How Do Rats Go Away in Winter?
Winter is a tough time for rodents and pest control is more of a concern than usual. Luckily, there are ways to protect your home and family from these pests. Rats and mice don’t like the frigid weather, which is why they find ways to protect themselves and find shelter in homes and buildings. These tips will help you make sure your home is rat-free this season.
Rats stockpile food in the summer and fall, so that they can feed their growing litter during the cold months. During the winter, their activity slows down, but they still need to find food and shelter. Outside of human-inhabited areas, they will find a burrowing den, tree, or woodpile to stay warm. Rats will also use the warmer months to collect food in preparation for winter.
Although rats don’t enjoy the cold, they don’t hibernate. The cold weather is tough on us, but it must be even tougher on rats. They spend most of the year outdoors, so they have to adapt to the conditions. Because of this, they tend to choose their shelter differently depending on the season. During the winter months, they will pay close attention to the insulation of the structure, as well as the overall temperature.
Rats will eat almost anything. They often eat grains and seeds, but they will also feed on your food waste during the cold months. You can prevent rat infestation by moving bird feeders away from structures or removing food that they use as a nest.