Why Does Onion Kill Rats?
WouterIf you’re wondering why onion kills rats, you’re not alone. This plant is known for its foul odor, which rats find extremely offensive. While onions don’t kill rats instantly, they can make them sick and relocate to a more suitable location around your home. Fortunately, cooking onions reduces the sulfur content, which gives onions their strong, pungent smell. The high temperatures neutralize this component.
Onions contain several compounds that kill rats and mice. This toxicity affects a rat’s body slowly. This is due to the fact that rats can’t vomit, and therefore suffer from slow poisoning. However, if rats eat a raw onion and are confined in a small space, they will eventually succumb to the toxicity and die. In addition to killing rats, onions can also cause gas and digestive problems in mice.
Rats don’t like the smell of raw onions, which is why cooking them is a good idea. In addition to neutralizing the odor, onions have a sweet flavor that rats find irresistible. While some rats are able to tolerate the smell, others will avoid them completely. Cooked onions are not very nutritious, and are high in sugar and fat. This means that they won’t be as effective as you might hope.
Some rats may be able to avoid onions altogether if they are placed around holes and gaps. Alternatively, you can place onions around gaps and windows as a natural rat repellent. Rats can also be frightened away by the strong odor of onions.
