Proven Ways to Get Rid of Rats & Mice

Getting rid of rats or mice is easier said than done. The little buggers won’t just march outside when you’re trying to remove them from your property and, sadly, the extermination process is not as simple as people hope it to be.

No need to panic, though, as we are here to help you understand how to successfully get rid of the rodents living under your roof and secure your property through proven methods.

Recognise the signs of a rodent infestation

Before you can solve a problem, you need to identify it first. Sometimes, it can be hard to recognise what type of rodent made itself a permanent guest in your house, as the differences between rats and mice are not that many. However, the rat is bigger in size, which will result in larger droppings and holes around the property.

Here’s how you can identify the type, signs and severity of your infestation:

How to get rid of mice & rats

When it comes to rats or mice, most people only treat the symptoms but not the cause. For a rodent-free home, you need to hit them on all sides. Alternatively, you can check out our professional rodent eradication service if some methods sound too risky or you just feel that the infestation is already too severe.

Traps

When we talk about rodent control, traps are the first pest removal method that comes to mind. There’s a reason for that – it’s tried, tested, and it works. However, there are a few things you need to know, in order to get it done right.

Poison Baits

Poison is the most effective rodent killer but not all poisons are created equal. Anticoagulants are a type of rodenticide that causes internal bleeding by preventing the blood from clotting. The poison acts quickly, but it can also put smaller pets at risk, too.

Powdered corn cob, on the other hand, is non-toxic and acts by causing severe dehydration. This usually makes the rodents leave the property in search of water and they often die outside.

In any case, most poisons are powerful enough that once ingested, they definitely finish the job. However, they can be also dangerous not just for rats and mice, but also for humans. Therefore, they are best handled by a professional pest control expert, otherwise, there is a risk of making things worse instead of better.

Endangering local wildlife is also a real threat, since rodents may escape and get eaten by predators. Remember that poisoning rodents needs to be done with caution and all necessary measures need to be taken, from monitoring the poison baits to safely removing the dead rodent.

Get pets to keep mice and rats away

Terriers are terrifying for mice and rats. These dogs were literally bred for hunting rodents (among other things), so they have keen instincts. It’s not a guarantee that having a terrier will keep the small animal away, but it will definitely help. They are also much more effective than cats.

That doesn’t mean cats are useless, though. As a natural predator to rodents, the mere smell of a feline is enough to scare them away from your home. That being said, there is strength in numbers, so don’t expect your pets to solve a huge infestation problem.

How to keep the rodents away from your home

Knowing how to keep the rodents as far away from your property as possible is important, as they can cause a lot of damage to your house. The nuisance vermin are not to be underestimated because they also spread many different diseases, cause structural damage to power cables and pipes alike, and unfurl contamination all around. You can prevent this from happening in the first place by using the advice from our rodent-proofing tips below.

Keep your home clean and neat

Keeping your home neat and clean definitely makes the place less attractive for rodents. So, this is a good way to start.

Clean the crawl space

Both rats and mice love crawl spaces. They provide cover for them, and when they are not cleaned for a while, crawl spaces can be perfect shelters. Because of that, crawl spaces should be cleaned and kept neat and free of clutter. That way you can easily monitor these places and thus, potentially prevent a future infestation.

Clean the garage, the attic, the basement, and try to avoid clutter build-up

Because clutter allows rodents to hide, they usually take it as an invitation to come in. This is why it’s crucial to prevent clutter in the areas where it’s most likely to occur – the basement, garage, and attic. We’re sorry, but “out of sight, out of mind” won’t cut it this time.

Store food properly

If rodents consider clutter an open invite, they take food scraps for a royal welcome. It’s like you’ve organised a feast and they’re the guests of honour. Ensure all food leftovers are properly sealed (even the one you plan to dispose of). Odours are what attracts rodents the most. Close the buffet!

Inspect your home for viable entry points and seal them

Examine the inside and outside of your home for any possible entry holes. Rats are bigger than mice, but they can also easily squeeze into relatively small holes.

In order to seal the entry points, you can use either a rodent-proof mesh or expanding foam. They both work great and depending on your problem, different materials will do the job. Holes smaller than half a centimetre can be sealed with expanding foam, and it will hold up well.

For anything larger, you will have to use a rodent-proof mesh made out of metal. Meshes work best for larger rodents like rats, while still doing a perfect job protecting from mice.

Have a look around your house for branches near the roof

Rats, specifically the black rat, often climb on trees, use stray branches to access the roof, and get in through there. If you remove those branches, you also remove a sure access point for rodents.

Garden waste should also be removed as soon as possible. All of this will help you avoid other types of infestations, not just rodent problems.

Put your rubbish bins away from the house

Place your rubbish bins as far away from the house as you can. Rodents love the smell of rubbish because our waste is actually their food. Thus, the further away you place the bin, the better.

Use gloss paint for the lower parts of the pipes and house

A great way to rodent-proof your home is to use gloss paint for the lower parts of the house and the pipes. This makes it more difficult for rats to climb.

Try to deter mice and rats naturally

There’s a number of natural rodent deterrents you can use to aid your endeavour. It’s important to note that these won’t work on their own. They have to be used as methods to enhance the rodent-proofing process, not as a replacement.

Peppermint oil, for starters, has a fantastic odour and also moonlights as a rat/mice repellent. Because of its strong and sharp scent, it irritates rodents and masks other smells coming out of your home and thus, keeps some pests at bay. They’re not likely to pester you if they don’t think there’s food around.

Some companies produce organic rodent deterrents. They extract the ingredients and mix them in ecologically friendly compounds. As such, their effectiveness has often been debated, but as we’ve said, none of these methods should be used on their own, anyway.

Ultrasonic repellent devices emit a sound at a frequency high enough to be basically undetectable by humans, but rather annoying for rodents because they can actually hear it. The problem with this is that if you have a pet (cat, dog, hamster), they will also hear it.

Also, this sort of rodent repellent is pretty limited in effectiveness and scope. So, this isn’t exactly a universal solution, but it is still something to consider.