Rats are one of the most common and most dangerous pests in the US. They are known carriers and spreaders of diseases, and on top of that, they can cause damage inside the home by destroying insulation and wiring. As such, it’s important to get rid of them whenever they cause an infestation. But can you prevent an infestation from occuring in the first place by striking first and destroying any burrows that you may find in your yard? Let’s find out.

The Norway rat burrow

Norway rats are quite adept at surviving outdoors. However, despite their shrewdness, agility and hardiness, rats still have trouble with numerous predators. As such, they cannot stay out in the open for too long. This is where their burrows come in. These burrows serve as their sleeping, storage and nesting areas.

One of the distinctive traits of this rat species is its close connection to humans. While other rat species live close to us and infest our buildings, they still have a large percentage of the population that is completely wild. Norway rats on the other hand will mostly live near human settlements, digging their burrows near buildings, under fire wood, or in garbage piles. This close proximity allows them to get in and out of our homes to look for food and shelter.

Should you target the burrows?

If you are dealing with a rat infestation, targeting the burrows is not really effective. You can place traps or poisons near the entry if you find them, but effective control will require more finesse. Rats are very suspicious and very intelligent. They will not go near anything new in their environment, until they get used to it. On top of that, if some rats start dying in an area, the other rats will start to avoid it.

The best way to control an infestation using traps and poisons is to set these up near trails that the rats use regularly, and then wait a few days for the rats to get used to their presence. You also want to use adequate bait, such as peanut butter, in your trap. While rats will eat cheese, it’s not their first choice, and given their paranoia, they are more likely to avoid a trap that has the wrong bait if there are other food sources available. If you would like to know more information on dealing with rats, or if you need the help of a pest control specialist to remove an infestation, contact us today.