Rats are one of the most dangerous and frustrating infestations. In the 16th century, they caused the largest and most disastrous plague in history, so deadly that it was named simply The Plague. That is not all they do. The UN poses them as a major risk to human society on the same level as global warming. There have been billions in lost and destroyed food stores for emergencies like hurricanes in Developing countries and the amount of damage caused by rats enters the hundreds of billions. Rats are a menace to everyone and everything, and some would say they know it. However, modern science has created a powerful poison that functions on the rat’s most important quality: their high water content. Rats need to drink water nearly constantly and that is something you can control by limiting their access to water on your property and in your home.
If you already have rats on your property and in your house, it is imperative that you do not attempt to use poison on the inside of the house as that would cause rats to die inside the walls which can result in horrific smells and a red bloodstain where the rat died. Instead, it is important to use snap traps that are baited with something rats like, shrimp shells should do well, they love shellfish. One very important thing to know is rats can smell death, mainly because they are carrion feeders and eat the leftovers of other animal’s hunts, but are also able to smell the scent of death of other rats. For this reason, you cannot use a snap trap twice. You must dispose of the trap along with the dead rat in the garbage and get a new snap trap to replace it.
There are other ways of preventing and cutting off access to rats and what they desire but this can be difficult. Rats need water but Norway rats, the most common rats in Noth America, can swim and tread water in the sewer for three days and hold their breath underwater for three minutes. They are incredible swimmers and can come up through your drains to enter the house from any drain pipe or even the toilet. This means you will need to put a rat stopper where the city pipes meet the plumbing of your home. This will help prevent rats from entering your home from the sewer.
If this all sounds like a lot of work it is. The UN cannot stop rats from destroying their global food stores and the same goes for a single home. Rats will get inside, all you can do is get rid of the things they want. Seal your garbage get rid of water on your property like ponds water features and pools. Get rid of food on your property, feeding pets outside and bird feeders attract rats.
