In a big coastal city like Vancouver, rats are simply a fact of life. The truth is, these pesky rodents are just about everywhere, and no matter how many billions of dollars we spend trying to get rid of them, we can’t eradicate them completely.
If you’re seeing rats outside your property, that’s a problem. About the only good thing about seeing rats outside is that it’s better than seeing them inside. But seeing rats outside is a bad sign no matter how you look at it. Because if the population of rats in your area is big enough that you start to notice it, it may not be too long before they start coming inside too.
Better to stop the rats before that happens. Here are a few ways to do that.
Post Highlights:
- To get rid of rats outside you first you need to know where they are coming from. Is it your property, or a neighbor’s property, or from another site close by?
- Next we need to remove attractants like obvious food sources, rat-friendly environments, so we recommend you tidy up the yard and trim back the foliage
- Finally you should consider trapping stations and deploy the use of rodent exclusion tools like wire mesh to seal up the structure.
Rats in the backyard during the day – what does it mean?
Rats don’t like to be seen. Ordinarily, rats are nocturnal. They also have a phobia of open spaces, and prefer to stay hidden wherever possible to avoid predators — including us.
If you’re seeing rats in your backyard during the day, there could be a number of factors at work.
They’ve been relocated from somewhere else
If an old building like a warehouse or an abandoned residential house has recently been knocked down in your area, the rats may have fled and are looking for someone new to live. Construction noise can also disturb rats, and as unused land gets redeveloped, rats and other wildlife are forced to find somewhere else to go.
Increase in rat population locally
Another possibility is that the rat population in your area has gotten so high that the rodents have lost their fear of predators and are forced to forage for food during the day as well as the night because of increased competition.
The unfortunate truth is that rats are territorial, and will try not to stray very far from where they live. Given the choice, rats will stay within 100 to 300 feet of their nest. So if you often see rats in your backyard, it probably means they aren’t living too far away.
Sick and tired of rats at home? Call, or chat with us for a quote
Rats coming from neighbours yard
Unfortunately, we don’t get to choose our neighbours. That’s as true for humans as it is for rodents. It’s possible that the rats you’re seeing in your backyard are coming from a neighbouring property.
This is an especially big risk if you live next to an abandoned property, or if you live close to commercial or industrial developments such as restaurants, warehouses, and food manufacturing facilities. It’s also possible that your neighbour has a lot of junk in their yard that creates good hiding spots for rats. Or maybe they feed birds and other wildlife and unwittingly make their yard more attractive for rats at the same time.
If you believe that rats are coming from a neighbouring property, the first and best thing to do is to talk to them about it. They may not even be aware they have a rat problem or their behaviour is lending to rodent issues. Maybe you could suggest helping your neighbour with their rat issues by pooling together to invest in a neighbourhood rodent control program and hire a professional pest control company to deal with the problem.
Where do rats nest outside?
In the wild, rats dig burrows to nest in. They prefer dry, loose soil, and will dig a burrow with at least two entrance points so that they don’t get trapped. However, they are opportunistic and will build a nest anywhere they feel safe. Inside garden sheds, underneath decks and patios, amongst overgrowth and wood piles, and in compost bins are all good places for a rat to live. That’s why eliminating clutter in your yard is an effective way to make your property less attractive to rats.
Our Best Tips for Keeping Rats out of your Yard?
- Remove attractants.
Food sources like bird feeders and fruit trees make your property far more attractive to rats. Either get rid of them or make sure you pick up any fruit as soon as it falls. If you want to feed birds, make sure you clean up any dropped birdseed immediately.
- Protect your garbage.
The rubbish we throw away is an all-you-can-eat buffet to a rat. Invest in a tough, animal-resistant garbage can with a tightly-fitting lid to keep rats out.
- Remove shelter.
Overgrown bushes, wood piles, fallen leaves, and ivy all make great places where rats can stay hidden while they hunt for food. Remember, open spaces are a rat’s worst enemy.
- Remove water sources.
Ponds, fountains, and even a dripping outdoor faucet can attract rats looking for something to drink to your yard. Try to eliminate or at least cover any sources of standing water.
- Use deterrent plants.
Rats and mice hate the smell of mint. Plant some mint in your garden to help deter rats from making a home there. For an even more unconventional approach, you could try growing cat grass or catnip which will attract cats to your yard, making it an extremely dangerous place for rats. However, this only works if you like cats.
If you have rats outside your property, it’s something you need to deal with sooner rather than later. Try these tips to give you a rat free yard and reclaim your peace of mind. And remember, if you have a serious rat problem, help is only a phone call away. Give the professionals at Westside Pest Control a call, we can chase the rats out of your yard and give you back your property.
How to get rid of rats in the yard without harming pets?
When it comes to rats, there are two main ways to deal with them. You can trap them, or you can poison them. Trapping rats is the most ecologically friendly method of dealing with them. Poisoning rats can lead to poisoning of non target animals, especially raptors that feed on poisoned rats, that is why Westside does not recommend the use of most rodenticides.
Several municipalities such as North Vancouver and New Westminster have banned rat poison . Westside provide’s industry-leading raptor friendly rat trapping program that controls rats without harming any other animals.
Hot Tip: If you want to trap rats outdoors yourself, make sure to protect the traps from being activated by other creatures. The best way to do this is to put the traps inside some kind of box with a hole in each end. Rats won’t go into a box if they can’t see an exit. Make the holes big enough that a rat can get in — around half an inch is enough — but small enough that other creatures such as raccoons, cats, and dogs can’t get inside.
Get rid of rats under shed
To get rid of the rats in your shed, start with inspecting for points of entry. Potential access points include gaps underneath or around the door of the shed. And damaged siding – either natural, or rodent-made holes!
Trenching is a great way to manage rats in the garden. It involves digging into the dirt approx 18 inch deep around the perimeter of a property, and then installing 1/4 to 1/2 inch wire mesh or hardware cloth, and finally back filling with the displaced soil. This prevents rodents and animals from digging underneath to access your structure.
Have a look at one of the recent trenching jobs done by a Westside technician.
Get rid of rats under deck
Rats love to stay hidden, and the area under a wooden deck can be a perfect place for them to dig burrows out of sight and stay protected from the weather. If you have rats under your deck, the best solution is to trap them. Depending on the height of your deck, it may be possible to put old-fashioned snap traps underneath where they will be protected from any cats, dogs, or other animals that may come along.
Alternatively, you might need to make the trap safe for other animals by putting them inside a tamper resistant box. Commercially available rat bait stations are much safer and great for this purpose, as they are locked and tamper resistant.
Once the rats have all been caught, you can work on screening underneath your deck to make sure they don’t come back. However, this is often a job best left to a professional.
Final wise words from Westside’s technicians
Rats present one of the biggest pest control challenges, because they are smart and adaptable. You can try some of the home remedies yourself, but permanent solutions are often hard to come by without the skills in effective rodent control. Please contact us to ask about our rat removal programs for the outside of your home. Call, or chat with a pest expert for more info.