How to Get Rid of Rats Without Poison

If you have rats invading your property, you won’t want to befriend them like Remy from “Ratatouille⁠”—rats are prolific disease-spreaders and can wreak havoc on your home. 

But don’t flip out if you see a rat racing across your kitchen floor. You don’t necessarily have to call out the professional exterminators to set out controversial poisonous bait. The tips below offer solutions to get rid of rats naturally and humanely.  

How to Get Rid of Rats Naturally

1. Be Proactive With Preventative Measures

You can use all the traps in the world, but if you don’t take measures to discourage rats from entering your home, you’re always at risk of new ones setting up residence. Some ways to rodent-proof your home include:

• Seal gaps that are potential points of entry (don’t forget to check attics, basements, and garages)

• Keep things clean and clutter-free (indoors and in your yard)

• Store garbage, dry foods, and pet foods in rodent-proof, airtight containers

If you’ve got the right home and lifestyle to adopt a cat, not only will you be on the receiving end of their lap snuggles, but they can also help scare off rats and get rid of mice.

2. Don’t Just Rely on Natural Repellants

If splashing some peppermint oil around your home seems a too-good-to-be-true permanent solution, that’s because it is. However, using temporary repellants alongside other measures may help and won’t break the bank. 

Try spraying a combination of peppermint oil, black pepper oil, clove oil, and cayenne pepper around your home’s foundation or soaking it into cotton balls and placing them at likely entry points (and out of the way of any pets). Ultrasonic repellants may help, but some rats happily tolerate the sounds or get used to them.

3. Don’t Forget to Check Live Traps

Using live traps is more humane than snap traps, but if you don’t check them frequently (ideally twice a day) or use a suitable design, the rat could suffer unnecessary stress or even perish trapped in the cage. Plus, if you release them too close to your home, they are likely to head back, and there are lower survival rates if release is too far away, in an inappropriate location. Always look for somewhere there is a natural water source, food, and shelter. 

4. Stay Away From Glue Traps

Glue traps are sticky boards that trap the rats (and other critters) when they walk over them. 

Although are still available to buy, they cause unnecessary pain and stress, and there are other kinder and more effective alternatives.

When to Call in the Pros for a Rat Infestation

If you’re dealing with a major infestation or you’re planning on using a rodenticide, hiring a local professional pest exterminator may be the way to go. 

The cost of hiring a rat exterminator averages around $340. This could be a worthwhile investment, as they have the expertise to support safe and speedy eradication and prevention. Some pest control companies also specialize in more humane methods of removal. 

Signs of a Rat Infestation

You might think one rat sighting isn’t anything to worry about. But these critters reproduce quickly, and if they find an easy food source, they’re going to return—probably with their buddies.

By taking prompt action, you reduce the chances of being overrun. Even if you haven’t seen these elusive creatures, some common signs you have a rat problem include:

• Droppings and urine stains

• Clumps of nesting material

• Small chew holes in walls, floors, or food packaging (rats can fit into gaps as small as two fingers wide)

• Unpleasant odors from a build-up of rats and their feces and urine

• Sounds of scuttling paws (it could be either rats or mice, so keep your ears open!)

• Paw tracks

• Coughing and sneezing household members who have rodent allergies

What Attracts Rats to Your House

It is important to note that rats have keen senses. especially incredible noses for finding what they need to survive. Rats are attracted to homes because they sense food, water, and shelter there. Here is a breakdown:

Food Sources

Rats are opportunistic eaters seeking easily accessible food. If your home has open garbage cans, pet food left out, spilled food, or poorly stored pantry items, it becomes an attractive buffet for them. 

Water Sources

Like all creatures, rats need water to survive. Leaky pipes, dripping faucets, and any standing water provide a reliable water source for them. 

Shelter 

Rats look for warm, safe, and hidden places to nest. Cluttered areas, unused storage spaces, attics, basements, and open areas behind walls and floors offer the ideal spots for them to nest and rear their young.

Entry Points

If your home has easily accessible entry points, rats can quickly move right in. Rats can squeeze through small openings and cracks in foundations, walls, roofs, and vents. They can even slip through a gap under your front door. Rats are also known to chew their way into homes. For instance, they can nibble through water-softened wood.

Lack of Predators

In urban and suburban environments, natural predators of rats, including birds of prey, are less present. It creates a situation that allows rat populations to increase.

Poor Sanitation

Homes with poor sanitation practices and neglected maintenance can create environments conducive to rat infestations. Open compost bins, uncovered bird feeders, and trash cans without secure lids attract them to your yard.

Deirdre Sullivan contributed to this article.