How to Deal with Rat Infestations
Contrary to the commonly held belief that rat infestations only happen in houses which are dirty or unkempt, rat infestations can happen to anyone at any time. Rats enter properties looking for shelter, food and water, so if you’ve got any one of those three requirements, it could happen to you!
The point is that rat infestations are much more common than you think, so we’ve put together a guide to ensure you’re prepared if it happens in your home. Discover how to deal with rat infestations using the four methods listed below.
Trap Them
One of the most efficient and effective ways of fully removing a rat infestation in your home is to use traps. Rat traps are the preferred method of most professional pest controllers, so you know they’re highly effective. While the internet is full of DIY, natural trapping solutions, they are rarely effective and can even end up making your problem worse. Instead, you should always aim to use the best rat traps available on the market as this guarantees a swift and humane control solution.
Rat traps are a low-maintenance control method that can be used for both small and large rat infestations. There are various types of traps, including electronic traps and cage traps, but we highly recommend using snap traps as these are the safest and quickest type overall.
Once you’ve identified a rat infestation, simply place your high-quality traps around all problem areas and wait for them to take effect. Please ensure you regularly check the traps and remove them once they have been successful.
Monitor Them
In order to effectively remove and control the rat infestation in your home, it’s essential to monitor them. Successfully monitoring the pests on your property will allow you to determine where they’ve come from and how they’ve gained access, as well as the areas of your home which they frequent.
Identifying their whereabouts in your home can then help you to place your traps and control methods more effectively, meaning the infestation will be gone fast, and the damage they cause is minimised. Plus, discovering their access points means you can successfully rat-proof your home once the infestation has been removed to prevent the problem from reoccurring in future.
You can purchase rodent tracking products, like fluorescent gels and dust, from all pest control supply stores and most general stores too. Please make sure to read and follow the instructions carefully when using pest control products.
Deter Them
As previously mentioned, rats enter homes looking for shelter, food and water, so the best way to deter them from entering your property is to restrict their access to these essentials. Leaky hose pipes, outdoor taps, and bird baths provide a reliable source of water for rats, so try to fix any leaks on your property as soon as possible.
While having an untidy home doesn’t mean you will get rat infestations, leaving food lying around sure does increase your chances. So make sure to sweep your kitchen floors regularly to remove any crumbs and dispose of your waste securely. Plus, seal up any cracks or holes you find on the exterior of your property to prevent rats from gaining access to your home in the first place.
Control Them
Attempting DIY solutions can be successful, but time is of the essence when it comes to rat infestations. If you leave the problem to worsen, or your methods have not been successful, you’re placing yourself at risk of severe damage to your home and your health. So, if all else fails, it’s best to leave it to the professionals as they have the experience, knowledge and equipment required to carry out an effective rat removal and control service.
