Rats are small, warm-blooded rodents found almost everywhere in the world. Their large incisors are capable of chewing almost anything; these creatures can be very dangerous when they settle indoors, because they spread diseases and parasites. Most rats build their nests in attics, cellars, porches, under concrete floors, behind walls, and reproduce with astonishing speed. You can get rid of them by calling a professional exterminator or on your own by using traps and finding other prevention methods.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Eliminate the Rats by Killing Them
Step 1. Get a cat
It is an excellent hunter and natural predator of rats. It represents an indirect form of killing these rodents without causing great suffering; it is just a way of restoring the natural cycle. A good cat is able to free you from the infestation within a few weeks; however, remember that he cannot hunt them if they are hiding in the attic or behind walls.
Step 2. Identify the places where they eat and take refuge
You can tell where their nest is located by looking at their droppings or gnawed holes in walls, food boxes, insulation and other spaces in the house. these are the areas where you will need to install the traps.
Step 3. Place poison or typical snap traps in infested areas
If you decide to kill them, you can purchase both devices at hardware stores or other home improvement centers. However, keep in mind that the poison does not kill them immediately - it will take about a week for it to take effect; be aware that rodents will suffer terribly at this stage.
- Read the directions and warnings very carefully. Most rat poisons contain warfarin, which causes internal bleeding, and other types of drugs that kill rats, but are also dangerous for people.
- Check for traps on a regular basis. Rat corpses emit an unpleasant smell if you don't get rid of them immediately. Traditional snap traps are far less cruel than poison and should kill rodents immediately; however, sometimes they only hurt them and in this case you should intervene to end their agony.
Step 4. Use glue tablets
These are flat, sticky-sided bits of wood that trap rats until you remove them. Again, be sure to install such traps only if you intend to kill the animals, as they are unable to survive this device and cannot peel off the glue. Some specimens go so far as to gnaw their legs to escape and others may have their heads trapped in glue and suffocate. It is certainly not the least cruel way to get rid of it, but it works. If you find a rat stuck in glue that is not dead yet, you should hit it with a boot to put an end to its suffering; alternatively, you can use some hard object, such as a club. Do what your "stomach" can handle and then throw the animal in an outside garbage pail.
Method 2 of 4: Preventing Infestations
Step 1. Keep all waste buckets sealed and take them out whenever you throw food at them
Don't give rats a reason to stay indoors; make sure you throw them in a garbage can and don't just leave the bag lying around. When you take the garbage out of the house, throw it in the bin or in a well-sealed bin; if you leave it around the house, it becomes a lure for rats.
Step 2. Keep all foods tightly closed and store them in airtight containers
If you leave them exposed outdoors, they attract mice and other pests. Try to keep the house clean as a whole and pay attention to where you leave your food. If you live in an area that is particularly prone to mice, for example in the city, you need to take extra precautions.
Step 3. Block any access for rats by sealing all holes in walls, doors and mosquito nets
Also check the garage door, chimney, air conditioning system, fans, air vents, and ventilated crawl spaces to make sure they are properly sealed and prevent passage from the outside. If a rat finds a way to enter the house, it can settle down and start reproducing; the best thing to do is to take preventive measures.
Step 4. Close any pipes or small holes that connect the house to the outside using steel or bronze wool
In this way, you block an easy passage to the mice; you can also decide to close an entrance completely, if that pipe or access is of no use.
Step 5. It is not worth using products that are marketed as "rat repellent", as they are often not effective
Additionally, experts warn against fraudulent sound wave electrical apparatuses that are advertised as killing rats and other rodents.
Method 3 of 4: Getting Rid of Rats with Non-Cruel Methods
Step 1. Identify the areas where the rats eat and take refuge
Identify them by looking at the places where excrement and gnawed objects are found; if rats frequented that area, they are likely to return again. If they have settled in the attic, find the crevices they used to enter and install the traps nearby.
Step 2. Use a non-lethal iron cage to trap the rodent and release it without killing it
Experts believe this is the least cruel method of getting rid of rats. Set up the cage by putting some food inside; the spring closes the door that traps the mouse as soon as it enters the cage. Once you've captured the animal, take the cage outside and free the mouse somewhere.
Step 3. Release it away from home
Take it to a wood some distance from home. You have to make sure that he is unable to find his way back; he will be able to establish his new home elsewhere, hoping that it is not the home of some other person.
Method 4 of 4: Getting rid of rats the professional way
Step 1. Contact a local exterminator to obtain an assessment of the level of infestation
You can find a qualified company in your area by searching online, searching the yellow pages or asking friends or neighbors for some reputable company names.
Step 2. Describe the problem to the professional
The methods he may offer to get rid of them may include poison or traps. Make sure you describe the infestation well so that the company can prepare an accurate quote.
Step 3. Carefully consider the poisons or other chemicals the exterminator might be using
Some of these can be dangerous for pets and people living in the home, especially small children. If an animal or child were to come into contact with these substances, it could suffer serious consequences and possibly even die.
Step 4. Ask the exterminator company to remove any dead mice in the house due to the poison
Carcasses emit a terrible smell if they stay behind walls or in the attic. Most exterminators perform this task at no additional cost, but if you feel uncomfortable seeing the helpless bodies of rats, you'd better ask for confirmation that such a service is actually being done as well. Fortunately, specialist companies manage the entire pest control treatment from start to finish.
Step 5. Compare quotes and methods from two or three different companies
Choose the one that seems to you the best solution for your needs; prices can vary greatly between different companies; therefore try to find the best solution and the exterminator that gives you more confidence, in order to make the procedure much easier.
Step 6. Find out about warranties
You don't have to find yourself calling the exterminator again a month or two after surgery, because the mice have returned or weren't properly disposed of. Look for a company that offers a "satisfied or your money back" service, so that they can give you back the money spent if the work has not been done properly. Alternatively, the exterminator can return to your home and complete the extermination at no additional cost.
Advice
- If you decide to kill the rats, remove the corpses quickly.
- Always keep pets and small children away from poison.
- First of all, try to prevent the problem upstream by making the house or apartment "inhospitable" for rats.
