Rat Control

Essential Rat Control Tips to Banish Rats for Good

Rat control is a notoriously tricky business, but by following a few simple steps you can sort out your rat problem so that they never return to bother you. This article provides you with everything you need to know to rid your home of rats for good.

Whether raiding our food stores or spreading the bubonic plague, rats have been causing humans untold misery for millennia. It’s therefore no surprise that the presence of rats in your own home is enough to cause you sleepless nights.

But how do you sort out a rat problem in your home? Here are some DIY rat control tips to help you deal with the problem – and prevent it from reoccurring – before it gets out of hand.

Work Out the Extent of the Infestation

Firstly you need to work out how many of the vermin you are up against. This means taking a good look around your home and garden for signs of rodents, which can include chewed wires, holes in walls, nests and even dead rats. You can often get a good idea of the extent of the problem through the amount of droppings you find in the area.

Cut Off the Food & Water Supply

Rats need a constant source of food to settle in an area, so cutting off their supply is essential for eliminating the pests. That means locking food up in airtight containers and cleaning up thoroughly after meals.

Try to cut off their water supply by getting rid of buckets, plant pots, plastic toys and anything else which can hold water. This won’t get rid of the rodents on its own but it will certainly make their lives more difficult.

Batten Down the Hatches

Find out where the rats are getting into your home and block up any entry points to help keep the vermin out. Any hole larger than half an inch is a potential problem, so go slowly and carefully to ensure you spot any possible entrances.

Clean Up the Area

For effective long-term rat control the area needs to be completely clean. Clear up any crumbs of food in the house, keep your rubbish bins shut tight and remove any debris outside that can be used for nesting material. Take special care when feeding birds because this can provide a ready source of food for the rats.

Use Poison & Traps

Once you’ve taken the initial pest control steps, you’ll now want to get rid of the rats for good. Two of the most popular methods are rat poison and rat traps. If using poison then be especially careful around pets, children and other animals, and make sure to clean up any dead rats that you find because they will soon start to decay.

If you’d rather not have lots of dead rodents lying around then humane rat traps are a good option. These trap the rats alive so that you can release them a few miles away from your home without causing them any harm.

Get a New Pet

Getting a cat or dog is an excellent rat control tactic because they are natural rat killers. If you don’t want to get a pet of your own to deal with the rodents then dog hair or urine sprinkled around the vicinity will make the rats wary enough to move on. You could also try placing a rag soaked in ammonia near to where the rats are causing damage. If you do get a dog, don’t leave the dog food out, thus encouraging the rats.

Sort Out Your Rat Problem for Good

If you find yourself with a rat infestation then the above steps will help you to sort out the problem without too much effort. Go through each stage and keep on going until you have a pest-free home, and you’ll be in a great position to prevent the rats from returning.

Using effective rat control methods is essential to get rid of a rat infestation, so take the appropriate steps and you’ll have a rodent-free house in no time.