How To Get Rid Of Rats Outside?

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Probably the most reviled animal species of all among people, rats have long been animals that live alongside people, but can also be extremely harmful to those that they are living around. Rats are known for carrying and spreading a variety of diseases, and not only through direct contact with rats, but even sharing water or food sources with rats can lead to the transmission of some particularly nasty diseases. There are several different ways to get rid of these pest animals, but there are also many products and methods of dealing with rats that should be avoided, as they will cause more problems than they solve.



Dealing With The Reasons For The Presence Of Rats

One of the first things that you will need to deal with if you have a rat problem is the factors that will have attracted the rats to the area around your property, and in many cases this will be because there are food sources that they can take advantage of. The first place to start is in making sure that any garbage and animal food stores on the property are stored in solid containers with lids, as these are among the main food sources that can attract rats. If you see rat activity around your property, it is also worth ensuring that food bags in cupboards such as pasta, sugar and rice are also stored in sealed containers to ensure they aren’t contaminated by rat activity if they find their way into the kitchen or parlor.

Identifying Areas Where The Rats Are Active

There are several signs that can give you an indication that rats are active in a particular area, and if they are in the roof or in the walls of a property, then one of the big signs will be the sounds of scratching and scampering that they produce. Because most rats have a ‘grease’ on their fur, signs of dark brown stains seen on walls or around the edges of a small hole can also be a sign the area is active with rats. The other feature that can give rat activity away is rat droppings, as they are not especially selective about where they leave their feces, so these small black pellets are a sure indication that the rats are active, and this means it will be a good place to lay traps to catch the animals. Read more about Rats in a Dumpster — How to Get Them Out and 21 Simple Tips to Keep Rats Out of Your Garden.

What Type Of Traps Should You Use To Deal With Rats?

Some people will want to use a humane option when they are dealing with pest animals, but the truth is that relocating rats doesn’t really work, as they are a problem wherever they are, and they also find it difficult to survive in new habitats. The traditional snap traps are still the most common way of catching rats, as with the right bait and location they are still very effective at dealing with a rat population. Among other options, gas and electric traps are available that kill the rat quickly, but you should avoid glue traps, as these are unnecessarily cruel and can leave the rat dying for several days.

Do Poisons Or Repellents Get Rid Of Rats?

Rat poison is one of the most common toxins that is found in homes around the country, and while it is readily available, one of the main issues is that it doesn’t allow you to collect the carcass, meaning that after the rat dies, you will then need to find and remove the dead animal. It can also lead to poison being passed further up the food chain to the animals that actually eat rats too. Repellents are also to be avoided, as they are generally ineffective, and both the chemical and audio options will rarely have any effect on the rats.

Go back to the Rat Removal page or read my guide for How to get rid of rats.

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