7 Common Reasons of Rat Infestations and How to Avoid Them

The last thing that you want to deal with inside your home is a rat infestation. Not only do these pesky rodents destroy wiring, insulation, and household items, but they also carry diseases. When you want to keep the rats out of your home, there are ways to avoid some of the more common reasons why they might infest your residence in the first place.

1. Setting Garbage Outside Your Door

Especially if your garbage bin is typically kept on the curb, you may simply place a bag outside of your door until the next morning so that you can throw it away on your way to work. However, leaving garbage outside of your door even for a few hours will attract rats.

If the rats find such a ready food source at your door, they may become curious and decide to venture inside of your home to find more. Instead of leaving any garbage near your doors, try to get into the habit of taking it to the curb immediately to keep the rats away from your home’s exterior.

2. Neglecting to Seal Food in Airtight Containers

Along with setting garbage outside, leaving food out in your kitchen or other rooms will also invite rats into your home. Rats have a keen sense of smell, and if they get a whiff of food while scurrying along the exterior of your residence, they will decide to come inside to find out what you have for them to eat.

Whenever possible, store your open food in airtight containers. You can also store some open packages in your refrigerator if the cold will not harm the contents.

3. Providing Sources of Water for the Rats

Along with a ready food source, rats are also drawn to a convenient water supply. If you leave open containers outside of your house or have dishes filled with water inside your kitchen, the smell of the water will attract the rodents.

Make sure you leave any outdoor open containers upside down so that they do not collect water. Additionally, do not leave any dishes filled with water in your kitchen, and dry your sink out every night before going to bed.

4. Leaving Openings in Exterior Walls Unrepaired

Rats are capable of squeezing themselves through the smallest of spaces. If you have any openings in your exterior walls, they will find them and come inside.

Inspect the exterior walls by walking along the outside of your home, and look for openings while inspecting the walls from the inside. If the holes are small, fill them caulk. If they are large, take steps to cover them with a board or have someone repair the damage.

5. Having Overgrown Branches Touching Your Residence

Not only do rats have a way of finding small holes, but they can also find easy pathways into your house when you have overgrown branches touching the exterior. They can balance on small branches, crawl on the siding of the house, and find a way in.

To prevent this scenario, trim back any overgrown branches so that they do not touch your house. As long as the ends are a few feet away, the rats will not be able to reach your home.

6. Giving Them Shelter Outside of Your Home

Along with food and water, rats need shelter from the elements. If you have a garage or shed near your home that has holes in them, the rats may use these as shelter. Since rats have a curious nature, they may then decide to investigate your house as a home when the weather turns cold.

As with your home, make sure you seal up any holes in your garage or shed.

7. Keeping Areas Close to Your Home Cluttered

Permanent structures are not the only potential source of shelter for rats. If you leave the area outside of your home cluttered with automotive parts, boxes, or bags, the rats will use these to get out of the weather.

Try to get in the habit of throwing away any unwanted clutter and putting items away instead of leaving them outside. Doing so will not only keep the rats from taking up residence outside of your house, but it will also deter them from deciding to investigate your home for better accommodations.

Even when you take every precaution to keep rats out of your home, the rodents may still find a way inside. If you find that you have a rat infestation, contact a pest services company to help you get rid of your unwanted house guests.