How to deter rats

Discovering rats in your home or business can be very distressing. Luckily there are ways you can deter rats and prevent an infestation.

Proofing your home to deny them entry, removing easy access to food and water and using other rat deterrents can really make a difference.

Rats need easy and consistent access to a water source, even though they only drink between 15 - 60ml per day. They will eat almost anything available, but they do prefer to eat small amounts of a variety of different foods.

Rat prevention tips

There are several practical ways for you to prevent a rat problem from occurring in the first place. You should:

1. Keep food in metal or glass containers with tight fitting lids.
2. Tidy inside the house and around the garden - less clutter means less places to hide.
3. Place outdoor garbage bags in metal bins with securely fitted lids to prevent them from feeding on its contents.
4. Clean up pet food and bird seed debris, and store pet food in robust containers with fitted lids - preferably above ground level.
5. Keep gardens free from debris. If you have a compost heap don’t include organic food waste, as this will attract them.
6. Eliminate clutter and items like firewood next to your home.

If you have already spotted signs of rats, such as droppings, prevention may already be too late.

Call Ehrlich on at 800-837-5520 to arrange an inspection to check for signs of rats.

Prevent rats from entering your home

By proofing your home, you will help to make it seem less attractive to rodents. Rats will make the most of any opportunity to enter your home in the search for shelter and food.

• Entrances - fit strips to the bottom of doors and weather-stripping around exterior doors as a deterrent. Young rats can squeeze through small gaps under doorways and will also use cat flaps to enter. They will enlarge gaps by gnawing to enter homes via garages.

• Gaps in exterior walls - fill holes or small openings (around utility cables or pipe work) with stainless steel wire wool and caulking or concrete. Steel or aluminum plating can be used. Rats can jump, so check up to a height of about 4 feet.

• Roofs - repair roof damage and use wire mesh to seal gaps. Trim vegetation away from your home. Rats climb along electrical cables or use overhanging branches to get into loft spaces and attics through gaps in broken roof tiles or under eaves.

• Drains and sewer pipes - keep toilet seat lids closed. Rats have been known to swim up damaged sewer pipes and get round u-bends in toilets. They will also use drain pipes and drainage outlets. Use tightly fitting metal grates or screens to cover drains, especially in basement areas. Check that all drain pipes are in good working order.

Need professional rat deterrents?

Regular pest control is often the most reliable form of prevention. Rat bait stations professionally managed by Ehrlich are trusted rat deterrents, and are safe to use even in locations where children or pets are present.

Your local qualified Ehrlich specialist can provide the most suitable treatments to get rid of rats in your home or business. Professional services are often the most reliable way to guarantee long-term solutions to pest problems.

Call Ehrlich today at 800-837-5520 or contact us online to see how we can help you with your rat problem.