﻿ How to Kill Rats Without Poison
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How to Kill Rats Without Poison

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There are many methods for killing rats - poisoning, snap traps, electric traps, glue traps, etc. But in my 10+ years working in rat control, I have DEFINITELY learned that only one thing matters - you must find out how the rats are getting inside the building, through holes, gaps, vents, etc, and seal these areas shut. Nothing else matters. Once the whole house is sealed shut with steel repairs, then you must physically trap and remove the rats - read information about rat trapping - analysis and methods for how to trap. Any other method is a waste of time.

How To Kill A Rat
Rats are animals that do not have a good reputation among the vast majority of people, and the first instinct of many people who find a rat in or around their home is to try and kill it. Rats are elusive and resourceful animals and will often be able to avoid people for a large portion of their lives, but a species that lives so close to people will inevitably have some conflict. People have often come up with ingenious ways to kill rats, but there are also some very simple ways to get rid of the problem.

Unfortunately, rat poison is among the best selling ways that people can use to kill rats, but the reality is that rat poison really isn't a good solution, as it has a number of issues that can arise. First of all, repeated studies have shown that only around 60% of the rats in an area will die from poison. Some don't eat it, and some don't die. Those that survive quickly multiply. Second, studies have proven that new rats from outside quickly replace dead rats, given the sudden drop in territory defense. One of the other problems is that the poison is a cruel way to kill a rat, if you care about that. Another issue is that rat poison will not mean a quick death, and this means that the rats will usually go back to their nests to die. The odor of stinking rats in your attic and walls is terrible! As well as the problem with the carcasses, the droppings from rats that have consumed poison can also be toxic.

There are many different types of lethal traps that people can use if they are trying to kill rats, and these can vary in how effective they are and how humane they are. Some traps will use a glue board to hold the rat until it dies, which is an especially cruel way to kill the rat, while there are others that will kill the rat instantly using a simple crush trap or even traps that electrocute the rats. The best thing to do if you must kill the rat is to look at traps that will kill the rat quickly and humanely.

Other Methods Of Killing Rats
As well as the options of traps and poisons, there are other alternatives that can be used to kill rats or claim to be effective. Shooting is one option, but this is generally ineffective because rats are not solitary creatures, and killing one rat doesn't deal with the overall problem. There are also a variety of other solutions such as a motion triggered laser gun, but this has also proved to be generally ineffective.

Dealing With The Carcasses
Rat carcasses aren't a pleasant thing to deal with, but if you are going to be killing rats then it will be a necessity. It is worth checking on your local state regulations about the disposal of rat carcasses, but if there are no legal obstructions it should be possible to place these within a double layer of bin liners and disposed of.

Alternatives To Killing Rats
The best way to avoid having to kill a rat is to make sure that they aren't able to gain access to your property in the first place. This can be achieved by ensuring that any soffits and woodwork in your property are kept in good condition, and that the property is regularly checked for any holes or damage that could allow rats access.

As well as the exclusion policy of keeping rats out, some people will also consider using repellents to keep the rats away, but unfortunately these are generally ineffective. For those who are adamant that they want to remove rats it is possible to do so using live traps, and there are some trappers that will offer such a service. This can often prove to be more expensive than traditional trapping, and also has problems in terms of releasing the rats after they have been trapped.

More in-detail how-to rat removal articles:
Information about how to keep rats away - prevention techniques.
Information about how to catch a rat - remove one stuck in the house.
Information about rat repellent - analysis of types and effectiveness.

You're here to learn how to kill rats without poison in your house, the attic, ceiling, walls, roof, etc. This site is intended to provide rat education and information, so that you can make an informed decision if you need to deal with a rat problem. This site provides many rat control articles and strategies, if you wish to attempt to solve the problem yourself. If you are unable to do so, which is likely with many cases of rat removal, please go to the home page and click the USA map, where I have wildlife removal experts listed in over 500 cites and towns, who can properly help you with your nuisance rat. For more information, go to may main how to get rid of rats page.
