Did you know that rats can spread over 35 diseases? For example, they can carry salmonella, hantavirus, leptospirosis, and tularaemia.
Not only that, but they cause property damage as well. For example, they can gnaw on wires. They can also chew on surfaces such as wooden beams, frames, and furniture.
That’s why it’s so important to treat a rat infestation as soon as possible.
Is that what you’re dealing with? Looking for some tips on what to do? Because that’s exactly what we’ll be going over in this post.
Keep reading to learn more about how to get rid of rats!
1. Don’t Feed Them
Remove all possible food sources. This means keeping your food in sealed containers and cleaning up any crumbs or spills. Similarly, you want to keep all garbage in pest-proof containers with tight-fitting lids.
Avoid throwing food scraps into the compost bin and remember to remove pet food after feeding—don’t leave it outside overnight. And if you have fruit or nut trees, make sure to clean up off the ground.
Also, check that there are no leaks in your pipes or faucets; you don’t want to provide the rats with a water source.
2. Remove Their Habitat
Eliminate their hiding and living spaces. Clean up the clutter in and around your home and trim the branches of trees or shrubs that are near the building (they should be at least 18 inches away from the wall); that’ll help prevent them from entering the house.
You also want to remove objects such as old lumber and firewood from your yard. If you must keep them, store them at least 18 inches above the ground.
On top of that, you want to seal all entry points. Look for holes or gaps inside your home and pack them tightly with steel wool or copper gauze.
3. Use Traps
Traps are another option if you have a rat infested house. For example, you can use glue traps or spring-loaded traps. If you’re using the latter, make sure that the bait (e.g. bananas, peanut butter) is securely attached to the trip petal—that way, the trap will spring when they take the food.
For the best results, place the traps close to walls, in dark corners, and behind objects. Don’t leave them in the middle of the room.
If that doesn’t work, you may need to hire a local pest control company (e.g. Reynolds Pest Management). They’ll have the proper tools to take care of the rodent infestation quickly and efficiently.
Dealing With a Rat Infestation
There are several things that you can do to get rid of a rat infestation, from eliminating food sources to setting up traps. Depending on the severity of the problem, however, you may need to call in the professionals.
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