How to get rid of rats in the garden

Do you have a rat problem in your garden? Rats are one of the rodents that commonly pester a garden and as a homeowner who values his or her garden, this is something that could very much frustrate us. It is very understandable because we cultivate our garden every day. We exert effort, time, and of course money to make it look good and better every day and we don't want anything that would ruin it. Unfortunately, rodents are almost always present. What can we do to get rid of them and make them leave our garden alone?


Signs of rats in the garden

Rat nests
If you have rats in the garden then there is certainly a nest there. Where do you find their nests? Remember that rats are attracted to clutter especially if the cluttered items are paper, cardboard materials, or cloth.


Rat droppings
Rats can produce up to 40 droppings in one night so rat presence will always leave rat droppings. Very clear and obvious evidence of rat problems.


Rat footprints
You will see rat footprints in the dirt if your garden is infested with rats.


Burrows
If you have brown rats in your garden you are most likely to see burrows because these species are very good diggers. Burrows serve as shelter and nest for them and the future offsprings, it also serves as a secure place where they store their food.


The place smells like ammonia
Rat infestation is accompanied by a strong smell of ammonia. This is not surprising as rats can excrete up to 40 droppings per night. 


What attracts rats in your garden?
Why do you get rats in the garden? First, let us know what attracts rats in the garden so we could better know how to keep them out and away from our garden premises.
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• Entrance
• Source of food
• Source of water
• Clutter
• Untidy garden

How to get rid of rats in the garden

Eliminate food and water sources
Rats will always settle for places where there are food and water for them. So, to keep rats from being attracted to your garden be sure to remove anything that could be food for them. Same with water, make it certain that you don't leave a pet water bowl at night. Taps should not be leaking or dripping. 


Keep garden clean and tidy
Rats are very attracted to clutters. Where there is a mess there they'll also want to go. Keep your garden clean and tidy to not attract the attention of rats in your garden. This means maintaining your garden, picking up any fruits or vegetables that fall on the ground, removing any piling of wood and materials, and more.


Seal any access points
Rats can use even small spaces and gaps to enter so make sure to inspect your home for any spaces that could be easy access points for these rodents and seal all of them.

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Conclusion: How to get rid of rats in the garden

Rats in the garden are not unheard of. Where there are sources of foods and water, rats survive and thrive. Some of the signs of rats in the garden include rat footprints, nests, droppings, burrows, rat odour, and more. Rats are attracted to a home and garden where they can find an entrance, source of food and water. They are also drawn to an untidy garden. To get rid of rats it will help greatly to eliminate food and water sources, keep the garden clean and tidy, and seal any entry points.

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