AnonymousBy an edhat reader
I have hedges that line my property next to my home and I’m used to having a few rats here and there. But this summer, the rats have radically multiplied and they are become more emboldened.
In past summers we might hear a little noise and see one or two scurry around in the evening. Now, they don’t seem bothered by us at all and are coming out much earlier even getting pretty close to us. I watched six of them work together to pull a large orange down from my tree (quite a feat, they deserved it!) so there must be well over 10 living in my hedges.
Without adopting an outdoor cat, does anyone have ideas or tips to humanely get them to move somewhere else or at least not get so confident they’ll walk into my house?
If you have access to oleander leaves, try chopping up a bunch into small pieces, mixing them into peanut butter, and placing it where the rats can get it, but children and pets can’t.
Wow, what a recipe for disaster. This is a stupidly dangerous idea, do not do this!
It is poisonous, so you have to handle it carefully.
How so, pray tell?
Some great suggestions. Now, can someone recommend a solution to our problems with crows (or are they ravens)? Every evening, we are assaulted by hundreds of crows. No exaggeration! Hundreds! They are loud, scaring our pets and all other wildlife in the area. Plus, it seems their fulltime day job is raiding other birds’ nests. They are horrible!
Though I have not tried it yet, I’ve heard that to deter crows you get a realistic, fake dead crow and hang it where they can see it. Fake crows are available online (sold specifically for this purpose), and sometimes in the autumn at craft and Halloween stores. But crows are smart, so they might not be fooled for long. Be careful: if the crows get mad at you, they’ll harass you. Crows remember faces.
now you want to go after birds? WTF people. These are living creatures no different than you. Sorry, the crows were here before us. So were the rats. One eats the other at times. Crows are the smartest bird out there with an intelligence compared to an average 7 year old human. I walk around my neighborhood and feed the crows little hot dog pieces. They follow me, big cloud of them. They are patient and gentle. I’ve had several take the piece from my hand. I’ve had them walk up to me and nod so i toss them a little piece. Crows are very intelligent. If you’re so dead set of scaring them off, it’s simple. Clap your shoes together loudly. They will go. That’s all you need to do.
Personally, I love crows.
Thank you, ZEROHAWK, for being the voice of reason. Leave the crows alone, people.
I know what you are going thru. Try fake owls and fake dead crows. These seem to work for me, but I do not have a roosting problem.
In all honesty there’s no truly humane way to kill rats, maybe a less humane way 🙂 they are hardy little creatures. Three suggestions already mentioned is to change their habitat if you can cut back the hedge, always pick up fruit that has dropped off of trees which is to say take away their food source, try buying the professional bait stations you see at shopping centers that have locks on them to keep the kids out. Lastly call in professional pest control if all else fails. NUKE – there are a ton of black crows in my area as well this year, its like the Hitchcock movie at times.
Big 5 sells pellet guns… Once killed, lay them out for the hawks, crows, skunks and raccoons…
Keep in mind the ordinances against the discharge of firearms.
COASTWATCH. I’m pretty sure most people living in Santa Barbara have a neighbor within 150 yds of their house:
Municipal Code, Sec. 14A-5. -—Near houses or places of human habitation.
It is unlawful to shoot, fire or discharge, or cause or permit to be shot, fired or discharged, any firearm, airgun or spring gun within one hundred fifty yards of any house or place of human habitation without the express permission of the owner or person in possession of such house or place of human habitation. ———————–Pellet guns are air guns.
CoastWatch: We bought a combo BB/pellet air rifle (with scope) at Big 5 a few years ago for only $89….that’s what they cost at this moment. Shooting a pellet gun or air rifle is illegal within the city limits of SB, but nearly no reasonable person is going to report you, especially if you are dispatching rats in a safe/sane manner. Whenever we “nail” a rat, we simply leave it in situ because other rats won’t go near the carcass. Eventually, something will eat the rat, usually within a day or less. Be sure to only use non-toxic (no lead) BBs and/or pellets as lead/copper ammo harms other animals when they ingest said substances. Before investing in an air rifle/pistol, try spreading used cat litter in the offending areas (as I mentioned in my first post).
If you know someone with a cat and uses a litter box, simply dump/spread litter box contents around/near the rat infested areas. Be sure to wear a mask when you do this. The more clumps in the mix, the better.
Rat Terrier.
Chemical fertilizers have been a major component in increased agricultural yields in third world countries. This improves quality of life. Food is readily available and cheaper.
