When trying to prevent rat infestations, there are several measures that you can take to ensure that your home is safe, and some of these measures are more effective than others. In this article, we’re going to go over the measures that have been shown to work time after time.

Exclusion measures

A big part of the prevention process is the implementation of exclusion measures. As the name suggests, these measures are all about keeping the rats out of your home and off your property. One such measure is a rat proof-fence, which rats cannot climb over or dig under. Another exclusionary measure is finding and sealing all the entry points on the exterior wall of the home. Basically, if there are holes and cracks large enough in the wall for rats to get through, these will need to be sealed.

Hygiene and food denial

Exclusionary measures can be quite effective, but you can’t always make sure that every single tiny crack is closed off. For example, there may be a loose shingle on your roof, and the rats will use it to gain access. So to further improve the efficiency of your preventive measures, you want to remove as many incentives as possible for rats to get in. These incentives include a suitable environment and food sources. Rats thrive in messy environments that are filled with clutter. It doesn’t mean that they are repelled by a clean home, but they are less likely to find it attractive.

Rats also have a very strong sense of smell to the point where they can smell food inside the home from the outside. This is why you want to keep all food sealed and all leftovers and food that you throw away in lidded trash containers.

Devices

Traps and poisons are well-known, effective rat control tools, but they can also be used for prevention. If you can entice a rat with traps and poisons before it builds a nest, you have stopped an infestation before it even begins.

When used to remove an existing infestation, traps and poisons are tools best handled by a pest control professional.

For more information on how to prevent a rat infestation in the most effective manner, or if you are dealing with an infestation and you need professional help, contact us today.