Rats are not the cheeky pests they are made out to be. They can be cautious, timid and sometimes won’t even take the risk of going into your house.
If you’ve got a yard filled with greenery or a garage full of old junk, you’ve got a few good reasons to wonder how to keep rats out of the garage.
We’ll give you all the known rat repellents, rat-proofing techniques and rat control methods that garage owners think to be effective.
Table of Contents
How Do You Know If You Have Rats
Basically, if you spot a rat, living or dead, you can be sure there will be more. Other signs are droppings, chewed cables, packages and other plastic or wooden materials.
They wouldn’t want to get out in the open, as they are more afraid of you than you are of them. But once they grow in number, the space they hide would overflow so that they would be forced out in the open. That’s when it would get really troublesome.
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What Attracts Rats to My Garage?
Be aware that rats don’t just pick whatever they come across as their new home. A few key factors attract them, especially to your garage.
- Food. Like any other animal, it will not stay in the same spot if there is no nourishment. They’re not picky, so just about anything edible can attract them. If you have fruits or vegetables stored in your garage or any other unpackaged food, they might pay you a visit. Especially if you have a garden in your backyard.
- Water. The bliss to quench your thirst is another reason for rats (and just about anything living) to get into your garage. If you have leaky pipes, better fix them. And don’t let any still water puddle on your floor.
- Cramped spaces. Rats love cluttered environments, as they provide them not only with warmer shelter but also lots of hiding spots for when a predator is spotted. So, decluttering your garage would be one of the best choices you’ve made this year.
- Past infestations. If you had a previous infestation, chances are, there might be some nesting residue. New rats can smell them and get interested.
How to Keep Rats Out of the Garage
Here, the Fantastic Pest Care team will provide you with information about the most important things you need to do in order to keep rats out of the garage. This is all about not letting the infestation occur in the first place.
- Do not store food or still water. Make sure there isn’t anything that might attract any rats in your garage. Be sure they can smell food, no matter how well it’s packaged.
- Keep the garage tidy. Make sure it’s well swept, and there aren’t any obstructions that can be used by small animals for shelter.
- Keep a lookout for holes. If rats have come, they definitely used holes. Look around regularly and make sure there aren’t any new ones. Also, fill out old ones, but only if you’re certain that you don’t have any rats. If you do have, this would only make the situation worse, as the rats would not have an exit and might die between your walls. Decomposing rat carcases in hidden places is definitely not what you want.
- Check the attic. That’s right, a lot of infestations actually start from the attic. This usually happens, when you have tree branches that physically touch your house or garage. Trim the branches, so they don’t provide the rats with a bridge. And, everything you’ve done with the garage, do with the attic as well.
- Look for damages on the garage door. If your garage door has a rubber seal, check it regularly. Rats can easily chew through that.
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How to Get Rid of Rats in the Garage
If the infestation is already present, there’s nothing you can do about the previously mentioned points. You’ll have to fight it. There are several methods you could use.
- Get a cat or two. This is not a joke. Unlike mice, rats are very intelligent animals, and once they spot a predator, they will know it’s not safe to stay in their current spot. The cat might catch a few, but the majority would simply leave their nest and run as far as possible. This wouldn’t be the end, however. Since, in the best-case scenario, it would only repel the rats. But their nests, their droppings, and their smell will still linger in the cramped spaces. As we said, this can invite another infestation not soon after.
- Install a rat deterrent. A rat deterrent is an electronic device that uses ultrasonic sound (which the human ear cannot detect) to give rats a headache for coming close to your house. These devices are very productive in keeping away a future infestation, and they would throw away any rat that dared to come into your garage. However, there is still the problem of cleaning up the infestation residue.
- Use poison. Rat poison is a very successful method of killing, repelling and keeping future infestations away. However, there is always the problem of having poison out in the open. It’s troublesome if you have pets or little kids.
- Call a professional exterminator. Professional rat exterminators have the knowledge and equipment to fight any infestation, no matter how severe, clean up all residue and even guarantee you a life free from this nightmare. By far – the best option.
How Long Does it Take to Get Rid of Rats
Depending on the severity of the infestation and the treatment you choose, it could take from a week to… basically forever. Do not take these creatures lightly, as they breed at a very fast pace, they eat just about anything and they may carry diseases. So, at the first signs of an infestation, act quickly.
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