How to get rid of rats
Do you have a rat infestation? If so, you're not alone. Rats can be quite pesky critters, and can be difficult to get rid of. In this blog post, we'll discuss some tips on how to get rid of rats in your house and garden. Read on, and hopefully you'll be one step closer to ridding yourself of these unwanted guests!
How to Get Rid of Mice in the House
To deal with a rat or mouse infestation, or to prevent rats or mice in future, it’s important to eliminate their entryways into the home. The best method for a rodent free home is making sure they don’t have a way to enter in the first place.
Seal Off Potential Entry Points
Inspect your entire property for any cracks or openings that may be used to gain access into your home. Rats can fit through very small holes, so take the time to search your floors, skirting boards, walls, crown moulding and ceilings. Rodents can sneak under and around doors, as well as near pipes and cables where they penetrate the walls. Once you’ve identified these gaps, seal them.
It’s important to only do this once you’re certain you’ve dealt with the pest problem completely: doing this prematurely may mean that rats end up decaying out of reach.
How to Get Rid of Rats in Walls and Ceiling
If you’ve heard squeaking, scampering or scratching coming from the walls or ceiling of your home, chances are that you’re dealing with a roof rat presence. Tiny teeth marks and small holes are another sign of this: whether you’ve spotted them in your drywall, baseboards, floors, or the wooden beams of your attic. Luckily, there are a few methods for trapping rats in the walls and ceiling.
Lure Them Out With Bait Stations
When mice build nests in your walls, they will generally only venture out for food at night. Here is how to lure rats and mice with bait stations:
- Place bait stations wherever you’ve spotted pellet shaped droppings: common positions include below sinks, in drawers, or behind furniture.
- Mortein Kills Rats & Mice Dual Action Baits is a highly effective throw pack that is a complete solution to rat and mice problems. It kills rats and mice in a single feed while also killing the fleas that are commonly found on them before they spread diseases. This product is also effective against rodents that are resistant to warfarin which is used in some rodenticides.
- A special bittering agent in Mortein Rat & Mice Dual Action Baits helps to prevent accidental consumption by children, but take care to position the packs as far away as possible from family and pet areas.
- To maximise results, remove all other potential food sources which might distract the rat.
How to Get Rid of Rats in the Kitchen
Rat and mouse infestations often happen because food is left out in kitchen spaces. To eliminate a colony of brown rats (also known as Norway rats), the following steps are essential.
Seal Off Bins
Rats will burrow and bite into bin bags in order to access food: so it’s important to secure the lid and seal off any openings. Change bins regularly, and consider investing in a steel waste bin.
Limit Access to Food & Drink
Clean up spills as soon as they happen, and store leftovers in airtight containers. Empty any pet food and water bowls overnight, both indoors and outdoors.
How to Keep Rodents Away in the Garden
- Be active in your outdoor areas and move things around in the garden often: rats avoid high traffic areas and are extremely wary of changes in their territory. Clean your barbecue area and any outdoor dining areas regularly.
- Keep an eye on your crops and plants: rodents are always on the lookout for food so if you are growing any crops such as fruits and vegetables, take care to harvest them as soon as they are ripe and remove any fruit that has dropped on the ground. Remember, these agile creatures can climb trees!
- Create a barrier around your garden or patio. This can be done with affordable materials such as wire mesh or wood.
- Eliminate sources of water, including containers that may catch rainwater and dripping taps.
How to Avoid Attracting Rodents to the House
For a roof rat, long tree branches and climbing plants are a direct pathway into your home. If you’ve spotted the tell tale signs of multiple rodents in your ceiling, clearing your garden can help. Move leaning objects away from the walls of fences and buildings near your house: this will reduce the number of entry points. Rodents are shelter seeking animals, so reducing clutter is a surefire way of preventing more rat activity.
You can read our article for some more information into how rodents get into your home (and how to stop them doing so).
Rats can be a real nuisance, but with the help of Mortein, you can get rid of them quickly and effectively. Try our products today and say goodbye to rats around your home.