Pesticides have had a huge effect on mosquito borne illnesses in the third world as well.
OP: Wildlife comes in cycles. Some years will bring more rats. Anyone else notice how we have zero ant problem this summer as compared to 2020-2022? ——————– Since all of the wonderful rain we enjoyed this past winter, vegetation is thriving. Rats must be so happy. If it were me, and the rats in the hedges are really such a nuisance for you, why not try watering the hedge at night, every night for a while. The rats won’t like the watering one bit. Of course, they may just move on to some other place you don’t want them to be. ———- I wouldn’t worry about the rats strolling on into your home, if you’ve got entryways sealed up. And please don’t worry about rats becoming too bold. They’re terrified of you, because you’re a huge threat to them. If you see them anywhere near you, hiss at them or toss a rock. If you’ve got any Barn owls or Great-horned owls near your property, they will thin the rat population in no time.
2 votes for rat terrier. Or JRT.
There is a rat contraceptive. Really. Search for ContraPest or rat contraceptive – plenty of recent articles.
Until you said you didn’t want a cat, I was going to suggest a cat. Others have suggested dog breeds that are good ratters. But cats are the best!
Cats may be good at getting rats, but they also get birds and lizards, so, not a perfect solution.
Cat
They said no cat.
Two cats
By not taking action you are harming your neighbors. If you won’t act to protect your family you need to do so for others. The idea that there is a magical deterrent to such things is fantasy. Call in a pest trapper if you don’t want to face the task your self.
The problem is the state recently outlawed all the effective rodenticides. Rodent populations are skyrocketing! Sounds like they may rethink this, but until something changes we will see exponential growth of the rodent population.
https://www.pctonline.com/article/rethinking-rodent-management/
Sac, here is a listing of “poisonous chemicals” aka pesticides that are approved for organic farming.
https://www.agdaily.com/technology/the-list-of-pesticides-approved-for-organic-production/
CHIP – your spiraling again. This is about rat deterrents. Just because some poisonous chemicals are used in parts of life, doesn’t mean we should add MORE chemicals. You know that, we know that, everyone knows that. No need to keep derailing the thread.
Rodents are an even greater public health risk. As the rodent population explodes in size, we are going to start to learn about those risks which modern rodenticides had consigned to history. I suspect the rodent problem will quickly become untenable and second gen rodenticides will be brought back to save the day.
You can count on Chip and his petro-buddies to choose the most harmful approaches imaginable to just about any situation.
Sac, “poisonous chemicals” make modern life possible. Everything from meat and produce to EV batteries and solar panels are made with or through the use and release of “poisonous chemicals” into the environment.
No. Only processed meat and and non-organic produce needs poisonous chemicals. Many countries are able to feed their populations without these.
CHIP – only in your fantasy land (where oil and coal are cleaner than wind and solar) do poisonous chemicals “save the day.”
Chip, you’re wrong. plain and simple. I really really don’t get your posts. I have think that you know better and if not…very sad. Poisonous chemicals do not make every day life easier, it destroys it.
Chip, they didn’t outlaw ALL. Just the extremely hazardous poisons that carry to other animals. Rat eats poison, dies, dog/cat/bird picks up dead rat and eats it. kinda easy to figure this one out…and that is no way to remove critters anyway.
A-1689794667 2 JUL 19, 2023 12:24 PM —— Please take my upvote.
For good reason. Rodenticides pose a serious risk to public health and the environment. These are toxic products that cause severe health damage and even death in nontarget wildlife, pets and people.
Hilarious that BASIC would consider the opposition to using poisonous chemicals, “political.” That is the root of the problem in our country. A large group of people continuously labels any opposition to their ideas, opinions, favorite foods, etc, as “political,” thus turning any disagreement, even about rat deterrents, into a ridiculous “attack” which then breaks down any communication. We need to stop the constant division or we’ll never catch up to the more advanced countries.
Lol 44 comments of adults with nothing else to do. It’s amazing how many times a day you kids check edhat. Just give your answer and move on already!
Is your hedge ivy? That’s the best rat habitat out there. Even if not, you need to eliminate their habitat, ie that hedge. Put up a fence or a hedge that isn’t so dense. Even if you try and trap them you’re probably going to lose the battle in the end. Those suckers multiply like crazy. Other option – Jack Russell Terrier. Sit back and watch him or her destroy those rodents! Even better, get two.
