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Home   /   Get Rid of Rats the Natural Way
How to get rid of mice and rats naturally
22 June 2018

Get Rid of Rats the Natural Way

Written by Bakang Kganyago
Bakang Kganyago

With the winter season coming in, you may breath a sigh of relief knowing that to some degree you will get a break from the daily exercise of swatting flies or from refining your contortionist skills that come from evading mosquitoes. One problem you may have overlooked is the prevalence of rat invasion during this time of the year. 

We will look at how to get rid of rats naturally before they form a squatter camp in your home.

Proper Food Storage

Keeping food properly stored in air tight containers will help keep pests away - pest control tips from Rentokil South Africa

You'd be surprised with how effective simply sealing your food properly deters rats from entering your home. Rats like any other living creature need food and water to survive. Therefore, denying them access to those should send them packing. Top tip: keep your food in airtight plastic containers and out of reach. Properly manage your refuge and keep it away from your house.Furthermore, ensure that all leaking taps are closed and fixed.

Hole Patching

Rats and mice can hide in small cracks in houses and floors - make sure you patch up holes to prevent rodents - contact rentokil pest control experts for more information

Rats and mice can't invade your home if they aren't any entry points. The furry James Bond can fit through even the smallest holes. Furthermore, they have the patience to gnaw at infrastructural weaknesses that may grant them access in. Seal holes in interior and exterior walls. Should you find holes that have already been used by rats, they will almost always have feces near them. Ensure that you clean the area to eliminate their scent. Like Hansel and Gretel's Breadcrumbs, they use their feces to mark as a safe waypoint that it and others may use. Clean the area and seal it up.

Natural Predators

Mr Cinnamon: The Rat Hunter
Do cats help get rid of mice and rats? Pest control experts from Rentokil tell us more on their blogs about using natural predators as rodent control

Having a natural predator around is the most effective and natural way of getting rid of rats. The more common option would be to get yourself a cat. The introduction of Mr Cinnamon into your home would serve as an eviction notice. Getting rid of the rats in no time. Only problem with that solution is that having a cat is work that requires commitment. Getting a cat for the sole purpose of rat hunting, without any care for the pet, is something I'd strongly advise against.

Terror from above

get rid of rats, how to get rod of rats, rodent control, kill rodents, rat bait, rat poison, pesticides, owls

The second option would be to attract barn owls to your premises. They are rat's natural predators, instilling great fear into the furry invader. Barn owls are known to catch a whopping two thousand rodents per year. One family of the owl can feed on 15 mice/rats a night.

To attract them to your premises I'd suggest you build or buy a nest box and place it in your yard. They should be mounted about 4.5 metres from the ground. Soon you'll start hearing hooting signalling the end of the rat's reign.

Prank them

Using feathers to prank rats and mice into thinking that there is a natural predator nearby. You can also use cat litter or fake snakes to deter rodents if you have a pest problem

If you aren't a fan of having cats or owls living with you I'd recommend pranking the rats. Using cat litter, rubber snakes or owl feathers works well. Therefore, tricking the rat into thinking that a cat or owl lives on your premises will scare the rat into making a quick exit. Additionally, farmers and homeowners suggest placing tubs of used cat litter near entry points in your home. The smell will deter the rat.

Be Wary of Pesticides

Although pesticides have proven effective in getting rid of rats and mice they also contain chemicals that can be harmful to the environment, as well as to your pets and family. It is therefore crucial to be wary of making use of DIY pesticides as not only can they pose dangers when not applied correctly, but a lot of these chemicals are known as second generation pesticides that contain punitive compounds that work in killing rats and mice rapidly. Unfortunately, this also affects the non-target animal that eats the rodent, which can be owls  or your pets.

As advised, not only by the experts at Rentokil, but also by the Poison Working Group, that if you utilise rodenticides to get rid of rats, you must use a rat control product that contains the lowest risk of secondary poisoning i.e. a first generation rodenticide. This is also referred to as a multiple feed rodenticide, because rodents feed on the rat bait in different helpings. It takes 3 successive feeds for the rat control product to work its magic and kill rats effectively

So, if an owl or pet does catch and eat the rodent, they will not be harmed. When using a rodenticide to get rid of rats and mice that invade your home, it is always best to rely on the professional rodent control experts. This ensures that the first generation rat poison is applied correctly and in the safest manner possible. The rat bait used by Rentokil is available in a wax block form and is inserted in a closed of rat trap, also referred to as a rodent bait station in which owls and pets do not have access to.

Book your free pest risk survey

Pest problem? Book a free pest risk assesment survey with the Rentokil South Africa team

Visit our website for more tips on getting rid of rats and mice. Or, if you suspect that you may have a rodent problem, contact our team to asses the situation and provide a personalised, no obligation reccomendation for you.

Rodent problem in your business? You may also be interested in our Rodent Prevention Guide.

Talk to our team for help with your pest needs

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Have further questions about how to get rid of rats in natural way? Or perhaps there is a topic that you would like for us to explore further on our blog? Send us your questions using the form below and you may find your question the topic of our next blog!

Bakang Kganyago
Bakang Kganyago

Bakang is a Digital Marketing Executive for Rentokil Initial. A germaphobe at heart, he's passionate about learning and sharing insights on how to defeat the enemy we cannot see. Join his journey as he writes about the impact of germs in our daily lives.

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