No one wants to deal with the pitter patter of rat feet.
But if it’s not taken care of quickly, one rat can turn into a swarm moving into your home.
The most common rats in the United States are the Norway Rat and the Roof Rat, and both cause major damage to homes by chewing through wires and spreading diseases.
But there are ways to get control of the situation and stay rat-free.
1. Block the Rat
The first step to rat removal is stopping it from entering your home.
Start by inspecting the entire perimeter of your home for rat droppings and any cracks where a rat could get in. Don’t forget areas like gutters, which can become clogged and become a perfect nesting area for rodents.
When you’ve found where the rat is getting into your home, it’s time to plug the holes to block their entrance and any other potential ways of getting in.
Once you’ve secured your home, you can move on to setting traps or bait.
2. Pick Your Poison
When it comes to rat removal, using poison as a method of extermination can be a controversial topic.
When you use poison to deal with your rat problem, you run the risk of putting other animals in danger, such as family pets or other wild animals who may ingest the bait. Also, any animal who preys upon a rat who has eaten poison will also be affected.
For these reasons, it may be best to call a professional when dealing with rat poison.
However, it is possible to successfully use poison to eliminate a rat infestation in your home.
First, you need to know if you are dealing with a rat or mouse in order to get the right product. Rats are larger than mice and tend to be darker in color.
You’ll also need to know if the rat is inside your home and if you are dealing with one rat or an entire colony.
When you do choose a rat poison, where you place it is key to its effectiveness.
Place it next to walls or where you have seen droppings, but be careful it is in a place where kids and dogs won’t be at risk to ingest them.
Make sure you use enough rat poison. Place it at 15-30 foot intervals, depending on how many rats you’re dealing with.
Finally, read all of the directions carefully. When dealing with a toxic substance, safety should be your highest priority.
3. Rat Traps
Some people choose this option because it tends to be more humane and it doesn’t pose a risk to other animals, including pets.
There are three main types of rat traps:
Snap traps
These include the typical mouse trap you’re thinking of with the spring-loaded bar that snaps when the mouse takes the cheese. However, this trap has seen a number of advancements through the years, and they’re much easier to set up now.
Glue traps
When using one of these devices, you won’t have to worry about getting your finger caught in a trap. Glue traps work by laying them on the ground, usually next to a wall or in a corner, and the rat runs over it and gets caught in the glue. These are easy to use and require the least amount of setup.
Live animal traps
This is the most humane route to rat removal. You place the bait in the trap and wait. Once you’ve caught your rat, you release it into the wild.
As with using poison, make sure you have the right tools for the job. Mouse traps are much smaller than rat traps, so they won’t be able to hold the bigger rodents.
Regardless of which trap you choose, place them along walls since rats tend to run next to them to avoid being seen. Also, place them anywhere you’ve seen rat droppings.
Make sure you have enough traps for the number of rats you’re dealing with. It’s best to place them 15-20 feet apart.
Keep in mind: Rats are leery of any changes in their environment, so if they don’t take your bait right away it may be because they’re suspicious. Because of this, it may take a few days to trap your rat.
4. Take Away the Food Source
Like any pest, rats need food and water to survive. So if you take away what they need, they won’t be back to bother you.
The biggest food sources for rats include:
Garbage. Don’t leave your trash out overnight, and always close your garbage cans.
Pet food. Never leave food outside for your pets. Inside, put your pet’s dish in the middle of a room, because rats are less likely to risk running out and being seen. Avoid placing your pet’s bowl in a corner at all cost. You can also try using an automatic feeder for your dog or cat.
Bird seed. This provides a source of nutrients to rats, so if you have an infestation it’s best to stop feeding the birds for a while. Even if your feeder is hanging, rats can climb poles and break into your feeder.
Water. Rats need to drink, too. They can get water from anywhere it collects, including:
- Pet bowls
- Clogged rain gutters
- Overwatered plants
- Buckets
- Bird baths
If you discover you have rats, don’t invite them in for dinner.
5. Natural Rat Repellants
The best way to avoid a rat infestation is to start from the beginning.
There are several ways to prevent rats, ranging from chemical to more natural methods.
Some options for natural rat deterrents include:
- Keeping your home free of debris
- Sprinkling oils such as mint, peppermint or citronella around your home, or grow it in your garden
- Liquid repellents give off the scent of a cat, which scares off the rat
- Ultrasonic or electronic rat repellents that emit high-pitched sounds and drive off rats
Rat Removal
Discovering there’s a rat in your home is never exciting news.
But there are steps you can take for successful rat removal.
If you’d rather leave it to a professional, contact us today.