How to Get Rid of Rats

When it comes to getting rid of rats, you may feel like it is all out war. Before we get into how to get rid of rats, it will prove useful to understand your adversary. What causes rats to choose your yard and home to live it? What do they eat? How do you get them to leave? Outside is the first place you are going to want to look for places that attract rats. You will find them under woodpiles that are not rotated frequently, in brush that has not been trimmed back recently, around garbage cans and even under buildings. Basically, anyplace that is quiet and not disturbed often. If they make it inside your home, you will find them in the insulation and crawl spaces. They will also like to hide behind cabinets and cupboards, near heat sources such as the hot water heater or furnaces. While rats are outside, they will eat birdseed, pet food left in a dish and trash out of cans with loose fitting lids. When they come inside, they eat the same things we do. You may think your home is clean, and indeed, it may be. However, if rats smell grains in boxes or vegetables, they will simply gnaw a hole in the bag or box and have dinner. They will also go after pet food, making no distinction between dog or cat food. So, now you know where they live and what they eat. Now comes the important part: how to get rid of rats. The first thing to keep in mind is to not invite them to your home in the first place. Simple steps will keep the rats away. For instance, keep firewood 18 inches off the ground and away from your house, be sure to keep tight fitting lids on trashcans. Simple! If you don’t know you have a problem until you see signs of rats, such as droppings, then you will have to go on the defense. The one thing to remember is that if you are getting rid of rats, it is a rattrap you need. This may sound obvious, but some people may think that a mousetrap will do the job. It will not. Rats are much bigger and harder to kill and will require the beefed up spring that is in a rattrap. You can buy the classic snap trap in hardware stores. The first thing you need to do is bait the trap. Use a piece of produce such as apple or potato, also, raw bacon or peanut butter will work. Then, put the trap in a secure place to prevent an injured rat from dragging it away. Finally, place the rattrap were you have seen droppings; making sure non-target animals and children cannot get hurt. Once you have found a dead rat in the trap, wrap it in newspaper and then put in a tightly covered trashcan. If the rat is injured, it must be killed before being disposed of. Always use gloves when handling rats, either dead or alive.