How To Get Rid of Rats

About this Recipe

Just like most animals, rodents like rats are seeking food, water and shelter making our homes the perfect place for them to make a home of their own. Brown and black rats are usually an issue in large cities, but they can also be a problem for rural properties as well. Basically, wherever you have access to food, water and shelter, there could be rats, so it's important to take precautionary measures first to keep them away, and then learn some rat removal and rodent control methods.

Rats can be found in a number of places including our garage, garden, laundry machines, cabinets, BBQs, and the list goes on. One of the best pest control methods is to keep a clean home with nowhere for the rats to hide out and nothing for the rats to enjoy as a meal. So rodent control means keeping your BBQs clean outside and making sure that you're not leaving any food or scraps out for the rats to enjoy.

Keep your garbage in a sealed container preferably away from your home so that the rats can't get into it. Inside your home, make sure you keep all food stored in airtight containers, your garbage container in a sealed container and all dirty dishes cleaned. You can also prevent the number of rats you see in your home by having a cat or a dog which rats will see as a predator. This may not always work, but it can help.

Rats can chew on electric wires and do damage to appliances and vehicles. If you know you have rats around, getting rid of them can save you some problems.


Of course, if you already have a rat problem and you need to figure out some rat removal solutions, then rat poison is usually at the top of the list for keeping these guys away. There are downsides to using poison, however, especially if you have a sensitive spot in your heart for animals, no matter how pesky they may appear to be. Using rat poison is very traumatizing to the rats, and they can often leave behind droppings which have the poison in it. Also, if they end up dying in your home, you also have to clean up the remains which have poison in it too. So if you have pets or small children, it's probably not the best option to use the poison unless you can be on top of cleaning up the droppings and keeping the poison away from your kids and pets. So for these reasons, most people living in cities don't use rat, and some cities have even banned the use of rat poison because of their impact on other wildlife.

Another pest control option is the rat traps. You can use them indoors or outdoors and there different types of rat traps including the spring released ones, catch and release and more.

Some people have had success with Rat Zappers which kill the rats with a high voltage shock that produces the least amount of suffering. The Rat Zapper is said to be safer to use around kids and pets than the poisons are and it kills the rats instantly, so they aren't suffering.

If you're still feeling too sensitive about killing rats, that's okay too; you can also try some natural remedies including using peppermint oil as a deterrent. Just soak a bunch of cotton balls in peppermint oil and then put them around your house especially in the spaces where rats go. The peppermint oil will keep them away because they hate the smell of it.

You can also use ultrasonic devices that you plug into the wall, and they emit a high-frequency sound that deters the rats. So all in all, the best solution for rodent control and prevention varies depending on your preferences and what you're willing to do. Also, remember to call the experts if you have a rodent problem that is beyond your capabilities.



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