What Can You Do to Prevent Rats From Entering Your Home?
It can be stressful to have a rat infestation, but the best way to prevent them is to deny them their food and water sources. Rats only drink about 15-60 ml of water a day, so you should make sure you don’t give them access to your water source. In addition, rats tend to eat a variety of foods, so if you can get rid of them by cutting down on their diet, that’s a huge step towards prevention.
Rats are attracted to open food sources, so if you leave your food out all day, you’ll likely attract them. They’ll feed on almost anything, from small rodents to tiny insects. In addition to these foods, rats will even eat the food you leave out on the counter. These critters also leave behind their droppings and urine, which can pose a health risk.
Rats love debris, so you should avoid leaving debris on your property. You should also store wood piles up to 18 inches above ground level and avoid storing lumber against walls. In addition, keep your home clean and tidy. Keep bird feeders empty, clean up spills and store food in rat-resistant containers. Lastly, make sure that your trash is properly sealed.
Sealing holes is one of the most effective ways to prevent rats from entering your home. Even a quarter-inch hole in a door can be easily penetrated by a rat, so it’s essential to make sure the gaps are sealed. Use steel wool to plug small holes. You can also prevent rats from climbing trees and shrubs to enter your home by trimming vines and branches. You can also use plastic sheeting to protect the trunk of trees.