Rat Prevention - How to Keep Rats Away
How to Prevent Rat Infestations - The identification of the problems caused by rats might seem to be simple and easy but in fact they might be tricky and difficult to determine. People can usually hear them somewhere in the house and sometimes occasionally can catch a glimpse of the rodents but actually it is difficult or even impossible to really see them and identify them. Fortunately, there are indicators that can help people recognize rats related problems. Some of the first signs of rats’ infections are:
- Sounds of rodents that are itching sounds that people can easily hear and that do not go unnoticed indoors and in closed spaces. Therefore it is wise to pay attention to these scratching and rustling sounds especially in the evening and at night when rats tend to be active.
- Look for rats excrements that people can find easily near food such as leftovers, house bins and other food sources. Rat droppings are small, black with a pill form like shape and have a polished look to them.
- Identify rats’ lairs and nests that are usually found in the yard, below compost heaps, around containers, inside drawers and near wood heaps.
- Other signs of rats’ contaminations and problems are traces of oil along beams, biting traces on containers and cabling.
The least effective methods to manage rat infestations remain rat poison. But before using rat poison people should find the source of the rat contaminations and how these rodents get into the house. Given that rats are climbers, the openings might not be at ground level. When the entrance is identified it should be sealed and after securing your home, you should also clean the yards such as trim shrubbery and trees and remove garbage and debris. Once you have secured the property, do not use rat poison, but instead use rat traps both as preventive measures and to get rid of these pesky rodents.
Keeping rats away from your yard - Rodents in the yard will be much more difficult to control than any rodents in the home. You cannot rid the outside world of rats, mice or squirrels. The best you can do is to make your yard as unappealing to these animals as possible. Rodents are prey animals and like to feel secure. They will favor yards with thick vegetation and un-mowed lawns. Keeping plants manicured is not the only thing you need to keep your eye on. Any garbage or compost should be secured in a bin that will not tempt rodents. Fruit trees, vegetable gardens and bird feeders are all draws for potential nuisance animals. You cannot keep these things around without accepting the occasional rodent visitor. Mice and rats also like debris piles, especially in the cold months. In the event that these animals cannot get into your home for shelter, they will utilize wood piles and other cover for protection. The best way to keep rats and mice from using your supplies is to keep up the activity level around those items. A woodpile will often sit for an entire season without being disturbed. Rotation of the wood will help it to season and will also prevent a permanent rodent nest. Most people know that rats are proliferating muroids. A female rat can give birth to five litters of eight to ten pups each year. The most commonly known species are the black rats and the brown rats that often are commensals parasites in that to survive they rely on human beings. It is has been scientifically established that rats carry many pathogens that are risky for the human health as they transmit many diseases such as pest, viral hemorrhagic leptospirosis and fever to name a few. In addition, it is well-known that rats are responsible for many environmental and property damages.
Hence, the fact that rats build their habitats near that of human beings is a potential risk for people and it is inevitable that to build their nests and when hunting for food, these rodents will cause damage to properties. Above all these damages, the most serious and pressing problems are the waste matters of rats that are extremely contaminant agents. Studies have unveiled that rats’ urine and excrements on food, in water and on other home surfaces can cause health problems and can negatively impact on the human immune system. The proliferation of rats makes it difficult to manage contamination and at the same time makes rats infestation a major health risk and hindrance to property maintenance and hygiene.
Go back to the main Rat Removal page for more information about rat prevention, and more information about how to keep rats away.
Read more about rats in my educational articles written from my years of professional experience. Learn about a rat's natural diet and whether or not rats destroy insulation in an attic. I can show you how to find and remove a dead rat and the kind of damage rats can cause in an attic. Learn what rats can climb on and how to clean rat feces out of your attic. Find out what rats chew and if rats actually eat cheese. I can let you know what to do with a rat after you catch it, and if cats really help keep rats away.
Learn the Biology of Black Rat and if cage traps are a good option for rats. Find out the best bait to catch a rat, what you should do if you find a nest of rats, and how to get rid of rats in the attic. Learn what animals rats kill, if mothballs or ammonia really help repel rats, and if animal services will help with a rat issue.
