Rats are destructive rodents that, once they enter your yard, you stand to lose a lot. That is one of the main reasons why rats are generally unwelcome. But have you ever stopped and wondered what could be the cause of their sudden appearance?
Well, you should!
Because, unlike other rodents, anything can easily attract rats in your yard. That is why professional gardeners tend to keep their yards in an ideal condition so that they can help to avoid these intruders. So let’s take a look at some of the reasons.
Why Do You Get Rats In Your Yard?
They are attracted to waste food.
There are so many things that attract rats in your yard, one of which is food waste. So if you are the type of person who regularly dumps waste foods in your garden, then there is a huge probability of having rat problems.
The worst part is that rats are not as selective as other animals.
They can thus feed on anything from vegetables, waste meat, and even waste potatoes. They also feed on things such as leather and soft fabrics. You should, therefore, be wary whenever you are throwing foods on your farm, hoping that they will rote and become manure.
What you have to do is to refrain from throwing any waste food in your yard. Also, avoid eating while in the garden because if any food drops, it can attract rats and turn your farm into their new home. If you come across any food waste on your farm, it is best to pick them up and dispose of them carefully.
Once rats learn that your yard is a haven for food remains, they will slowly invade your garden, and within a short time, they are going to destroy some of your plants.
Dripping pipes
Rats spend most of their time moving around, eating waste food, gnawing wood, wire insulators, etc.
Once they finish their destruction, they start running around looking for water so that they can quench their thirst. Well, if you have drip irrigation in your garden or faulty pipes that are constantly leaking, then rats will make your yard their best stop.
They are going to get in your yard whenever they are thirsty since they are sure there is water available. It is also one of the hardest issues to deal with, more so if you have drip irrigation.
You can, however, keep them off by installing rat traps (humane traps for outside). That is one of the actions you should take if you can’t replace your type of irrigation. You can also repair any pipes that are leaking in your garden. That way, you will keep your garden dry, so they will have no reason to intrude.
It is also one of the best ways to keep them from making your yard their home. Once you implement the above, it will take only a few days to realize there is no water in the garden and reduce their reappearing chances.
Availability of compost waste
As much as most people love using compost wastes in their gardens, sometimes it comes with various disadvantages. One of the problems of using this type of manure is that it tends to attract many rats.
Why do you think that is the case? It is because some compost waste comes from animal waste.
Given that rats are attracted to any food, as noted earlier, it is reasonable to say that it is also drawn to digested food as well. That includes compost manure and any animal waste you pour in your yard.
You might wonder why you get rats in your garden, yet you don’t have any dustbins or waste foods; compost manure might be why. To end the rat invasion, one step is to ensure the compost manure rots well enough before you dump it in your garden.
You can also mix the manure with soil as soon as you place it in the soil. As much as rats eat anything, they barely touch the soil, so you can use that to your advantage.
Easy access
You must be wondering why some people spend too much time placing barriers in and around their yards, even though there are no thieves in the area. It is not because they want to make their yards look beautiful but to give rats difficulty accessing the garden.
They give rats a hard time navigating the farm no matter how hard they try. Once they come across barriers and the traps available, they avoid the yard and instead opt for another option.
You can also try protecting your garden by fencing around it with a wire mesh or strategically placing traps all over the garden. Avoid dumping waste foods and compost manure that has not decayed well enough. By doing so, you will stop attracting rats to your yard, and also, the yard becomes relatively rat-proof. It is also one of the best ways to keep other rodents away long-term.
So long as you build the fence nicely and strategically place the traps, you stand a chance to have an easy time controlling the availability of rats on your farm.
The type of plants you grow
Another point that can answer why you get rats in your garden is the type of plants you grow.
Rats, just like other rodents, love some types of plants. For example, if you have a nut tree near the garden that frequently drops nuts all over the place, then be sure that it is the reason why rats are always visiting your yard.
Other plants like fruits also attract rats as well as bird seeds that may be available in your garden. And since you can’t just uproot your plants, you should figure out a way to keep the rats away.
You should also try your best to keep nuts from your yard. Remove as many as you can. If you find the process tiring, you should consider making your garden rat or pes-proof. The best way to do so is to get cats or plant mint at some spots in the garden.
You can also put up solar-powered repellers, which are very popular for keeping off rats. For example, a single unit can cover as much as 6000 square feet. How many you get depends on the size of your garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are rats in the garden dangerous?
Yes, rats are very dangerous in the garden. Despite spreading diseases such as Leptospirosis, which often leads to Weil’s disease, they also end up causing damages like chewing fruits and destroying plants.
Do rats come out during the day?
No, very often. Being nocturnal animals, rats tend to come out during dusk. So the only time you see them outside, there have been some disturbances with the shade.
Is it normal to see a rat in your garden?
Yes, a well-kept garden doesn’t have rats. Seeing only a single rat traversing your garden is ok but seeing it frequently only means you have a problem. You should keep an eye on your garden for rats!
Conclusion
In a nutshell, rats are destructive animals that you should always keep out of your yard. The list above shows some of the main reasons you have rats in your yard.
Keep in mind that rats can end up destroying your plants. That is especially true if they bear fruits. I do all I can to deter rats from my yard to keep my plants safe and my family healthy!
Now that you know what attracts them, you know where to start to get rid of them.
