Rats can be a nuisance, and it is important to act on a rat infestation right away. However, many rat killers on the market include poison, and using these can come with unwanted risks and even cause more problems.
So how can you control your rat problem without the use of poison? There are many ways to eliminate rats without poison: setting up traps, making your house unattractive for rats, or even recruiting natural predators to eliminate the pests.
Non-Poisonous Ways to Eliminate Rats
1) Setting up Traps
Setting up traps is one of the traditional methods to eliminate rats from your house. It is a non-toxic way to eliminate pests from your area. There are several available on the market, so you can choose one that best suits your needs. Here are some of the most common traps:
Kind of Trap
What Is It
Why You Use It
How Long It Takes
Snap Trap
The snap trap kills rats using a quick trigger system. There are varieties of snap traps, with the bar trap being the most common.
It is inexpensive and can kill rats instantly.
The effectiveness of a snap trap can kill rats quickly, but it can only catch one at a time.
Glue Boards
Glue boards trap rats with its extremely sticky surface.
It has a low profile, so rodents are less suspicious of it.
Rats will not die when they are trapped on a glue board.
Catch and Release
A catch and release trap uses the help of a bait to trap rodents inside a small cage.
It is considered to be one of the more humane traps since you can release the rats wherever you want once they have been trapped inside.
These traps don’t kill rats instantly since it only traps the rodents inside the cage.
Electronic Traps
Electronic traps work by delivering a humane, high-voltage shock that kills rats quickly.
It is more effective when it comes to instantly killing rats.
These kinds of traps can kill rats in seconds.
2) Using Rat Repellents
Rat repellents can either be homemade or bought from the store. These are mostly cheap options that can eliminate rats without using poison. Here are some options that can help keep these rodents away:
What It Is
Price
How to Use
Ammonia
Ammonia is a colorless gas with a strong smell that rats will avoid.
A 500mL bottle of ammonia will cost around $15-$20.
Dilute ammonia in water and use it as a spray to deter rats.
Onions and Chili Flakes
These kitchen ingredients have a pungent smell that will help repel rats.
Onions cost around $1.94 per pound and Chili Flakes cost around $0.12 per ounce.
Leave some slices of onion and chili flakes in places where there is high rodent activity.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is a common household item that has a strong smell that rats will be sensitive to.
A 15mL bottle of peppermint oil costs around $5-$10.
Simply soak a cotton ball or a piece of cloth in peppermint oil and place it in places where rats can be found.
Electronic Rat Repellents
Electronic rat repellents emit a high frequency sound that rats are sensitive to.
The costs of electronic rat repellents range from $15-$50.
Simply plug these in to deter the rodents.
3) Recruiting Natural Predators to Eliminate Rats
Recruiting natural predators instead of trying to catch rats by yourself is an effective method to eliminate the pests. This approach is one of the best non-toxic and non-disruptive methods -- you’re just letting nature play its course.
Here are some pets you could turn into rat-eliminating machines:
Cats: One of the most obvious predators of rats are cats. Having a cat at home can help chase rats away or at least convince them to stay away.
Owls: Owls are another predator that can help eliminate rats in your area. These birds usually hunt at night and can eat up to 12 rats each evening. Some owls hunt in small groups which means they can eliminate more rats at a time.
Terriers: Some dogs, specifically terriers, are great rat catchers. Terriers were bred to hunt rodents and help control the rat population.
4) Removing Rat Resources
To eliminate rats in your area, you should remove their resources. This means storing and throwing your food away properly. With no food source, rats will move on and find shelter elsewhere. Kitchen items are not the only things equivalent to food for rats. They can also chew on stacks of paper, electrical wiring, and cardboard.
Removing clutter can also help reduce the number of rats around your house. Rats look for places that provide warmth because they like to nest and burrow. Clutter provides them with favorable living conditions which encourages them to hide in and further multiply.
5) Making Your House Rat Proof
To eliminate rats in your house, you should make your house rat proof. This means sealing all their entryways and access points to prevent them from entering. It includes cracks, gaps, and holes that provide easy access for rats into your house.
Here are some perfect materials to rat-proof your house:
Caulk: A mixture of steel wool and caulk can help seal any holes in pipes that rats can enter.
Concrete: You can seal cracks and gaps inside your home using concrete, but make sure it isn’t weak enough for rats to chew through.
Metal: Metal is one of the few materials that rats can’t chew through and you can use it to rat-proof your house.
Glass: Since wood, rubber, and plastic aren’t recommended materials for a rat-proof house, try using glass to keep rats away.
Why Consider Eliminating Rats Without Poison
Using poison to eliminate rats may be effective, but it might not be the best solution to the problem. First, using poison to kill rats can leave dead rat bodies around your home. If these dead bodies are not attended to quickly, they can decay and leave an unpleasant odor.
Additionally, leaving rat poison around your house can be unsafe for pets and children. When left unattended, children and pets can accidentally consume these, causing danger. It can lead to unwanted illnesses, or worse, death.
Rat poison also poses a risk to other animals since its use can disrupt the food chain. These creatures have an essential role in feeding other animals and can cause secondary poisoning when they are consumed by predators. These poisoned rats can also poison surrounding wildlife.
NYC Rodent Control With Positive Pest Management
If you’re still looking for more effective methods to eliminate rats in your house, then consider the help of professional services. Positive Pest Management provides expert pest extermination for All of NYC and Lower Westchester County.
We have a team of professional staff that is eager to help you with your needs. Our staff gets to know customers first so they can come up with customized pest control solutions. Positive Pest Management promises to provide excellent services that you will love. For more information about our services, you may give us a call.
