How To Keep Rats Out of a Home

• Garbage that rats can get into, like garbage cans with loose lids, plastic or paper bags, and litter.


• Food for pets and birds that has not been eaten. Birdseed on the ground, pet food in pet dishes, bread crumbs, etc.


• Fruits and berries that have fallen to the ground.


• Compost pile or worm bin that isn't taken care of the right way (do not put meat, fish, poultry, or dairy in the compost)


• Dog droppings

• Foods, fats, oils that have been spilled and left on counters, floors, appliances and tables


• Grains, like cereal, oats, rice and vegetables like potatoes and carrots that are in cardboard boxes and plastic bags


• Pet food in boxes or bags


• Any garbage that is not in a can with a tight lid

First, and most important, block the rats access to your home. Many people focus on filling holes and cracks inside their home. The problem is that in the typical home there are too many pathways through walls, attics, and crawlspaces for you to block them all. A much more effective method to block access is from the outside of your home.

[STEP 1]
Put on your disposable gloves to avoid skin irritation. Put 1 cup of boric acid into a bowl. Begin adding chicken broth to the boric acid, about a 1/2 tsp. at a time. Stir very well after each addition, until you have a thick paste that's no longer easily stirred. If it's too thin, just add a little more boric acid. The odor of the broth will attract the rats, which will eventually die from consuming the boric acid.

[STEP 2]
Roll the paste into balls about the size of a marble. Place two or three of the balls into jar lids or other small disposable containers, creating baits that will be easy to relocate if need be.

[STEP 3]
Place the baits in areas where you have seen rat droppings, which are places that they are the most likely to reappear.

[STEP 4]
Watch the baited areas for the cessation of droppings, or for the appearance of dead rats.

[STEP 1]
Put on disposable gloves. Combine 1 cup of flour or cornmeal with 1 cup of sugar or powdered chocolate mix. Add 1 cup of baking soda and blend the mixture very well. The sugar or chocolate will attract the rats and the baking soda will soon kill them after they've consumed it.

[STEP 2]
Fill some jar lids about half full with the rat bait.

[STEP 3]
Set the baited jar lids wherever you have noticed rat droppings. The rats are most likely to return to these spots.

[STEP 4]
Monitor the areas for indications that your problem is solved, once you no longer spot new droppings. Watch for dead rats.

[STEP 1]
Put on your disposable gloves. Combine 1 cup each of flour or cornmeal, sugar or powdered chocolate mix and plaster of Paris. Blend the mixture very well. The smell of the sugar or chocolate will attract the rats and they will eat the bait. Consuming the plaster of Paris will kill them when it combines with fluids and hardens in their gastrointestinal tracts.

[STEP 2]
Spoon enough of the mixture into jar lids to fill them about halfway.

[STEP 3]
Place the baited lids in areas of your home where you've noticed rat traffic, particularly where you've found droppings.

[STEP 4]
Watch the areas carefully for dead vermin. You should also notice that the appearance of fresh droppings is diminishing or has ceased altogether.

• Hard plastic jaws are wired to a strong spring, promoting quick death.


• Bait cup is loaded from underneath, removing fingers from harm.


• Trap is armed by foot pedal so it can be baited, placed and the jaws set.


• Multiple use durability although spring is subject to rust, so traps should be stored indoors.


• Tamper-proof Bait Station is offered (at an extra charge).

• Not available in stores so Internet or telephone orders are required.


• Like all baited traps, victims can be non-intended targets, such as lizards, pets and songbirds.