How to Get Rid of Rats - a Pest Expert’s Guide

Rats are gross creatures, and seeing one in or around your home is enough to set your heart racing. These pesky creatures are best known as transmitters of diseases, and they can even scratch or bite people.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, rats spread dozens of diseases around the world. And as well as that, they invade about millions of homes every winter. You can get sick if a rodent bites you or if you come in contact with their saliva, urine, or feces. Best to keep these nasty critters away!

In this guide, we will show you how to get rid of rats from your home and office. If you are in need of immediate assistance, please call 604-559-9060, chat with us online, or contact our rat exterminator via web form

Why We Get Rodents

Rats tend to gravitate towards human dwellings in search of food, shelter, and warmth.. and as the weather gets cooler you might start hearing some strange noises in the walls!

As well as being dangerous to your health they can cause serious property damage by chewing away at plumbing, electrical wires, and even cause damage under the hood of your car! If you think you have a rat problem at your home or office, you must act fast before they start making themselves at home and causing some real damage.

How to Get Rid of Rats at Home or at Work

Use Traps

To safely get rid of rats at your home, you could try using traps. Make sure the traps are gong where the rats are going! This usually means in the attic or crawlspace. Unlike mice who happily reside in your kitchen with you, rats usually prefer to keep their distance and not enter the living/working space of the home or business. If your office staff are working remotely or you go away from your home on holiday, then the rats may decide to fully move it.

Traps don’t require the use of poisons and thus aren’t a threat to you or your family members – but do remember to place them out of the reach of kids and pets fingers and toes please!. They are also inexpensive and easy to set up.

Traps can be baited or un-baited; however, all traps should be checked regularly. It is worth noting that you need to be mindful of keeping traps away from pets and young children. Three major types of rat traps that you can use for getting rid of rats at home include snap traps, live traps, and glue boards.

Use Baits

Dry pet food is an attractive bait for rodents, so are dried meats, dried fruits, and nuts. You can also attach them to the rat trap with wire, thread, or glue. Cheese and peanut butter aren’t always effective as baits because the rodents often pull them off without even snapping the trap.

Bait stations can also be used for killing rats outside of a structure. The station isn’t designed to trap the rat, but it holds poisonous bait. The rat enters the station, eats the bait, and will eventually die. Bait stations are a good option when you want to prevent children and pets from coming in contact with poison.

Pest Expert Rat Prevention Tips

Seal Any Structural Cracks

Rats and other rodents can make their way into your home through small openings in walls and roofs. If you want to end the rat problem once and for all, locate all entry ways and then seal structural crevices using wire protected mesh, or steel wool / caulk. These materials would prevent the rats from finding their way into your dwelling since rats can’t eat through steel wool and caulk.

Keep Food in Airtight Containers

Put all pantry items, including cereal into airtight containers, and you will be less likely to attract rats. Another thing that many people don’t pay too much attention to is pet food. Don’t leave it out in the bowl all day as it would provide another source of food to rodents.

A Clean Environment

It’s the simple things that are best in keeping rats away, like keeping your home tidy and your garbage areas clean. Don’t let garbage or compost overflow and make sure lids are secure. If you use bird feeders, always use high quality rodent proof ones. It’s also important to cut back tree branches, bushes or any foliage in contact with the structure.

What You Can Do Today to Eliminate Rats

If you have a rat infestation and want to get rid of them from your home as soon as possible, contact a rat exterminator at Westside Pest Control. We’ll have you safe and secure in no time!