Kansas Structural Pest Control Practice Exam 2025 - Free Structural Pest Control Practice Questions and Study Guide

The ideal bait for rat traps is hotdog or bacon because these food items have strong scents and tastes that are particularly appealing to rats. Rats are opportunistic feeders and are drawn to high-protein and fatty foods, making bacon and hotdogs effective attractants. They have a natural inclination towards protein, which makes these options more effective than fruits or other less protein-rich foods.

Using fruits may not be as effective because rats tend to prefer foods with higher fat and protein contents over sugary fruits. While anticoagulants and rodenticides are often used to control rat populations, they serve a different purpose than bait in traps. Anticoagulants are chemicals that kill rats after ingestion, while rodenticide bait is used in bait stations rather than traps. Therefore, choosing hotdogs or bacon maximizes the likelihood of successfully capturing rats due to their dietary preferences.