Susie,
I absolutely agree with you! Killing them is the only option.
But, the lights will protect your figs while the traps protect your house.
They serve a slightly different purpose.
I found that the traps under my fig tree are no longer effective after one rat escaped, they learn very fast, smart bastards :(

thank you green. i need this trap to keep working. i think there's a momma out their making babies.  i gotta get her.

Hi Susieqz,
Next time use the ole way : Bucket full of water ( or river if you have one passing by ), and everything in the water trap and rats , after 2 minutes they are done ...

@greenfig: buy a small pot of koïfish sticks. and bait with that... You'll have a lot more of success !
When a rat gets used to your baits, just use another type of baits . Use gloves or hands washed in dirt when manipulating the traps.

I just found an hole near my cherry-tree ... The Puttange trap is already waiting ...

IMO, releasing is just like throwing a boomerang ... Watch-out sometimes they strike back at you ... So probably, not the best solution.

It doesn't bother me if you want to shoot them, I just think it's funny that they made this trap and called it havaheart because they thought people would use to trap and then call someone to come get the animal and relocate it.  Then you get the trap and shoot the critters.  Kinda ironic given the name of the thing, I thought, that's all :)

 water is a great idea jds. plus i didn't know you had to switch baits.

 rob, no problem. i just get upset with city people thinking it's fine to dump vermin in the country.
this country has been settled.there is no place you can release cute little woodland creatures where they or their off spring won't bother someone. we have trees n gardens just like you. we fight to protect them.

people who relocate animals to the country are treating us like enemies. or, we just don't matter because we  don't live in the suburbs.

our gardens, our trees matter to us.

Yesterday evening I saw my first swollen and nearly fully ripened Chicago Hardy fig purchased from Lowes for 10.98 in April of 2014.

I did what any desperate fig lover would do. I thought of all of the night creatures that have eaten of my harvest recently and I picked up my little tree and sat it safely inside the house. 

This morning, I cautiously brought it back out but could not bear leaving it alone and risking the squirell's daily harvesting in my garden so I gave the single fig a little squeeze and picked it hoping that it would be at least a little ripe. 

It was wonderful. The kids and I ate the one fig and I'm very pleased with my decision to pick it early. 

Yum. It was fresh and had that little zippy acidity that got me loving figs in the first place. 

congrats, chips. i stillhaven't tasted my HC.

Thanks Suzie,
It is worth the wait. I hope that you get to try it soon.

Two were consumed today.  No harm done, thankfully.  I just dedicated a new thread to them if you want more info:  http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/my-first-taste-of-rdb-today-with-pictures-7047147?pid=1283998054#post1283998054

I was reading up on these . most seemed to think the green or white were best . a cpl were trying silver but didn't hear if those were good

I orded some green ones . does anyone have any new info or opinions to sharre

I use a white and a yellow, both work good when the squirrels don't take the whole bag I now tie the the string around the branch after I secure it around the fig seems to help. 

I have used green, red and bright blue. I like the blue as they help find the figs I bagged. Only downside has been that coyotes and crows take the bag and fig, and all, but the is not a frequent issue. I love them for use on small plants where i don't want to net the whole plant. Color doesn't seem to matter at my location.

I love em . The green ones( moss green) are so effective that we are having a hard time finding the figs. I also tie them around the branch. 100% success so far so... $2.16 for 30 bags( 3.5x4 inches) . The assorted colors were a lot cheaper but I only wanted colors that would fool the birds. Not red, purple or anything that would make the figs stand out even more! Good buy.

I need advice?what size organza begs to order?

I use 5x7 inches

It depends if your tree is in ground and gives bigger fruit or potted.

For me in pots 9cm over 12 cm is perfect, and its OK for the bigger fruit like black Portugal and apricots.