Can Alcohol Kill Rats?
For years, the New York City government has been looking for a solution to the rat problem. Now, the borough’s borough president has unveiled a new device: a bucket-sized rat trap. It entices rats by placing food on top and then drops them into a solution of alcohol. The rats then fall unconscious, and the liquid kills them. The tank can hold up to 80 dead rats.
But before we can say for certain that alcohol kills rats, we should first look at the mechanism of how alcohol kills rats. A rat is exposed to alcohol when it is left unprotected for extended periods of time. However, the alcohol’s chemical composition makes it a more potent disinfectant than other agents. In addition, alcohol can cause more damage to human skin and to other tissues if it comes in contact with human skin.
New York City’s solution is not considered as “humane” and has been condemned by animal rights groups as cruel. This method kills rats immediately, but will not control the overall rodent population. The rats’ population will inevitably rebound once the animals reproduce and are fertile again. Therefore, a more permanent solution to the problem is to change the environment in which the rats live.
Another natural solution to the rat problem is the use of mothballs. These products are available in department stores and should be placed in areas where the rats live. Another method is to use ammonia, which has a pungent smell that is highly repulsive to rats. When mixed with water or detergent, this poison kills the rat in a matter of minutes.