How do you get rid of rats in your garden?

How do you get rid of rats in your garden? You won’t be the first person to spot a rat in your garden but you won’t want him moving any closer. Be tempted to catch the rat and dispose of it yourself and you will probably find him replaced within the day. The Brown Rat has evolved to live alongside us and can no longer be found in the wild. It has adapted to our human way of life and co-habits with us in our urban and rural environments. This nuisance pest poses a health risk to humans through contact with their urine. Diseases such as Salmonella, Listeria, Weil’s disease and Toxiplasma gondii are spread this way. http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z82mmp3#z3v334j

Brown Rat

Where to find rats in your garden?

The obvious place to find a rat is in the drain connecting your home to the sewage system. However, rats will make their homes under sheds or by burrowing into grassy mounds. Therefore, the first thing to do is to check the seals to drains and make sure they are well maintained. Make sure the drain inspection lid has a snug fit. A fully grown rat can squeeze through a 1.5 cm gap.

Fill any gaps in the floor of your shed and block any potential access routes. Keep your garden clear and tidy. If you have a compost heap turn it over regularly to disturb visitors and keep it covered. Remove unwanted bird food from the bird table. Whilst we are encouraged to leave areas of the garden ‘wild’ and ‘neglected’ – to offer safe spaces for Hedgehogs, Slow worms and insects, the downside could be the arrival of a family of rats.

Rat holes under fence

What to do about rats in your garden?

Rats are prolific breeders. So the best advice to take is to contact a Professional Pest Control expert. There are lots of chemicals available on the market to remove rats but you have to be extremely careful. There is always the risk of poisoning other animals. A professional will use a bait box and will have experience of locating a nest. Rats are naturally cautious of new items placed into their environment. Therefore, it may take a little while to trap a rat but a bait box is the most effective solution. Contact Chris here at Shawyers if you have a rat problem.