Rats may be helpful to our ecosystem but at the same time, they are unwelcome guests in our homes and gardens. Their presence can encourage property damage, food contamination, and the spread of diseases. Now, getting rid of them can solve the problem, and it is possible to get rid of rats without poison. Besides, using poison is risky to pets, wildlife, and even humans who might accidentally ingest it.
You are not the only one trying to get rid of them from your yard and area. We have all been there and managed to remove them without introducing poison to the menu.
How to Get Rid of Rats Without Poison
Follow these simple steps to stop rats in your home without poison.
1. Get Owls to Help Control Rat Population
Owls and other birds that hunt are great at getting rid of rats. You can attract owls to your yard by making an owl house. Experts suggest that the opening should be big enough for an owl but not for other big birds. Also, you should place the house on a tall pole (about 8 to 10 feet high) to keep squirrels away.
During the past summer, we had a group of four owls in our backyard. Since putting up the owl houses, no notice of any rodent signs in the yard. So, honestly, the birds of prey are the solution to rat problem without poison.
2. Catch Rats with Traps
Many people know about using traps to attract and get rid of rats. Snap traps are a more humane way to do this because they kill quickly, compared to glue traps which are considered cruel.
You want to place the traps inside a box or under a milk crate to avoid hurting other animals like raccoons and cats. You can use peanut butter as bait. It is also affordable, gives out an attractive scent, and is appealing to rats. Nevertheless, you can try different baits in your yards. For instance, if rats are eating from a mulberry tree, fruit jelly might work better.
3. Use Smoke Bombs
If you notice rat burrows in your yard, using smoke bombs is a great option. Rat burrows usually have loose soil and a slanted hole. Just remember, you should not use smoke bombs near trees, porches, or things that can catch fire.
4. Get Rid of Rats with Dry Ice
When a burrow is close to a porch or in a more city-like area, use dry ice to get rid of rats without poison. Dry ice releases carbon dioxide, which makes the rat numb and causes it to die. This product is humane, fast, and effective. Generally speaking, dry ice is non-corrosive, non-toxic, and non-conductive, according to Washington, DC Health.
You can pick a day to bust rat burrows in your home and get dry ice worth around $150 – this is enough to get rid of over 80 rats, depending on the level of the infestation. Also, since dry ice releases CO2 gas, it should not be used in places where people or pets are tightly enclosed. It can be extremely cold and can hurt the skin. Thus, wear thick gloves when handling it.
5. Keep Your Yard Clean
Rats typically go where there is food. So, experts advise that you should be careful about what you put out in your yard. The real issue is not the rats, but the people who attract them. As long as you keep giving them food, shelter, and water, the rat population will keep increasing.
The possible solution is to raise garden beds and promptly pick ripe fruits and vegetables. If you have bird feeders, make sure they’re at least 48 inches high, use a baffle on the pole, and consider using food blocks to prevent seed scattering. Also, buy pre-hulled seeds.
6. Use Rat Repellents to Get Rid of the Critters
You have multiple choices for rat repellents, and you can either make them at home or buy them from your local stores. These are usually inexpensive ways to get rid of rats without poison. Here are a few options to keep these pests from coming around:
- Ammonia
Ammonia is a clear gas that has a strong smell rats don’t like.
- A small bottle of ammonia, about 500mL, can be bought for around $15 to $20.
- Mix ammonia with water and use it as a spray to keep rats away.
- Electronic Rat Repellents
Electronic rat repellents make a high-pitched sound that rats can’t stand.
- Electronic rat repellents can cost anywhere from $15 to $50.
- Just plug these in, to keep rodents away.
- Onions and Chili Flakes
These things you find in the kitchen have a strong smell that rats don’t like and will keep them away.
- Onions are about $1.94 for a pound, and Chili Flakes are around $0.12 for an ounce.
- Put some onion slices and chili flakes in spots where there are lots of rats and mice.
- Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is something many people have at home. Rats don’t like its strong smell.
- A small bottle of peppermint oil, about the size of a tablespoon, costs between $5 and $10.
- Just dip a cotton ball or cloth in peppermint oil and put it where you see rats.
