5 Natural Predators of the Rat
Many people ask us, “What animals naturally eat rats?” While there are plenty of rat predators, the domestic options are not as effective as many think. Before you put Fluffy to work, here’s a quick tour of the most prolific rat predators—humans excluded.
1) Birds of Prey
Birds of prey are famous rodent hunters. Hawks and falcons hunt by day; owls hunt by night—exactly when rats forage. The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is North America’s most familiar large hawk, with populations increased since the 1960s.
Red-tails are found across most of the U.S. and Mexico, with some breeding in Canada. They often watch from a high perch and ambush prey by swooping down.
The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is our smallest, most widespread falcon. It thrives in cities, open country, forest edges, deserts, and farmland—anywhere with a good perch and steady prey.
The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) has one of the broadest ranges of any terrestrial bird and often nests in barns with abundant rodents. Silent flight, excellent night vision, and acute hearing make it a superb nighttime ratter.
2) Felines
Domestic cats are generally better at catching mice than rats, though some will take on a rat. Some cities deploy feral cats for rodent control. Wild cousins like Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are more reliable ratters, adapting to woods, swamps, farmland, and even cities. They prefer small prey but can scale up when needed.
Cougars (mountain lions) eat a wide range—from insects to deer—and will also take rats, typically via ambush.
3) Snakes
Many snakes eat small mammals, including rats. Non-venomous rat snakes kill by constriction. The black rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus) can exceed eight feet; the corn snake (P. guttatus) famously lingers near stored grain—farmers have leveraged both for rodent control for centuries.
4) Dogs
Not all dogs are ratters, but several breeds excel—especially terriers bred to hunt underground pests. See rat-catching breeds. Others include dachshunds, German Pinschers, and Miniature Schnauzers. Strong scenting, digging power, and stout jaws are common traits.
5) Weasels
Weasels are natural rat predators. The short-tailed weasel (stoat) spans Arctic to North America; the long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata) ranges across most of the U.S. and Central America. Nocturnal like rats, they hunt concurrently and dispatch prey with neck bites. Their slender bodies follow rodents into tight spaces.
Odds are something on this list lives near you. That said, predators can be injured by rats—and unlike traps, they can suffer secondary poisoning if rats have ingested rodenticides.
A Better Solution
At AutomaticTrap.com, we provide humane, effective solutions that avoid glue traps and poisons. To learn more about our traps, call 1 (877) 992-8868 or email support@automatictrap.com.