In real life, rats are quite unlike the fun and cute, cartoon characters that you see on movies. Aside from the squeamish factor, rats are known to carry many diseases that be passed on humans if they happen to infect the food we eat.
Bacteria and viruses can easily pass on to humans just by touching their feces, urine, or saliva through breathing or eating contaminated food. Rats can also bite when threatened but while they do not have rabies, they can be dangerous if you have an open wound and you happen to stay on a water contaminated by their urine.
Rats can exist anywhere in your home. In this article, we have listed the different ways to prevent rat infestations.
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Seal Entry Points
Check your home for holes. Rats can gnaw wooden parts of your home to create passage. It could be at the point of your wall that is closest to the floor, on the ceiling, your cupboards, cabinets, or even your closet.
Rats can also enter buildings through small cracks and gaps in walls, floors, and foundations. So, if you are an owner of a commercial property, you should not be too complacent either. It’s important to seal these entry points to prevent rats from gaining access. Use caulking or weather-stripping to seal gaps around doors and windows, and use mesh or other materials to cover vents and other openings.
Pay special attention to areas where utility lines enter the building, as these are often overlooked and provide easy access for rats. Sometimes, rats will follow the wiring to find their way to your kitchen or food storage.
Keep the Property clean
Rats are attracted to areas that provide food, water, and shelter. So, keep your property clean and free of clutter to remove potential hiding places for rats. Start by organizing your bedroom and your storage room. Clean your basement as well, and throw stuff that you no longer need such as old pillows, rotten frames, old furniture, and more. Declutter your living spaces, kitchen
Store food in airtight containers and clean up spills and crumbs immediately. Keep trash in sealed containers and dispose of it regularly. Make sure to clean up any standing water around the property, as rats are attracted to moist environments.
Trim Vegetation
Rats are also attracted to overgrown vegetation and cluttered yards. Keep bushes and trees trimmed, and remove any piles of debris or junk from the property. If you have an outdoor grilling station or a dirty kitchen, make sure they are clean. Leave no room for rats to meander and stay. Clutters and wood piles will not only make your property less attractive to rats but also make it easier to spot signs of infestation.
Use Rat Traps and Baits
While prevention is the best way to avoid a rat infestation, traps and baits can be effective if used properly. Note that rats will not visit bait stations, regardless of the content, if they are not conveniently located. So, find areas where rats are likely to travel, such as along walls and in corners. Where possible, place the baits between the rat’s source of shelter or food such as in burrows, against the walls, or near the holes in your home where you suspect their presence. It is ideal to place them no more than 10 to 12 feet apart, where you can see them actively running around. You can use the same technique in poultry houses, swine confinement, and more.
Use Natural Repellents
There are several natural repellents that can be effective in preventing rat infestations. Peppermint oil, for example, is a natural deterrent for rats and can be sprayed around the perimeter of the property. You can also spready cayenne pepper or cloves around the exterior of your home to prevent rats from crossing and entering your home.
Other natural repellents include mothballs, ammonia, and predator urine. Mothballs are more effective for cabinets and closets. Just place one mothball in your cabinet and let it sublimate. The fragrance from the moth ball will scare the rats away.
Hire a Professional Pest Control Company
If you suspect a rat infestation, it’s important to seek professional help. Hiring a professional company would be greatly advantageous if the rat infestation has become severe. The following are some signs that calls for a professional intervention.
- You can see rodent droppings around food packages, in your drawers or cupboards and under the sink.
- You see signs of nesting, such as shredded paper, fabric or dried plant matter.
- There are signs of chewing on food packaging, your walls, and floors.
- There is a stale smell coming from hidden areas around your home.
A pest control company can identify the extent of the infestation and develop a customized plan to eliminate the rats. They can also provide ongoing monitoring and prevention services to ensure that the infestation doesn’t return.
Educate yourself and others
Prevention is a community effort, and it’s important to educate yourself and others about the risks of rat infestations. Learn how to identify the signs of infestation and how to prevent rats from entering your home or business. Share this information with your neighbors and community members to help prevent the spread of rat infestations.
Even if rats haven’t reached your home yet, they could be anywhere else in the surroundings. What you should know is that rats can quickly enter your home as soon as they find the slightest chance. Knowing where to spot them will give you more chance of suppressing them.
Rodents will live almost anywhere in your house, including your attics, crawl spaces, walls, and old wooden furniture. They can also live in chimneys, dirty kitchen, and wood piles. Knowing which rats you’re dealing with and their nesting place will help you craft better solutions to remove the infestation.
In general, preventing rat infestations requires a combination of strategies. One thing is for sure, keeping your property clean and being proactive can help prevent infestation in your home.
What Services Do We Offer?
We offer a bunch of services and treatments to control pest infestation for the masses all across Australia. Our pest control services can manage:
- Flying insects (wasps, bees, flies, mosquitoes, etc.)
- Crawling insects (termites, spiders, cockroaches, ants, etc.)
- Birds and rodents (rats, mice, birds, etc.)
Our team of experts works towards returning your home back to you just so you can resume your life without any disruption or hassle, which is exactly what makes The Local Guys Pest Control the absolute best in the game!
