Discovering rats on your property can be a very stressful ordeal. Thankfully, there are lots of things you can do to deter them and keep them away from your backyard for good. Here are a few of our top tips for discouraging rats:
- Keep food in either metal or glass containers with tight lids, and remove all sources of water. Rats are always on the lookout for their next meal and they’ll eat almost anything. Ensuring food and water aren’t easily accessible is one of the simplest ways to prevent rat infestations, as they will quickly move on to the next target.
- As with food inside your house, it’s important to make sure that all rubbish and food scraps are contained as well. Make sure your rubbish bags are tied and stored in bins with secure lids, to prevent rats from rummaging through their contents. If you have a compost bin, consider rat-proofing it with a layer of chicken wire.
- Keep your space clean, both inside and outside. The more clutter you have, the harder it will be to identify if you have a rat problem. Rats are also deterred by wide open spaces, so clearing the area around your house can be extremely effective in preventing them.
- Keep drain holes and pipes covered, and fill in any gaps in your home’s exterior walls. Rats are known to gnaw away at gaps to make them bigger and more accessible, so it’s important to get onto these immediately.
So what if you’ve done all of the above, but still spotted a pesky rat in your backyard, or maybe noticed a few nibbled cables or nasty droppings? The first thing to do is to locate and identify the problem. Be sure to differentiate if it is a rat or a mouse, as this will determine how you treat it. The next step is to pick a trap. There are lots of ways to get rid of rats, but there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. If you have pets, for example, you won’t want to choose poison or bait. An effective and affordable option is our Rat Trap Starter Kit, housed in a sturdy wooden box. Trap boxes prevent the trap from rain damage, and also protect pets and birds.
