I believe in treating all creatures with respect. My mission is to ensure everyone understands how to protect their home from rodents without using cruel methods.
Rats are widespread, and they are regular visitors to your home, whether you know about it or not. As a chancer, a rat will approach your home looking for food.
A rat will take advantage if it finds a way into your home while hunting for food. Next thing you know, you have a rat’s nest in your home!
The rat must navigate your yard to get to your home.
Although this is not technically a deterrent, it does stop rats from getting very far in your yard!
Rats are looking for food pretty much all of the time. Traps with some attractive food will ensure the rats will not venture too far without being caught.
When catching rats, it is worth considering which trap to use in your yard. The options are as follows:
Snap Traps – Work well, but there is a danger of catching other wildlife.
Door Traps – These tempt the rat and keep it trapped until you check.
Electric Traps – Similar to the door traps, these electrocute rats when they enter.
Poison – Has no way to discourage other wildlife from eating it. Also, if a rat takes the bait and is eaten by a predator, it will be poisoned.
I prefer to go for the door traps with poison in them. That way, the rat will take the bait but will be trapped. Check the trap every few days and clear out any dead Rats.
Set up a nice, comfortable place for your cat to rest in your yard. If your cat is ever-present in your yard, it will act as an almighty deterrent for rats and other rodents.
Cut down hiding places.
Rats like to travel undercover. They will only venture into wide-open spaces if they need to. Bushes, plants, and trees offer some excellent cover that rats will use to travel and keep out of the way of predators.
The more a rat travels in an open space, the more it is exposed to predators from above, such as owls, and other birds of prey.
Your yard will no doubt be covered with plants and bushes. The critical thing is to make your yard more open and inconvenient for a rat to travel in.
While you are checking your yard for shrubbery to cut down, take a look at
Get an electronic rat deterrent
It is difficult to say with 100% authority that electronic, ultrasonic rat deterrents work.
My negativity is that some users purchase an ultrasonic rat deterrent, but I cannot be sure they are being used effectively. After a discussion with several users, I can see varying levels of success when using one of these devices, and I am sure this is down to how they are being used.
Also, it is worth remembering that mice and rats are very adaptive. Sure, ultrasonic deterrents can deter them, but they will find another area to travel and set up a nest when they learn to avoid these areas. If you will buy one, it is best to buy a few to ensure all areas are covered.
You will also need external power sockets to power the devices in your yard.
Store food correctly
If you store food in your yard, ensure all food items are stored correctly.
Rats can chew through many items and need to gnaw to keep their teeth at a decent length constantly.
Do not store food in:
Plastic Bags
Plastic Containers
Woven Bags
Wooden Boxes
Do store food in:
Strong, sealed metal containers
Glass Containers
Food is the number 1 reason rats enter your yard; removing food attraction will reduce the chances. It will not deter a rat from entering your yard but remove part of the attraction.
Remove bird feeders
Very similar to the tip above! Rats enter your yard looking for food. Now that you have stored all of your food correctly, the next step is to remove the bird feeder.
Some people love feeding birds, and looking out your window at a bird feeder full of wild birds is relaxing. Unfortunately, having a bird feeder will attract rats and other rodents. Rodents and Birds eat seeds and nuts.
If the attraction of seeing birds feeding in your yard is too great for you, the only thing you can do is take down the bird feeder during the night, when the rats are most active. However, it will not stop other rodents from feeding on it, such as squirrels.
Conclusion
If you want to know how to deter rats from your yard, then the 6 tips above will help!
The last thing you want is rats in your home, and your yard is the last line of defense before they get to your house. Deterring rats from entering your yard is an excellent way of ensuring a rat-free home and will also remove the potential health hazards of having these rodents near your property.
Always keep in mind the other wildlife when deterring rats from entering your yard. Do not use poison (unless it is in a small trap, only big enough for a rat to enter). Do not use the snap traps, because you might catch the next-door neighbors cat or dog.
Good luck – and if you have found a tip that works for you and is not on this list, please get in touch! We would love you hear from you.
I’m an expert in do-it-yourself rodent control. For more than 20 years, I’ve dedicated my life to helping people live harmoniously alongside these critters by sharing rodent control solutions that are effective and kind.
I believe in treating all creatures with respect. My mission is to ensure everyone understands how to protect their home from rodents without using cruel methods.
