Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q: Is it OK to use the Rat Zapper outside? A: The Rat Zapper works fine outdoors.  We do recommend covering the Rat Zapper with a plastic bag or tarp if it is exposed to moisture, but otherwise you should be able to zap those nasty rodents in your fruit trees, on your patio, by your dog dish, on your fence, in the sub area below your house, in your barn, and all those other outdoor areas where our customers have mentioned problems. Q: Will the Rat Zapper work on large rats? A: Yes.  The Rat Zapper is designed to work on the largest Norway rats as well as the smallest mice.  If you know all of your rats are huge, we recommend the Rat Zapper 2000 because of its larger opening.  If rats are an ongoing problem, you can always request a "Big Bertha" top for the RZ98. Q: Does the Rat Zapper work for both rats and mice? A: Yes. It works with the smallest mouse and the largest rat. If you are using the Rat Zapper for both rats and mice, we do offer a suggestion. Mice may be deterred by the smell of a rat. If you have zapped a rat and the mice are not going in, you may want to clean the Chamber with hot water and a mild soap solution. Q: How much does a Rat Zapper cost? A: Please refer to our retail pricing Web page. Q: Why should I use the Rat Zapper instead of other traps? A: Other traps like snap traps and glue boards create "trap shyness" in rodents. There is visible, audible, and scent trauma associated with a death in a snap trap or glue board. Snap traps can be bloody and always cause rodent disconfiguration. Glue boards may take hours or days to kill a rodent. Do you think the others like that? With the Rat Zapper, "trap shyness" is eliminated because the kill is always instant and the rodent is left perfectly intact as though it is merely sleeping.  Oh, and don't forget the mess associated with other rodent control methods.  The Rat Zapper is neat and clean. Q: How many Rat Zappers do I need? A: For residential users, we recommend 1 Rat Zapper for every 1000 square feet of living space.  For commercial users (or very large homes) with more than 50,000 sq. ft., we recommend a strategic approach.   Get enough Rat Zappers to cover a "section" between 10,000 and 50,000 sq. ft. in size.  Spread those Rat Zappers out over the whole complex and monitor the activity.  Then, move  inactive Rat Zappers to the "hot spots" as necessary. Q: Does the Rat Zapper work on squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, moles, gophers, groundhogs, possums, raccoons, birds, cats, etc. ? A: The Rat Zapper is designed to work on rats and mice.  However, we have had customers who have used the Rat Zapper to effectively control chipmunks, ground squirrels and even mongooses! Q: How long do the batteries last? A: In the Rat Zapper 2000, four alkaline AA batteries will typically last for at least 30 days or 10 rodent kills. Please see our battery page for more info on best batteries to use, add-on battery packs, and rechargeable batteries. Q: Can the Rat Zapper zap more than one rodent at a time? A: Every time you zap one rodent, you must dispose of it, then reset the trap by turning it OFF and then back ON. However, if you have a large number of rodents to eliminate, you will find our remote monitoring systems helpful. This system allows you to set up multiple zappers and monitor their activity from one location.