Rats not only bring along a host of deadly bacteria and diseases, they also have the power to cause serious financial damage by chewing through your expensive furniture, electrical system, insulation and items of personal use.
Experts say that the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to get rid of rats infesting your home or workplace. So be prepared take action the moment you have your first sighting. As rodents usually come out at night, it may be long before you spot one. However, rodent waste behind cupboards and furniture is a tell-tale sign that you have a rat problem.
Here are 3 effective ways to get rid of a mice infestation in your home, barn or office.
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Use a trap
Perhaps the safest method to get rid of a mouse or two, using a trap is not the most convenient way to rid your property of these pesky pests. The good old snap traps, which snap shut when a rat enters the trap, are considered more humane than glue traps, which cause the rat to stick to the glue pad, leading to death from starvation.
Traps are the first pest-control measure used by most people; however, when it’s more than one rat you need to capture, it is not of much help. Additionally, the wait for a rat to enter the trap can be excruciating, particularly when you have children, have food items lying around (for instance, if you run a commercial kitchen), or have important documents (in an office) at risk of begin chewed away. People who don’t like to deal with the mess of dealing with a dead rodent usually prefer other ways of removing rats from their property.
While a couple of rats can be caught using a trap, a more severe infestation would need a more robust solution.
Use naphthalene balls (moth balls)
This is yet another pest control measure used in many households. All you need to do is to place a few mothballs in areas and holes where you believe the rats are living and moving. As moth balls contain harmful chemicals, be extremely careful around children and pets.
As this method involves placing toxic material in areas frequented by members of the household, people who have pets or young children are usually wary of using this method of pest control. However, using snap traps and glue traps presents a similar difficulty in homes with toddlers.
For an effective yet safe solution to rat infestation, many families resort to professional organic pest control, which is environmentally safe and is executed by experts who know how to bait and trap rodents.
Use a natural repellent substance
Those who do not like to use traps or poisonous substances to get rid of mice are always looking for solutions that would not harm the animal in the process. Using a repellent is one such way to repel rats from the premises without harming them. Simply dab a few cotton balls with a natural rat repellent (such as pure peppermint oil, clove oil or mint oil) and place them in corners around your house or workplace.
The problem with this method is that it may not be as effective in removing an existing rat infestation. Also, the cotton balls need to be replaced at least twice a week to ensure consistent presence of the offensive smell—which is cumbersome and time-taking.
Hire organic pest control service
If none of the above pest control methods appealed to you or don’t suit your requirement due to the enormity of the pest problem you’re facing, perhaps it’s high time to entrusted the job to professionals who have the expertise to get rid of a pest in the safest way possible.
While there are all types of pest control services available, organic pest control companies claim to use products that are environmentally friendly and thus are safe to use around children and pets. Additionally, commercial pest control does not only remove pests, it gives you a complete solution by safeguarding your property against future infestation. This is done by closing the points used by rodents to enter your property, strategic placement of rat repellent materials around the property, and educating you and your family in DIY pest control best practices.
So if you’re struggling to rid your space of rodents but haven’t achieved much success, get a paid service to drive away these harmful disease carriers while you sit back and heave a sigh of relief!
