How To Get Rid Of Rats

Having rats in your home and yard can be a frustrating and disheartening situation. Not only are these pesky rodents dangerous and unsightly, but they can also cause a great deal of damage to your home, yard, and potentially your health. In this article, we’ll discuss some effective strategies to help you get rid of rats and keep them away for good.

The first step to getting rid of rats is eliminating potential food sources. Rats rely on food, shelter, and water to survive, so when these are scarce, they are more likely to leave or never come in the first place. Areas to inspect include kitchen, bathrooms, and pantries. Make sure they’re properly sealed and all food is properly stored, as even small crumbs can attract rats. Make sure no food is left out in the open, such as pet food.

Next, inspect your yard for areas that could attract rats. Clear away clutter, and fill in any areas around your foundation that could be an entry way for rats. In addition, make sure to keep tall grass, shrubs, and trees cut back, as these can provide shelter for rats.

Once you’ve eliminated as many potential food and shelter sources as possible, it’s time to focus on exclusion and trapping. Place rat traps in areas of heavy rat activity. Additionally, it might be helpful to use live traps as well, which are effective for catching a number of rats at once.

If rat trapping isn’t particularly successful, you can take an extermination measure like using rodenticides. However, it is important that rodenticides are used in unoccupied areas only, as they can be toxic. In addition, it might be best to leave exclusions and trapping to the professionals, as they can be better equipped to deal with any rat infestations.

Once rat activity is under control, there are also some preventative measures you can take. Make sure all potential entrances (such as holes and cracks) are sealed with steel wool, caulk, and other materials. Additionally, you can block off potential entrance points with concrete or brick.

By following these steps, you should be able to get rid of rats and keep them away for good. While the process can be labor-intensive, it is worth it in the end. Just remember: the sooner you start taking measures to rid your home and yard of rats, the better!