Is there any rat in the house? | How to kill rats
Rats are very clever animals, there are even people who have them as pets. But if you unexpectedly find a rat in your kitchen, the surprise is usually not pleasant at all. These rodents reproduce quickly and can invade every corner of a home in no time. Eating your food, spoiling furniture and sofas, in addition to creating very unpleasant odors.
Ideally, do everything possible to prevent rats from entering your home. However, if they have already done so you can get rid of these animals once and for all. For this, the most recommended and effective is to contact a pest control company that is expert for rodent control OR rat control. This way you will have the certainty of leaving the problem in the hands of a professional with guarantees. Once the rats have disappeared, remember to take a series of measures so that they do not appear again.
Here we tell you everything about rat pests, as well as how to effectively root and prevent their presence. As well as the different traps that exist and the poison for rats in their different variants.
How to know if there are rats
We may think that we will all notice if there are rats in our home, but sometimes it is not so easy to detect them. Keep in mind that these rodents usually live in areas at ground level or basements in nests and protected burrows. They usually look for safe areas with good temperature and easy access to food. That is why kitchens are usually the places they like most. Rats do not usually go upstairs, but if necessary they could. So there is no need to worry just not living on the ground floor.
The signs that make us suspect the presence of rats are first of all the noises inside the walls, floors, or ceilings at night. As well as the appearance of small droppings inside cabinets, drawers or in the areas near the baseboards.
Other evidence is finding cardboard boxes or leaky food containers. As well as cushions or bags. Since in this way they can access food, and even use the remains to build their nests. In fact, the presence of a nest in a drawer or closet is the definitive evidence that you are living with rats, even if you don’t see them, if there is a nest, there are rodents.
How to avoid having rats
If you want to make sure that rats never enter your home, there are some steps you can take. This way you can avoid having to kill a rat. As a general rule, we can say that keeping the house in optimal cleaning conditions is the best prevention against them.
Always keep a minimum of hygiene and never leave food on countertops or tables. As well as throwing away the garbage daily. On the other hand, if there are other animals such as dogs, their food must be stored correctly in isolated places that rats cannot access.
You can also check that there are no cracks or holes in the walls. And in the case of finding one, close it immediately. It is recommended to do a good review of the whole house and cover any possible access. In addition, if you have a garden, it is advisable to take care of it.
Chasing away rats
While keeping your home clean is the most effective way to prevent a rat infestation, there are other things you can do to scare away rodents. This is especially recommended if you live in an area where rats are common. Although it can help you do express cleanings in the first place, to ensure the best condition of your home before applying these tricks.
You can place cotton balls soaked in mint in the areas you think they can access. They don’t like this scent so it won’t come close. Although it must be renewed every few days since the peppermint oil evaporates. Tabasco sauce is another smell they hate, so it can also be helpful in driving them away.
As well as cloves, cayenne, and cinnamon. Any of these ingredients make the rats not come close but are not harmful to them. Another scent that keeps rats out is ammonia, although the problem with using it is that the scent is too strong for humans as well. And another natural repellent that can also be used is onion, although it is less effective than any of the above.
You can also purchase an ultrasound pest repellent to prevent rats from being present on the perimeter of the device. Although it must be taken into account that over time rodents can get used to the sound. Although without a doubt the best repellent for rats and mice will always be a cat.
Install rat traps
When the rat infestation has already spread throughout the home, there is no repellent measure. It is time to take action and some very useful instruments can be rat traps. They are available in eco-friendly versions that allow rats to be caught so that they can be released later without harm, although in most cases they are usually lethal.
There are cage-shaped traps, traps they hook into, and even strips they stick to. The big advantage is that most traps are reusable, so they can be cleaned and replaced over and over again.
Types of rat traps
As we said there are many types of rat traps. Next, we explain what the most common consist of.
Electrocution traps. In these traps, a food bait is placed inside the trap to attract the rat. Once the rodent enters the interior it will receive an electric shock that will kill it on the spot. So you must empty it and it can be used again.
Cage traps. This type of trap is one of the kindest with the animal. Since you simply have to put bait inside and when the rat between the access is closed, so it is locked. In this way, it can be easily released outside the home.
Traps for various rodents. They are traps similar to cage but with several compartments. Thus, several mice can enter at the same time, preventing their entry. It is therefore more effective and can also be released once captured.
Tips when using rat traps
Using traps to kill rats may be a good idea, but there are some tips that you should follow in order to be effective. First of all, remember that rodents usually walk close to the walls, so it is always better to place the traps there and not in the middle of the room.
On the other hand, change the site traps every 2 or 3 days and check them daily. Also, note that rats don’t usually stray too far from their nests. If they lose effectiveness or directly do not have it, try other types of baits. Not all rats like it, try peanut butter or nuts first, if it doesn’t work you can try it with candy too.
Try as much as possible to change the traps so that they are effective. Thus, rat poison should be the last option as it is also dangerous for children and pets. In addition to being crueler, since once the rats ingest the poison they usually die slowly.
Using rat poison to kill rats
Although as we have discussed, it is always better to call a professional or use rat traps. There are certain situations such as cleaning of Diogenes syndrome that require more extreme measures such as rodenticides. They exist in various classes although they all have a poison base to kill rats in the shortest possible time.
There are seed-shaped bait killers that are often appetizing, the poison is applied little by little in a dispenser. Although it should be noted that they are intended for mice or small rats. For the large ones, poisons are usually more effective for block rats that eat little by little. For houses with high humidity, pest killers are recommended. This substance is placed on the walls and is usually quite effective.
According to the way of acting in the body of rats, there are acute, anticoagulant killers with vitamin D and a single intake. The latter is always the most recommended since they cause less suffering in animals and kill them quickly.
Always remember to use gloves to place the rat poison, not only to avoid contaminating us but also not to impregnate it with our smell. In any case, always place it in places that are not easily accessible to other humans and pets. And remember to wash your hands after each placement.
Keep rats away after ending the plague
When we have already managed to end the rat plague, either thanks to a specialized company, the use of traps or poison. You have to prepare the house so that the problem can not happen again. These tips are similar to those for preventing the appearance of rats but more comprehensive. Since in this case we already know that rats can enter our home.
First, check the entire house for entry points such as holes in the walls, cracks, or spaces under the doors. Whenever possible, seal them permanently with putty. If the hole is deep fill it with steel wool. Check not only the interior but also the exterior of the house.
Make sure your house is always clean so that rats cannot find food easily. Sweep the kitchen and dining room floors daily to avoid crumbs. And of course, don’t leave food out on the table or counter. Store it in the fridge or in a pantry that rats cannot access. Lastly, always try to store food in airtight containers so that rats cannot smell it. With these simple tips, rats will most likely never make an appearance in your home.
