You have to be extra careful not to expose yourself to rats directly when trying to remove them from your property on your own. Having rats in your home can lead to the spread of hantavirus, salmonella, and more dangerous diseases. What’s more, many poison-based traps can expose your family to harmful chemicals. Our recommended homemade rat trap is the bucket method. Lean a ramp against a bucket with peanut butter inside in your problem area. The rat will climb up, fall in, and not be able to escape due to the slippery walls.