Rodent infestations are a problem. As discussed in our previous article, they carry diseases, can cause damage to properties and chattels, affect people’s mental health and even their reputations. This means that they have to be dealt with effectively and quickly to minimise their impacts, however this raises the question as to what the best method for getting rid of rats?
The answer is not simple. Multiple factors have to be considered which includes the impacts noted above, as well as factors such as risks to the environment, non-target species, effectiveness of a given method, whether you want a rat killer or more humane method and even long-term impacts such as immunity developments.
In this article, we will look at what some people believe is the most effective method, a campaign of rodenticides, along with alternative methods for getting rid of them in your house or garden. We will look at some of the pros and cons for each and why, in some cases, the most ‘effective’ method, may not be the most appropriate.
Rodenticides
Rodenticides (rat poisons) are often seen as one of the most effective solutions to dealing with rats. There are various forms of this rat killer available (e.g. grain, pasta or block) as well as different active ingredients and strengths to fit the requirements of the situation in question.
We will discuss the benefits and applications of different rat baits in a future article, however given their efficacy, why would these not be the go-to choice for controlling rats?
The answer is that rodenticides carry with them significant risks, especially to non-target species, which is why the UK’s Health & Safety Executive suggest that they should only be used as a last resort and only after other methods, such as trapping, have proved ineffective or not practical to implement.
The immediate risk is that rodenticides may be consumed by non-target species, including pets and even children. There are methods to reduce this risk, such as bait boxes, but the risk is never zero so spillage of the poison may make it accessible to unintended consumers.
This unintended poisoning can also occur without the bait spilling at all. Rodenticides don’t kill rats instantly. This means there is little control over where they are located when they do die. As noted by the BPCA, this risks other animals ingesting them, transmitting diseases and possibly secondary poisoning if it is still active in the rat’s system.
Another risk which is becoming more prevalent is highlighted by the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use who note that the incorrect use of rodenticides may be a cause of rats becoming immune to the poisons. This is already being experienced in certain areas of the country and can be attributed to factors such as over-use or improper use that does not properly deal with the infestation, allowing for mutations in their offspring. As the resistant species survives, the non-resistant species will die off, potentially leading to an entire population of rats that are immune to certain poisons.
What is critical, therefore, is that a proper risk assessment is carried out prior to the use of any rodenticides which considers the risks associated with them against the negative impacts of the rodent infestation. Other methods should be considered first and, if they are not possible, users should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the packet and follow health and safety guidelines. Steps should always be taken to reduce the risk of poisoning non-target species (such as the use of bait boxes) and any dead rats should be disposed of appropriately.
We supply Difenacoum and Brodifacoum based baits (which can be viewed here) in grain, block and paste form. If you are unsure on whether rodenticides are the best option for you, how to use them effectively and safely or have any other concerns, you should always get advice from a professional pest controller. Proper health and safety procedures should always be implemented when using rodenticides and users should always read and follow the manufacturer's instructions on the packet.
Alternative Methods
Good hygiene practices (Prevention)
Rodents tend to only live in areas where food and shelter is easily available. Unfortunately, they enjoy all the food humans do!
It’s important to remove anything that can be used as a home for them such as debris, trash, overgrown vegetation and anywhere else where they can easily find shelter.
Ensure any access to food is blocked by keeping it in air- tight containers, refrigerators or secure cupboards.
Keep bins in good repair and sealed. Make sure rodents are unable to enter the bins via cracks and do not empty food directly in the bin – always ensure it is contained inside a sealed plastic bag.
Make sure any loose fruit or berries from trees are removed from outside areas and, if necessary, remove food intended for other animals such as bird feeders. Compost heaps can also attract unwanted pests so, if you have one, they need to be rat proofed.
Keeping yards and gardens clean and tidy generally, including removing overgrown areas, greatly reduces the habitability for rats.
If you live in a densely populated area, your neighbours will need to follow similar practices as rodents will happily travel across multiple properties in search of food.
Physical barriers (Rat-Proofing)
Rats can enter buildings through holes and cracks (anything bigger than half an inch will do), so ensuring any entry points are sealed is necessary to rat-proof your home.
Seal off any small openings in and around buildings. This can be done with DIY methods such as using wire mesh or you can find specific products designed for keeping rats out.
Entry points can appear through damage to the structure, but also from where utilities enter a building.
If you are unsure on which areas need proofing, or how to seal them, professional pest controllers can help.
Although this method is effective in keeping rats away from a building, it doesn’t address the presence of the rats themselves. If there is sufficient food and shelter in and around the affected building, they will remain a risk.
Natural Rodent Predators
As noted by the Barn Owl Trust, owls are a natural predator for rats. By installing owl bird boxes near to the infestation, numbers can be dramatically reduced. Please note that rats carry diseases that can transfer to other animals when they are attacked. Therefore, it is not recommended that domestic pets such as cats or dogs are employed to control the infestations. Foxes can also hunt rats so it can pay to be tolerant of them.
The problem with this method is that, if you can attract natural rat killers, you will have to deal with the consequences of their presence. Although your problem will have been eased, it may not have been eradicated, but replaced with another one instead.
Traps (Electric and Traditional)
Rat traps can be a great option. They can kill rodents instantly, can easily be placed in areas where rats frequent, and are more specific than baiting so there is less risk of harming non-target species (which can be further supported by placing the traps in special container boxes, protecting pets and children from them). They also ensure the dead rat is held in the trap, making it easier to collect the corpses.
There are also a good range of traps, such as traditional snap traps, humane rat traps as well as electric traps which electrocute the pest, killing it instantly. All of them can be baited using regular household items such as peanut butter.
The problem is that rats are naturally suspicious and can be cautious of taking food from an unfamiliar object. It can take days, even weeks, before results start and depending on the size of the infestations, a large number of traps may be necessary.
Rats have also been found to employ a ‘light touch’ approach which is when they take the bait from the trap without setting it off.
Although poisons are not needed (so secondary poisoning or spillage is not an issue) the traps themselves are indiscriminate, meaning non-target species can be caught. Locating the traps in areas that are inaccessible by pets and other animals can help reduce this.
Further information, including our full range of traditional, electric and humane rat and mouse traps can be found here.
Deterrent smells
Some believe that certain smells can deter rats from entering an area, such as peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil. However, their effectiveness is questionable, and this method won’t address eradicating the pests, only deterring them from certain areas.
Conclusion
Rodenticides can be extremely effective, however they come with their own problems. We have listed above some methods that can be effective in controlling rodents without the need of incurring the risks associated with rat poisons. Depending on the circumstances, they can be equally effective and humane as they either kill the rodents quickly or avoid killing them altogether.
It should also be highlighted that the most effective actions often involve more than one method. For example, ensuring good hygiene practices are implemented and ensuring rats do not have easy places to nest can always be done alongside more direct methods such as poisons or trapping.
So, how someone should deal with a rat infestation is dependent on multiple factors such as the risk of poisoning non-target species, the scale of the infestation, and the availability of other control methods, to name a few. The most effective method (often rodenticides) may not be the most appropriate option in light of the surrounding circumstances. We provide a range of traps, poisons and bait stations here which should always be used in line with the manufacturer’s instructions on the label and in line with government guidance. If you are unsure on the best course of action, always consult a professional pest controller who can point you in the right direction!
This post is intended for information only. If you are unsure on what the best course of action is for you, whether rodenticides are appropriate, or how to use rodenticides or any other methods safely and effectively, always get advice from a professional pest controller.
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