Rats are categorized as pets because of their tendency to cause damage through gnawing and spread diseases. (There are different ways of getting dealing with the rat nuisance. The most common are traps and poisons but you can also use repellents. The problem with poisons is that they are a short term solution and inhumane as well.
Using a Rat Repellent
Repellents help to keep rats out. As long as you use the repellent, rats will not get in. this is a short term solution that may not hold for a long time. After all, animals develop resistance to certain products after interacting with them for a long time. The solution is then to get a more permanent and long term solution. In this pursuit, note that you cannot treat something you cannot identify. Therefore, the first step in dealing with your rat nuisance is to learn the signs of a rat infestation.
Pest Control – Identifying The Nuisance
There are a number of signs that point towards having a rat infestation in your house. These include:
- Finding rat droppings near food or cracks and crevices
- Having food, material and wires that look gnawed on
- Noticing scratches on the wall
These are some of the most common signs of a rat invasion. Once you have ascertained that you do have a rodent problem, the next step is to identify the cause of the infestation.
Roof Rats and Their Causes
Roof rats and other rats are often attracted to unhygienic areas. They are also most common where there are open garbage bins and bags that are easily accessible. In addition to this, a rat nuisance can also be caused by uncovered foodstuff that is left in accessible places.
The solution to this is to cover up all open garbage. Follow this up with putting your food in sealed metal or plastic containers. Rats can hardly detect food in these containers. It is even harder to gnaw through.
How To Get Rid of Rat Nuisance
Prevention is better than cure. Therefore, you do not have to wait until you have a rat nuisance to take action. Preventative measures often yield the best results, especially in the long run. Seal holes that are near cabinets, doors and closets. The same should be done for ventilation and chimneys. The aim is to prevent rats from getting in. If areas such as ventilation have wire mesh, you want to ensure that it is intact instead of completely sealing it off and interfering with circulation of air.
If you have pipes running vertically up your house, you can make a marking about three feet off the ground. Use glossy paint on the pipes to make it hard for rats to climb up the pipes and get into your home. This is the same course of preventative action if you live in a brick house. Getting rid of rat infestations before they happen is a good strategy.