The roof rat, also known as the black rat or the house rat, is one of the most common household pests in America—and one of the most common reasons why we get called out to provide our rodent control services in Bartlesville, OK. While we are happy to assist whenever you need our extermination and rodent control services, it’s also important to know there are steps you can take to prevent rats from becoming a problem in the first place.
Here are some tips for defending your property against roof rats.
Keep your property clean
A clean yard is one of the best ways you can prevent rats from coming in and taking over. Be sure you always rake underneath your trees and shrubbery, and prune any fruit trees so the ground underneath them is constantly visible. If you have wood and lumber, put them in piles that are at least 18 inches off the ground and away from walls, if you have to store them outside of a shed or garage. Thin out your bushes, at least to a reasonable extent.
All of these steps will make it easier for you to spot rats, and prevent them from making nests on your property.
Don’t accidentally provide rats with a food source
Controlling food sources is another great way to prevent rats from becoming an issue on your property. Rats will eat just about anything they find to survive, including garbage and dog droppings. Therefore, make sure you keep garbage in bins, never leave pet food outside and keep your yard clear of dog feces. If you already have rat problems, it might also be beneficial to stop filling your bird feeders, at least until the problem subsides.
If you have bulk foods you store, keep them in sealed, rat-proof containers. Make sure all garbage containers on your property are covered tightly.
Finally, if you have fruit trees or bushes on your property, make sure you pick all fruit. If you already have rats, this should include fruit that isn’t ripe. If fruit falls on the ground, make sure you pick it up.
Place traps and bait in strategic locations
This is a tip that works both for prevention and elimination strategies. Set out snap traps strategically around your property, baited with creamy peanut butter. Start by setting them in your laundry room and garden shed—places that are going to be out of the way of most of your everyday activities, and where visitors are not likely to be poking around. Don’t put too much peanut butter on the trap—you want the rat to have to work to get to it. You can also place bait stations in your yard. Make sure you follow all provided directions whenever using traps or poison of any kind, and set them up so your own pets and children will not get at them.
For more information about rodent control in Bartlesville, OK, contact Excellence Pest Control today. We look forward to assisting you!