I’ve had very good luck (me knocking on wood) with Tomcat Rodent Repellent Spray at a vacation home in a rural setting. Lasts for several months between applications, although, if infestation was severe I would apply more frequently. I was skeptical at first but a believer now.
Like chicken soup for a cold – can’t hurt, might help.
Call a professional pest control company. They know what to use to eradicate the rats and not harm the environment.
Import some king snakes and gopher snakes.
I have had some luck with diluted peppermint oil. There’s a fine line between using the oil when it’s too strong and damages the foliage, and discouraging the rats.
BasicInfo805: You are absolutely correct that it’s difficult to terminate an adult rat with a BB, but using eco-friendly pellets does the job nicely. The scope helps, but only if you have it dialed in. No one wants rats in their house, and we have had our share INSIDE our very/ultra clean house. We live near lots of ivy and climbing vines, which basically constitute rat highways. We bait our mechanical traps with almonds, which gets them each and every time. The trick to using almonds is to make sure that they are firmly in place. If using a traditional wood-base rat trap (like the Victor brand traps), you need to bend the small spike on the bait hinge/tab upwards, then press the fat end of the almond onto the spike (the spike is only about 1/4-inch long). If using the plastic “reusable” rat traps, press the almond securely into the small bait cup. Traps need to be placed along baseboards or along shelf walls as rats usually travel along walls/etc. using their whiskers as a guide.
For anyone who does not desire to actually kill rats, there are any number of humane traps out there. Keep in mind that you then need to transport the rat(s) somewhere to release them.
We are not going to be wiped out by a wave of rats.! The populations go up and down, and right now we’re in an up. In about 2008? our Meyer lemon was about chewed to the trunk by rats, and they also ate all our ferns. It took about half a decade for the tree to recover and it really has never had the number of lemons on it that it had before the Big Chewing. I just noticed that two of the lemons are down on the ground without their skins. That means rat. I will go out and rub diluted peppermint oil on the trunk and stems.
We had avo trees and rats love them. Had a fellow remove the rats nests (expensive). Also resident Great Horned owls helped. Hawks also. But we were in a semi- rural area. Pest control expert said they’re difficult to trap because they’re so smart. If on goes in and is trapped, the others learn from that. Good luck. I WOULD call in Lenz Pest Control for a consultation. They’re knowledgeable and good folks.
This kind of thinking is absurd. Maintaining families of rodents on your property is a health hazard to your family and your neighbors. I realize that the solution is not pretty, unfortunately. For motivation, please open up your history book and review the section on plagues spread by rodents. Next, use common sense and deal with your problem using common sense methods like mouse traps. If you are able, utilize a domesticated predator like a cat or rat terrier. Do your part for public health. Encourage your neighbors to do the same. Geez, what’s wrong with people?
Natural Rat Deterrent >>> rataway.com. It’s made by a local man in Ojai who is the BEST. He helped us get rid of rats nesting in our attic and we bought some rataway from him. You spray it around your property, inside your car engine etc. It’s friggin magic! Even though it says it’s a fragrance, you can’t smell it. I’m super sensitive to most all “fragrances” and can not smell it at all. Only the rats can. Re-apply every so often to keep’em gone.
Would an owl box (boxes) be appropriate for your neighborhood?
Have killed hundreds of rats with just about every method. Most (large) rats can “ooze” through a 1/2″ -5/8″ diameter hole, by unhinging their jaw such that the skull is the widest body part. They do it pretty fast and it is super creepy to watch. Rats are smart and appreciate fine food and while they may know and fear traps, when they are baited with peanut butter that was freshly ground that morning, they’ll often go to the trap. Snap traps come from the package with way too stiff an adjustment, so bend the trip lever such that it barely holds the trap set. Sometimes the trap springs as I walk away and needs further adjustment, but that is the degree of sensitivity required to prevent the traps from becoming feeding stations. Good luck!
Sub-sonic 22 shot loads are not noisy and produce few down range issues. It is illegal near residences!
We had a few rats in our garage last year and came up with a cool way to dispatch them that was also safe for our dog. Take a small/medium carboard box (Amazon is great for this) and cut a 2″x2″ hole in the side. Put a rat trap in the box, set it and carefully tape the box closed. Rat goes in, WHACK, then take the whole box and put it in trash. You never have to touch or really see the rat. Done!
Rat deterrents and repellants just move them to your neighbors’ properties. Nice.