9 Ways to Repel Rats Naturally For A Rodent-Free Fall

RATS! A very common pest for both urban and rural areas. In the fall, they start looking for shelter due to the much cooler temperatures. Repelling these nasty rodents is imperative and here’s why: Rats carry more than 20 diseases, and this poses a potentially very dangerous threat. They can also bring fleas and ticks into your home which can be hazardous to your pets. So, learning tips and tricks to repel rats is essential for a happy, healthy and clean home.  

9 Ways to Repel Rats Naturally For A Rodent-Free Fall

Here are the most common places where they find shelter in the fall and winter months:

• Attics
• Basements
• Porches
• Under concrete
• Behind walls
• Pipelines
• Kitchen cabinets
• Grounds near trees
• Shrubs
• Sheds

Here’s another unsettling fact – a pair of brown rats can produce as many as 2,000 descendants in a year if left to breed unchecked.

Let’s talk rat repellent! Here are the natural repellents we will cover in this article:

• Mothballs
• Ammonia
• Peppermint oil
• Owl feathers
• Black pepper
• Bay leaves
• Onions
• Cow dung
• Get a cat

We will also cover other tips on how to keep these nasty pests at bay. Let’s get started!

1. Mothballs

Mothballs are known to successfully repel rats. These are readily available in your super market and are easy to use. Place a few in your attic, basement, under your porch, or any of their entry points to keep the rats at bay.

Note: Avoid placing mothballs inside the main part of your home as they are harmful to humans and pets. Take proper care that you do not handle them with bare hands.

2. Ammonia

Mix 2 tbsp of liquid dish detergent (dawn soap works best), ½ cup of water, and 2 cups of regular ammonia in a bowl. Place it where rats appear frequently. Since rats can’t stand the smell of ammonia, this remedy will do the trick.

3. Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil can be used to repel rats as they can’t stand its pungent smell. All you have to do is dip a few cotton balls in the peppermint oil and place them in the rat-prone areas and entry points. Peppermint oil is great because it is totally natural and doesn’t harm humans. 

Alternatively, citronella and castor oil can also be used. Also, you can place mint plants around the boundaries of your home to keep them from entering.

4. Owl Feathers

Let nature and the natural order play in your favor here. Owls are a common predator to rats so an owl’s feathers will scare the rats and force them to run away. Place owl feathers inside the known entry points and rat-prone areas in and around your home. This is another face and natural option.  

5. Black Pepper

The pungent smell of black pepper makes it hard for the rats to breathe and they will avoid it. Simply sprinkle some crushed black pepper around the rat-prone areas and entry points. You will notice positive results. Repeat this process when necessary.

6. Bay Leaves

Rats will see the bay leaves as a food source and will eat them. However, bay leaves act as a natural poison to rats, and it actually kills them. Place some bay leaves in the rat-prone areas and entry points. Repeat this process when necessary.

Note: Keep out of reach from your pets.

7. Onions

This is a very effective remedy to get rid of rats naturally. They hate the smell of onions. Place onion slices in all rat-prone areas and entry points.

8. Cow Dung

It is a stinky process but one of the best ways to repel these rodents. Spread the cow dung in your attic and the entry points on the outside of your home. When rats eat the cow dung, it will inflame their stomach and cause them to die.

9. Other Methods to Repel Rats – Rat Traps and Cats

Place a rat trap in the rat-prone areas and entry points. Placing peanut butter and soft cheese on these traps are the most successful lures. Rat traps can be found at your local hardware store and some grocery stores.

Note: Keep all rat traps out of reach from children and pets.

Cats are great hunters and natural rat predators. A good cat will clean up your rat infestation in just a few weeks. Just remember, a cat will not be able to catch a rat that is in the attic or behind a wall so other methods should be used for those areas of your home.

 

Other Tips On How You Can Repel Rats

• Always keep your home and attic clean.
• Seal all the possible entries of the rats using caulk.
• Keep your garbage cans neat and cover them with a lid.
• Remove all the food leftovers and grease from BBQ grills.
• When you experience the presence of these rodents, clean the floor with a solution of bleach and water (equal proportion) to safeguard your family from any disease.
• Make sure that there is no standing water in your flower pots. Pick up your pet’s water bowl at night.
• Cut down tall shrubs and weeds from your garden beds.

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In need of a few rat repelling essentials? Check out these:

• Bring it back to the basics and use what works with these Old Fashioned Moth Balls
• Get Bay Leaves – the natural and non toxic repellent
• Check out this LorAnn Peppermint Oil and solve your rat problem with just a few drops!

from SurvivalLife http://survivallife.com/repel-rats/