Noticing rat activity in your yard may be difficult to pinpoint at first. Signs of rats in your yard may present as small tracks in your flower beds, scratched and gnawed siding, dark stains on exterior walls, and eaten produce in your garden. However, an outside rat infestation should be addressed immediately. Because if rats are outside your home, then they will soon find their way inside.
Here are some tips to get rid of rats outside before they get inside your home and cause extensive damage and contamination.
Tips to Get Rid of Rats Outside
- Remove Rat Attractants
Rats are in search of food, water, and shelter, so a great way to turn the pests away from your property is to remove the things that attracted them in the first place. Start by removing debris, wood piles, or clutter that rats often use to nest within. Regularly trim your lawn, bushes, shrubs, and overhanging branches. Also, tighten leaky water spigots and loose trash can lids, and remove bird feeders, bird baths, and pet food bowls.
- Install Rat Barriers
To get rid of rats outside, you will need to limit their access to reliable food sources on your property. One way to prevent rats from accessing your yard is by installing a barrier around your lawn or garden. A wire screen and steel mesh fence burned three inches deep will be effective at keeping rats out.
- Try Baiting and Trapping
Rodent-specific baits, traps, and rodenticides can easily be found at your local hardware store. However, these methods are not only inhumane, but they can put you, your family, and your pets at risk if not administered properly. These tactics also require removing dead rodents by hand. If you lack the training and safety gear for such a task, then it may be in your best interest to call a wildlife removal specialist to get rid of the rats outdoors for you.
The Trouble with DIY Rat Removal
Most DIY rat removal methods only offer temporary relief from rats and often end up being ineffective, costly, or harmful. If you’re dealing with a troubling rat infestation on your property, rely on the experienced rat removal professionals at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh to get rid of rats outside for good using safe, non-toxic, and eco-friendly methods.
Get Rid of Rats Outside with Critter Control® of Pittsburgh
At Critter Control® of Pittsburgh, our team of licensed and trained technicians are equipped to permanently resolve a rat infestation of any size, inside or outside. To schedule an inspection of your property and receive a complimentary estimate for our rat removal services, call Critter Control® of Pittsburgh today at 412-767-4067.
