![]() Never use glue traps, which have been banned in several countries for their extreme cruelty, and bear in mind that rat poison can kill other wild animals, such as foxes, owls and hawks. There are no truly humane ways to kill rodents, only methods that are less inhumane. If you continue to provide food, water and habitat while trapping and poisoning rats, you are creating a never ending cycle of attracting and killing rats. To remove rats from your environment, you must remove the food, water and habitat that are supporting rat populations in the first place. ![]() Traps and poison are a temporary “fix” that do not control rats long-term. Typically, conditions that support high rat populations are left until there’s a crisis. What is the “most humane” way to kill rats? What is the best rat trap or rat poison? Soak cotton balls in vinegar and leave them where rats like to burrow.Sprinkle cinnamon around your foundations.Regularly scatter dried mint leaves around your home and/or spray peppermint oil around your foundations.(Mint can easily grow out of control, so keep it in pots.) ![]() Plant mint, lavender and citronella in full sun next to your foundations.The active ingredient is used in making mothballs. Consider Varpel Rope®, a registered repellent for mice and rats.Repellants will not work if you already have a rat population, but you can use them as a part of your long-term prevention methods. Rats are excellent diggers: Bury the footer at least 12 inches deep and extend it out from the foundation about 12 inches. Use an L-shaped barrier of hardware cloth or concrete to prevent burrowing along foundations or under animal enclosures (like chicken coops) long-term.Finish sealing openings with caulking or foam insulation.Plug gaps in walls and floors with steel wool or copper mesh.Seal holes and other openings with 1/4-inch hardware cloth. ![]() Rats can enter buildings through holes as small as 1 inch wide (about the size of a quarter), such as heating vents and gaps around utility lines and water pipes. Clean up pet droppings from the yard every day.Regularly dumping out water also prevents mosquitoes.) (Rats like to live close to a water source. Empty outdoor water bowls and bird baths each night and put away or cover farm animal waterers.Use no spill bird feeders filled with spicy bird seed or, if possible, remove bird feeders each night.Remove outdoor pet food bowls each night and use rat-proof treadle feeders for farm animals.Clean up dropped fruit from around fruit trees.Use wildlife-proof trash cans or secure trash cans with bungee cords.Use galvanized metal composters with tight-fitting lids.Store bird seed, grass seed and pet food in galvanized metal cans with tight-fitting lids.(The vine serves as a perfect shelter for rats.) Remove trash, wood piles and brush close to buildings.Cereal bowl-sized nests made of cardboard, paper, insulation, dryer lint or fabric in attics and walls and under eaves.īack to top How can I get rid of rats? How can I kill rats without hurting other animals? Remove food, water and habitat.Cover openings with soil and check the next day to see if they have been reopened. Burrows and tunnels about as wide as a baseball outdoors, especially near foundations and walls.Scratching noises in walls, attics and vents.Gnawed holes up to two inches wide in baseboards or at doorframes.Shiny black droppings about half an inch long.Never attempt to control a wildlife problem without first being sure of the species of wildlife. What are the signs I have rats? How do I know if I have rats or mice?
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