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Rats are trespassing on your property because
something attracts them there. And that something
is usually food. In most cases, they’re attracted
to the smells coming from your unsecured garbage
can, or pet or livestock food, and only later
discover the goodies in your garden.
Make sure you’re up to code with rat prevention
all over your household, both outside and inside.
- Secure the lid of your trash cans;
- Keep trash cans in the garage and not
outside, if possible;
- Don’t leave pet or livestock food outside
after the animals are done eating (not even
the dishes);
- Make sure you keep a clean trash can area
where garbage doesn’t fall on the ground or
overspills from the cans;
- Make sure you don’t facilitate rodent access
to your house. Check for any and all possible
rat points of entry and exit, and proceed
accordingly if evasion signs can be observed;
- Don’t facilitate rat access to your attic.
This means you’re not to leave anything
leaning or hanging on your exterior walls –
ladders, tools, decorations, firewood, and so
on.
The garden is part of your property, so by
limiting access to every other area of said
property, you’re also limiting the chances of rats
getting into your garden.
If rats are already causing damage to
your garden,
and you’ve concluded they haven’t reached any
other part of your household, then begin
eliminating them with lethal snap traps – it’s the
most efficient and humane tactic you can use. Read
more on this website about how to properly set
traps by using rat behavior and biology knowledge.
Once the invasive rats are dealt with, and all
other prevention measures are in place, you might
consider installing a fence around your garden.
Rats can be very good climbers and jumpers,
though, so an electric fence might be a good idea.
Don’t use plastic or wood for the fence – the rats
won’t have any trouble chewing through these
materials.
Don’t use poisons or so-called repellents. Poisons
are nasty, ineffective, and can bring on even more
problems such as necrophages invited by the smell
of rotting rat carcasses, killing other innocent
animals that will maybe consume the poison or the
poisoned rat carcass, or releasing toxic
substances in your garden. Repellents almost never
work, and it is my educated opinion that you will
only waste time and money with them – meanwhile,
your rat situation will become even harder to
tackle.
You always have the choice of consulting with or
hiring a wildlife control expert, and I encourage
you to get in contact with such a professional
even if just to ask for advice.
For more information, you may want to click on one
of these guides that I wrote:
How much
does rat removal cost? - get the lowdown on
prices.
How
to get rid of rats - my main rat removal
info guide.
Example
rat trapping photographs - get
do-it-yourself ideas.
Rat
job blog - learn from great examples of rat
jobs I've done.