Are You Laying Out a Welcome Mat for Rats?

Many people, especially those who live in the country, like to create a yard that is welcome for wildlife. While some will enjoy discovering new species of birds at a feeder, others may leave offerings for squirrels or even deer. However, one animal that is typically not invited to this wildlife oasis is the rat.

About Rats                                

The greater Atlanta area is home to two different species of rat, the brown rat and the black rat. Both are introduced species who boarded ships to join colonists on the way to the new world. Brown, or Norway rats, are tunnellers who keep to the ground, while black rats, also called roof rats, will enter your property through the trees, along telephone wires, and even by jumping roof to roof in densely packed areas. They are lovers of fruit and a big fan of your prize Georgia peaches.

Rat Invasions

Rats are typically not invited to an area because of the kind of destruction that can follow with them. Norway Rats damage from below; their extensive group burrows can actually destroy the foundation of a home. Roof rats can create damage in your attic, loft, or upper story that can cause roof and water damage, as well as destruction of wood, wiring, and insulation.

Rat Attractions

So why do rats choose one home versus another? The answer has a lot to do with the availability of easy food sources. Rats have relatively small territories; they’ll only go a few hundred feet from their food source to build a home if they can. The easier it is to find easy, consistent food; the better an area is for rats. In the city, an open dumpster is a perfect food source. In the country, it can be an open container or bowl of cat or dog food, a chicken feed container that’s not metal and airtight (or an overgenerous feeding schedule for your chickens), and a lot of fruit trees where dropped fruit is left beneath to rot. Acceptable habitats are also needed; basements and crawl spaces with openings, empty attics and haylofts, and even large wood and rock piles are all great home sites for these critters.

How to Keep Rats Away

How do you keep the rats from seeing a vacancy sign on your property? Start by doing a property inspection looking for potential food and habitat areas. Wildlife removal services are great help when it comes to finding the local temptations. They can advise you on the best ways to feed your pets and store your farm animal feed in ways that discourage rats. They can also look at your home and yard and make suggestions on where rats, and other rodents for that matter, can gain entry and cause damage. If you want to do this yourself, check the structure of your home and outbuildings for entrance points and focus your maintenance here. Keep pet food and any outdoor trash in metal or thick plastic, airtight containers and don’t free-feed your cats or dogs. Clean up regularly under your fruit and nut trees, and dispose of this waste far from your home and yard when possible. Check with your local rat removal service for more tips.