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No one likes rats roaming around their yards. But rats do care about what you want. The moment you give them the slightest chance, these little vermin will get into your yard (and eventually, your house) to wreak all kinds of mess.
Rats will eat fruits and vegetables, tear up gardens, and even munch on the wiring of your cars (if given the chance).
Not to mention the series of health risks they pose. Little wonder we spend an inordinate amount of money, time, and effort trying to get rid of them.
But what if you could prevent rats from getting into your backyard in the first place? In this post, we explore some tips that can help with that.
Understand What Attracts Rats To Your Backyard
Rats are primarily attracted by two things:
- Easy access to food
- A cozy shelter
Just like many other animals, rats have these needs. And as long as you are providing them with food and (or) shelter, that’s an open invitation to these nasty critters. Hence, to prevent rats from dominating your backyard, you have to get rid of food sources and potential shelters in your backyard.
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Here’s how you can accomplish that:
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Secure Your Trash Can
Leftovers are useless to you. That’s why you throw them in the trash can. But to rats, leftovers are a sumptuous delicacy, even if it is rotten. Foods from the trash can give off foody scents that attract rats around.
By properly securing your trash can at all times, you not only deny rats access, but you also contain the smell that could attract them in the first place.
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Remove Water Sources
Most rats love to reside in areas with easy access to water. Ensure that there is no easy access to water for rats in your backyard. Fix leaky faucets. Take your water bowls for pets indoors, especially at night. Secure your swimming pool. Get rid of stagnant water from your yard.
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Keep Your Garden Clean and Secure
If you have a backyard garden, that can also attract rats. To prevent rats, ensure that you keep your garden clean. Pick up fallen fruits from your gardens every day. If you have the budget, fence your garden. Ensure that the fence extends down into the ground as rats are good burrowers.
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Take Pet Food Indoors
Do not leave pet food outside overnight. That would only attract these nasty little creatures.
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Tidy Up Your Bird Feeders
Though bird feeders are typically located high above the ground (where rats cannot easily access), seed crumbs do fall from these feeders to the floor. These crumbs can in turn attract rats.
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Clear Off Pet Poop
You see, that poop from your cat or dog contains lots of nutrients that rats won’t mind taking advantage of. That’s why it’s important to clear animal poop from your yard.
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Secure Or Remove Compost Bin
Backyard compost is a great way to create nutrient-rich compost that will benefit plants in your garden. However, because things like food scraps get thrown in a compost bin, it tends to attract rats. That’s why you need a compost bin that is inaccessible to rats. An above-ground compost bin should do. And if you cannot go through the stress, get rid of the compost bin altogether.
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Trim Your Shrubs
Shrubs serve as a good hiding spot for rats. By keeping the shrubs in your backyard short, you discourage rats from residing there.
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Remove Abandoned Objects
Abandoned objects – from abandoned cars to wood piles – also serve as good hiding spots for rats. Ensure that you remove such objects from your yard.
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Get A Pet
First off, you should never get a dog or cat for the sole purpose of catching rats. Why? Because aside from exposing pets to several health risks, it is not 100% effective. That means that rats will continue to come to your backyard if there’s easy access to food and shelter, even if there’s a dog or cat there. But if you’ve taken all necessary precautions, having a dog or cat can help deter rats as a last line of attack.
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Apply Repellents
Rats do not like the smell of certain things. Why not take that to your advantage? For instance, rats dislike the smell of lavender and mint. Having these plants in your backyard can help keep them away. Other types of repellents include peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, predator urine, and more. However, note that repellents are not 100% effective.
Wrap Up
Dealing with a rat infestation is problematic. That’s why it’s advisable to prevent them in the first place. But rats are intelligent and so difficult to control. Therefore, to help you in any challenge you might face, you can easily get more information on rats here at rat-control.com.
