What smell attracts rats instantly?

Rats have an excellent sense of smell and are instantly attracted to smells that signal high-calorie food, especially fatty, sweet, and protein-rich odors. The most attractive smells to rats include peanut butter, which has a strong nutty and fatty aroma that travels far and is why it is considered the number one bait for rat traps, bacon and cooked meats with smoky and fatty scents, chocolate and hazelnut spread with sweet and fatty notes, and nuts like walnuts and almonds. Rats are also strongly attracted to the smell of pet food, bird seed, garbage with food waste, compost, and fruits like apples and bananas that are overripe and fermenting. They are omnivores and are also attracted to the smell of grains, cereals, and cooking oils. In a home, the smell of food left on counters, dirty dishes, grease on stoves, and crumbs under appliances can draw rats from walls and attics quickly. Interestingly, rats are also attracted to the smell of other rats and their droppings because it signals a safe food source. To prevent attraction, store all food including pet food in airtight metal or glass containers, clean up spills immediately, take out trash nightly, and do not leave dirty dishes overnight. Using attractive smells as bait in traps placed along walls is the most effective way to lure rats instantly.