Rats prefer foods with strong odors, which they use to sniff out a meal. For this reason, spoiled items may be more effective for drawing them out than fresh ones.
It’s not uncommon to spot rats lurking near bird feeders or bags of grass seed.
Let your trash sit out for an extra day or two before having it hauled off so it’s extra smelly. Your garbage will become a rat magnet in the sweltering summer months, when the heat speeds decomposition.
Situate leaf piles and compost heaps next to the tree line or close to dark or confined spaces. Rats are more likely to venture into these areas than those that are out in the open.
You can buy rat attractant from most pet stores, or in the pest control aisle of your local home improvement center. A little bit of rat attractant goes a long way. Hints of the chemical will make nearby rodents curious, but too much may actually repel them.
You should find an extensive selection to look over at most hardware stores, home improvement centers, and gardening shops. If you’re not sure which type of trap would work best for a given space, ask a certified pest control specialist for a recommendation.
If you’re contending with a full-blown infestation, you may need as many as a dozen or more traps to get the job done
Keep the traps in plain sight to make it easy for the rats to find their way in. Don’t forget to make the other people inhabiting the space aware of the presence of the rat traps.
A savory plant-based food like peanut butter will be your best bet when you’re not sure what type of rat you’re dealing with. Brown rats are also known as Norway rats, gray rats, wharf rats, and sewer rats. Black rats are variously referred to as house rats, ship rats, and roof rats. [10] X Research source
Though it requires more patience, eliminating rats one at a time using lethal or nonlethal traps is ultimately the safer and more effective way to go. If you or someone in your home is accidentally exposed to rat poison, call your local Poison Control center and follow the first aid instructions laid out on the product label. [12] X Research source
Cut your bait of choice into thin strips or small crumbs so that they can be eaten quickly. Cautious rats might attempt to drag bigger chunks back to their nests or nibble around the edges from a safe distance.
Don’t give up on a particular food or lure if it doesn’t work immediately. It may take a few days for the rats to work up enough curiosity to sample it.
Also, keep trash away from the exterior of your home.
It may help to cover infested areas with a light dusting of flour or salt. Not only will this make the tracks easier to see, but it also happens to be quite the tasty treat for a rat. Be on the lookout for long, linear marks from “tail drag” as well. [16] X Research source
Dried rat feces can carry diseases that are transmitted through particles in the air, so be sure to safely dispose of droppings as soon as you discover them. Always wear rubber gloves and cover your nose and mouth with a facemask or respirator while cleaning up. [18] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
Most of these marks will be concentrated around places where rats tend to find their way inside, like gutters, crawl spaces, eaves, and window casings. [20] X Research source Structural damage coupled with the presence of droppings or stray nesting materials is a sure sign that there are rats afoot.
You’re likely to overhear the most disturbances at night, when rats set out to hunt for food.
