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It’s widely known that the presence of rats can be a problem for humans and pets and getting rid of them is an important step to take if they are present on your property.
In this post, we will look at methods you can use to deter rats from visiting your property in the first place. There are lots of methods available to achieve this which range from following standard health and safety good practices, to using rodent repeller products.
Regardless of which methods you choose, you should always ensure rodents don’t have access to the three elements that are crucial to their survival; food, water and shelter.
Remove Access to Water
Rats don’t drink much water each day (roughly 15ml-60ml), however they do need regular access to a water source in order to survive. This means that even small, not-so-obvious sources of water need to be addressed on your property.
In light of this, checking for any potential sources of water, regardless of how small, is an essential first step. Factors such as leaking pipes, cracked drain covers or water bowls left out for pets or birds can all provide rodents with an easy drink. You should also check to ensure any plumbing on your property is in good repair and, if any damage is evident, fix it.
Although a simple step, by removing any chances that you are offering these unwanted guests an easy drink, you can dramatically reduce the chances of them wanting to set up camp on your property.
Remove Access to Food
Rats are not fussy eaters and will dine on a wide range of edible goods. Human waste food is one source, but so are stored foods such as grains or bird feed as well as fallen fruit in gardens or waste that has been left on a compost heap.
Ensuring that your property does not offer easy access to food, such as in the scenarios noted above, is crucial in deterring rats from your property. Any waste should be stored in secure bins that rats cannot access, fallen fruit in gardens should be collected and stored/thrown away appropriately and any stored grains or pet food should be in secure, lockable containers (as opposed to bags that can be easily gnawed through). For compost waste, you can buy a rat-proof compost container to surround the deposits.
Rats are on an almost perpetual hunt for food so ensuring you are not offering them an easy meal is crucial in deterring them. By doing so, you will also be following general good health, safety and hygiene practices so the benefits will be wider ranging than just deterring rodents.
Remove Access to Shelter
The third element that is crucial for rats to survive is the access to adequate shelter. Rats often live in families and are prolific breeders which means they need areas to live, rest, and reproduce. Ensuring your property does not offer opportunities for them to set up nests reduces the chances of them invading.
The first step is to make sure your property is kept tidy and free of clutter. Remove any debris that can offer places for rodents to hide and ensure any vegetation in your garden is not overgrown and messy. By doing so, you are removing places for them to hide and travel around in shelter as well as removing debris that they can steal and use to build nests. It’s also a good idea to visit areas of your property that would not normally be frequented (such as attics or behind garages) as rats will be less likely to set up camp in areas visited by humans.
However, rats are adaptable and even if your property is kept tidy, they may look to build nests underground, such as under out buildings or garden decking. Therefore, make sure you check for signs of activity, such as droppings, scratching or gnawing marks in areas that could easily be excavated.
Other places to check include points that can provide entry to your property. These could include broken drains that may provide access from sewers or holes where utilities enter your home. Ensure that all of these areas are kept in good repair and fix any cracks/holes as they appear.
By removing access to shelter, rats will not be able to set up nesting sites on your property and will not be able to travel around in safety.
Specially Made Pest Repellers
Ultrasonic pest repellers emit electronic waves that annoy rodents by frustrating their sense of hearing as well as their nervous systems. As they will feel uncomfortable in the area covered by the repeller, they will flee.
Although repellers can be an effective option when dealing with rats, they are likely to be ineffective if not combined with a wider campaign of deterring the rats, such as removing their access to shelter, water and food.
Ensure Neighbouring Properties Follow Similar Steps
Rats will move across multiple properties in search of food and water. Therefore, regardless of the steps you take on your own property, they may still become evident if your neighbours do not follow similar practices.
Therefore, to increase the effectiveness of your rodent deterrence campaign, especially in areas where properties are nearby each other such as in cities, try to ensure your neighbours follow similar steps to deter rats.
Conclusion
Following general good health, safety and hygiene practices is a great first step to deter rats from your property. By doing so, you will help to remove the three things they need to survive; food, shelter and water. There are also other options such as specially made pest repellers which can boost your pest control efforts.
Regardless of your methods, rats are adaptable and clever so there can never be a guarantee that they will leave your property alone.
If you find evidence that rats are on your property, following the steps to remove water, shelter and food are good first steps to get rid of them, however you may also need further help to bolster your efforts. At The Pest Collective, we supply a range of rat poisons, rat traps and bait boxes that can be used as effective solutions to getting rid of these unwanted guests.
Regardless of if you are trying to deter rats or get rid of them, always ensure you follow applicable laws, industry guidance, health and safety regulations and the manufacturer’s instructions on the packaging. If you are ever in doubt, always contact a professional pest controller who can guide you in the right direction.
