Natural Rat Control

Rat, a common rodent mammal that is a pest to mankind almost everywhere. The best known species are the Norway, or brown, rat and the black rat. The brown rat, which is the larger and stronger, grows to about nine inches in length and is of a brownish color above and white below. Supposed to have belonged originally to India and China, it became known in Europe about the middle of the eighteenth century; but is now found in almost every part of the habitable globe. This is a voracious animal, swims readily in water and breeds four or five times in the year, each brood numbering about a dozen. The black rat is usually about seven inches in length, has a sharper head, larger ears and much longer tail than the brown rat. It is also much less numerous and more timid.

Natural Rat Control

by Michael O’Brien

Rats – hardly a welcomed sight in your home or business. These robust rodents have a well-deserved reputation as a nuisance pest capable of doing an extraordinary amount of damage to property. Rats are omnivores meaning that they will eat almost any type of food. Rats are can find their way through spaces or gaps as small as one half inch across. Female rats are capable of having several litters per year and once established they can multiply at a very rapid rate. Once you’ve identified the telltale signs of a rat infestation you must act quickly to get control of these pests. Signs of an infestation can be areas that have been gnawed on, the droppings they leave behind or finding a dead rat.

Many people believe that cats can be effective deterrent to rats. Unfortunately this belief is somewhat misguided since rats can reproduce more quickly than the average cat can keep after them. Rats can also carry diseases that effect cats such as rabies. A dog, cat or other pig coming across a dead rat could be exposed to rabies or other potentially serious diseases. Since animals are an ineffective deterrent, other measures must be taken control rats.

A key to preventing a rat infestation is to remove any environmental conditions that attract rats to your property. Rats are scavengers and are drawn to an easy meal. This means keeping the exterior of your home clean of trash, especially food waste. Rubbish, wood piles and other potential rat habitats must be removed. Making your property less inviting to rats will not necessarily eliminate your rat problem. There may be other locations in your neighborhood that attract rats especially in densely populated residential areas.

If rats could still be found in the neighborhood, it is important to rat-proof the exterior of your home to keep rats from gaining access to the interior of the house. Since rats can enter through relatively small gaps and cracks, inspect foundation or base of your home and try to identify the spots that need to be sealed. Caulking compound, self-expanding foam and other types of sealant products are available at your local hardware or home improvement stores.

Keeping things clean inside and outside your home will go a long way towards controlling your rat problem, though the rats may not be entirely eliminated. If you still see rats around your property, there are several control methods that do not involve the use of chemicals but are just as lethal the rat. A serious drawback to chemical control of rats is the potential for pets or children to be exposed to dead rats. In addition to carrying disease, pets and other animals may ingest the very chemical that killed the rat. So be sure to give serious thought to any unintended consequences before deciding to use chemicals against the rat.

Trapping can be an effective tool in the fight against rats and there are two basic options available. One is the common spring trap most of us are familiar with and a second is the use of live traps. Spring traps are baited with a food source like peanut butter which draws the rat to a trip that activates a metal bar. In most cases the bar kills or otherwise traps the rat. Like spring traps, glue traps are simple to use, inexpensive and widely available. The rat is snared by an adhesive on the trap much the same way a fly gets stuck on fly paper.

A serious infestation may require the services of a professional pest control service. Be sure to ask about environmentally-friendly, non-chemical control methods when consulting with a professional.