Rat Control

The last thing anyone wants in their house is a rat problem. These rodents carry all kinds of diseases, putting the health of you and your family at risk. The health issues are just one of the concerns that come with a rat problem. Rats will eat your food and chew on just about everything in your house, and given time, they will nest and multiply. Rat control is a necessary and important step you can take to prevent these problems from ever occurring.

One of the simplest components of rat control is keeping your house clean, especially dark areas and areas that have direct access to the outside. Crumbs, spills and other food remnants can quickly attract rats when left unaddressed. Suring up any small access points to your home is also recommended. Openings under doors and small holes are common entrance points for rats. You should consider, patching any holes and adding barriers to the bottom of any door that has a gap. A good rule of thumb is that if you can see light coming through, a rat can likely come through.

Waiting until you discover that you have a rat problem is not always the best time to start a rat control program. Rats are a surprisingly intelligent animal. They quickly adapt to and memorize their surroundings. When they notice something unfamiliar, they are very cautious of it and tend to avoid it altogether. In other words, putting a trap down after a rat has inhabited your house for a while is going to limit the products effectiveness. Having some type of trap already in your garage, basement or other area of your house likely to be visited by a rat can provide the solution. You can wait until you suspect a rat before baiting the trap, but at least this way, the rat is already accustomed to the presence of the trap.

Once a rat has inhabited your home, the focus of rat control becomes elimination. There are a variety of traps available designed to do this. Lethal options include the traditional spring-loaded trap as well as advanced electronic methods that deliver a dose of electricity that kills rats. Human traps are also available. The most popular variety of non-lethal traps consists of a metal cage with a door that closes whenever a rat enters the cage. Poisoned bait is another option, but this method should not be used in any household where children or pets are present.