, 2004 9:29:29 GMT -6
Well I am starting to think the reason I can't find any rat dens on this creek is because there are no rats!! I'm giving my traps till Monday, then I'm headed back to the other marsh where I know there are some 3-legged rats running around. I feel like an idiot, I'm trying to catch some rats here at school and I haven't even caught anything other than 3 feet yet  |
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Post by NEPISIGUIT on Nov 11, 2004 20:55:29 GMT -6
Any rats on your creek especially where you see holes on the bank in any amount shold be quite evident. look for small toilet droppings on rocks or logs. They will be about the size of a rabbit but elongated. you should also see evidence where vegetation has been pulled up and where they have been feeding. Especially grass as the vegetation will be cut. Also where a rat enters and exits a bank to or fron the water you can often notice a small drepression or trench very close to shore. and also a slight change in the color of the bottom material close to shore. If all works out positive you should do all right in these areas.Set up the trenches and you may even pick up a mink or two. Change in color of bottom material is imp. in the slight trenches. This may indicate fresh activity. If you find the vegation pulled up check to see if it has been eaten or just pulled up by ducks. Good luck.
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