December 8th, 2021 by Sarah Miles

The thought of rats can send chills down the spines of many people so it may concern you to discover that, although outdoor creatures, they may venture into your home or outbuildings now we’re approaching winter. This is so they can seek shelter, warmth, and food as the weather gets colder.

Preventing a rat infestation

Assuming this is something you wish to avoid, there are some measures you can take to minimise the risk of rats finding their way into your home, garage, or shed.

These include:

• Keeping food waste cleared away and making sure lids on bins are secure
• Fixing any dripping or leaking pipes/taps (they can use this as a source of water)
• Sealing up any gaps that could allow them to gain entry
• Removing potential nesting sites such as piles of leaves or mulch
• Only leaving bird food out where rats can’t get to it (clear up any dropped food from the ground regularly)

What to do if you get rats

All the above measures can help reduce the risk of having rats in your home, but nothing can ever guarantee that they won’t find their way. It is, therefore, important to recognise the signs and to know how to deal with them.

Look out for the following:

• Sightings of actual rats
• Droppings
• Urine scent (pungent and musky)
• Gnaw marks on food packaging
• Nesting materials (fabric, shredded paper etc)
• Sounds of scratching or scurrying (this can be in the walls or ceilings)
• Pet dogs or cats on alert, looking for something

Any of these can indicate that you have a rat problem. To get rid of them, you can use the following methods:

Rotech Snap-E-Trap Rat Trap

A humane way to control rat infestations with a safe spring mechanism you set from behind.

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Bait stations

Bait stations work by allowing rats to enter (baited by strong-smelling food) and then trapping the rat inside. If you don’t like the idea of killing them, you can then release them outside somewhere appropriate. The enclosed bait station means you don’t have to handle the rat yourself.

If you wish for a very definitive end to the issue, you can use food (or something that resembles food) that is laced with poison. The rat will die inside the bait station, and you can then dispose of it. Bait stations can be reused multiple times until the issue is resolved. Bait stations are very safe for children and pets as any poison remains enclosed at all times.

Traps

Traps are a very traditional way of dealing with a rat problem. They are actually a very humane way of killing rats as their death is swift and painless. They are also easy to set without causing any injury to yourself. Obviously, you will need to take precautions if you have small children or pets who could trigger it. Place multiple traps around the areas where you’ve seen signs of rat presence.