Rats like being under sheds because they’re quiet, dark, and have less movement. Sheds also give them a safe place to stay and often have food and water. You can tell if rats are under the shed by looking for holes, poop, chewed marks, smudges, and nests. If you notice their presence, you can take action to get rid of rats under shed.
After making the shed safe from rats, focus on catching them by using traps or poison. Then, make sure to stop rats (or other creatures) from coming back to the shed.
How Do I Get Rid of Rats Under My Shed?
Rats can make big problems by digging under your shed for food and shelter. If you don’t stop them, they will have more babies and make trouble for your shed, yard, and house. Here’s how to remove rats under shed without an exterminator:
1. Close Gaps and Holes Beneath the Shed
First, walk around your shed to find any holes or cracks that rats could use to get in under the shed. Rats of either species, especially young rats, can squeeze beneath a door with only a 1/2-inch gap, according to the Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California Regents, University of California. When you spot any places where rats could get in, cover them up so that no more rats can come into your shed.
2. Tidy Up and Organize Your Shed
Rats hide under sheds because they are quiet places. If you do not use your shed much, it can get messy and dirty, which rats like. Clean it up to remove the mess and organize things so rats won’t have places to hide.
The same goes for the space near your shed. If rats gather under the foundation, watch out for piles of wood, gardening tools, bags of fertilizer, and boxes. Rats might use these to hide their way in or live there. You also want to keep your grass short and trim trees and bushes near your place. Cover your compost too, so rats can’t eat from it.
3. Get Rid of Rat Nests
Do you have rats in your shed for a while? They might have made homes there where they go at night, causing more rats to appear. Therefore, get rid of their nest by taking away old boxes, cardboard, rocks, as well as things you do not need anymore
If you declutter the places where rats usually make their homes, they will leave and won’t come back to your shed. This will make them look for a new place to live somewhere else.
4. Remove Sources of Food and Water
Also, rats eat whatever’s around them, like nuts, seeds, grains, and even pet food. They are generally considered opportunistic feeders. We also detailed out foods that make up their top menu. If food is what attracts these critters to your shed, then take away any food. Put pet food where rats can’t get to it. Make sure your trash cans are sealed tight to keep rats away from your food scraps.
Also, rats like places with water. If there are broken pipes or open water bowls near your shed, rats might make homes there to get water easily. Ask a plumber to fix leaks and put pet water bowls where rats can’t reach.
5. Use Snap Traps
Snap traps are a cheap and easy method to catch rats in your shed. You just need to put tasty treats on the traps that rats really like. Good choices are peanut butter, cereals, bacon, and dried fruit.
Make sure to move your trap around or try using different baits each time you catch a rat. Rats remember things well, so if they see other rats caught in a trap, they’ll stay away from it. Don’t touch the traps with your hands because your scent can make rats not want to go near them.
6. Apply Rodenticide
Rat poison works well for getting rid of rats, but it’s also harmful to people. Breathing it in, eating it, or getting it on your skin can make you very sick or even cause death. Remember to put the dead rats in a sealed plastic bag when you’re finished.
After using rat poison, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water. Keep any extra rat poison where kids can’t get to it.
Signs of Rats Under Shed
Rats usually come out at night, so you might not spot them in your shed during the day. But there are clear signs to know if rats are there. Here are a few things to look for:
1. Burrows
Brown rats like to stay underground. They dig tunnels and pathways below the surface to stay away from people and other animals. If you see small holes in the ground that are around 2 to 4 inches wide, it could mean there are rats on your property.
2. Rat Poop and Pee
Rats usually leave their poop on the paths and places they go. Every day, rats can leave about 40 droppings. These droppings look like sausages and are around ½ to ¾ inches long. Also, you might smell a strong ammonia odor from their pee, which tells you that rats are around.
3. Chewed Marks
Rats have long teeth that keep growing, so they chew on hard things to keep them from getting too big.
If you have rats under shed, you will see gnaw marks on:
- Walls
- Wood floors
- Things you’ve stored, like boxes
- Furniture
- Metal Appliances
4. Marks from Rubbing
Rats make greasy marks on things when they rub against them. Look for these marks on walls and floors.
5. Rat Homes
Rats tear up cloth, cardboard, paper, and insulation to make homes. If you see these pieces around your shed, it is likely you have rats.
Reasons You Have Rats Under Your Shed
Rats go under sheds to find warm places, especially when it’s cold. If your shed has holes or cracks, rats can sneak in. So, close even tiny openings in walls and floors. If a few rats live there, it might bring more. Rats can use urine scent to talk to each other, as said by Laboratory Animal Science.
Also, if you don’t protect your shed from rats early on, the issue can get worse. Follow the tips above to keep your shed safe from rats.
Rats are big rodents often seen in gardens. They are quite noticeable. Many times, pest control service in your area gets asked for help with rat issues in people’s gardens. This happens because of a few usual reasons.
- Giving birds loose or mixed food in bird feeders can lead to rats showing up because a lot of food falls on the ground. The solution is to put one type of seed in each feeder. If you use mixed seeds, birds might pick out the ones they don’t want, dropping them on the ground and only eating their favorite seeds.
- If your compost bin is full and doesn’t have a solid bottom, it becomes a cozy home for rats. They enjoy the warmth from the decomposing material and the easy access to food scraps from your kitchen. Rats especially like starchy foods like potatoes during winter. Since many compost bins do not have a bottom, you can make one using patio slabs and wire mesh to keep rats out – an easy DIY task to do at home.
- Broken drains and inspection covers that do not work properly can let rats come up into your garden easily. When you see holes near or next to drain covers, it is like an open invitation for rodents to come out into your garden.
- Also, you have rats under shed because there is a lot of trash or waste left out for a long time – rats tend to take advantage of it to find food and make their homes. Rats can handle tough winters better when they have a shelter like your shed. They thrive in extreme conditions if they find a safe spot. So, always keep trash and waste sealed and tidy to prevent rats from getting a chance to feed and multiply.
Final Thoughts
Whenever there is a place with food, rats will want to lurk around nearby. Generally, rats do not make nests under sheds unless there is plenty of food nearby. That is why you must figure out why you may have the infestation in the first place. Sometimes, the reason is easy to find, but other times it can be quite tricky to figure out. Whatever your situation, you would need professional assistance from your local pest control if you keep finding rats in your shed despite working hard to stop them.
Read also: DIY Steps to Create Rat Poison Using Ammonia
