EFFECTIVE WAYS TO GET RID OF RODENTS
fall and winter are prime time for rodents trying to make their way into warm, cozy homes, but it’s never too early to start mouse-proofing
Not only can they chew through walls and boxes in your pantry, but mice can wreak serious havoc on your home. Particularly, they can gnaw on wires, which can lead to house fires. “And they carry a slew of illnesses and bacteria,” Mannes warns. “A build-up of their droppings can worsen allergy and asthma situations
What home remedy can you use to get rid of mice?
We’ve seen all sorts of DIY repellent ideas (including peppermint sprays, dryer sheet stuffings, and cotton balls soaked in oil and cayenne pepper), but you may want to skip the home remedies. “There’s no science or evidence behind any of these methods, And again, mice are so used to living with humans, those smells associated with us are not usually repellent to mice.”
How to tell you have a rodent in the house
Just because you haven’t seen a rodent in person doesn’t mean it’s not there. If you suspect that you have a mouse in the house, you could be right if you see any one (or all) of the following signs:
- Mice droppings: The little pests often leave their signature calling card in rooms where food is stored, along the baseboards and under sinks.
- Greasy rub marks: Rats in particular leave greasy dirt marks behind them as they travel the same pathways over and over.
- Chew marks: While searching for food and water, rodents can chew through any number of materials, including wires and plastic.
Check out the number of different home remedy rat deterrents below!
1 – Dried Urea – Did you know that Cow dung is a natural rat repellent? When ingested by the rats, they become extremely ill and begin to vomit, eventually resulting in death. To keep rats away, simply place an old cow ‘pat’ near where some recent rat droppings have been discovered.
2 – Mothballs – Mothballs are actually useful in keeping both rats and mice away. They are poisonous not only to the rodent but also humans, therefore be careful when using Mothballs. Again when using this method, simply place moth balls near any area where rats may be located on your farm.
3- Peppermint – Seeing as rats have a highly sensitive sense of smell, using fragrant plants, herbs and oils are a good way of keeping them away. One such smell which they despise is peppermint. Like the previous methods, Peppermint oil (On cotton balls) or tablets should be placed near where rats have previously been seen or where you know they reside.
This should push them out and keep them away as peppermint will instantly affect the lungs of the rat, killing them in the process. Minty toothpaste is also another option, while others have used other fragrant oils such as caster oil, clove oil and other fragrant products such as toilet cakes. Another option is pepper from the kitchen which produces a pungent aroma which rats detest and once they inhale it into their lungs they die.
4 – Bay Leaves – Rats are attracted to the sweet smell of bay leaves, which is what makes them the perfect trap as Bay leaves are highly toxic to rats. Once ingested they will die. Like all of the other methods, placing bay leaves in areas where rats frequent will help keep them away and at “bay”.
5 – Vegetables – Certain vegetables can also be used effectively to keep rats away. Onions are one such vegetable which have a pungent smell and one which rats and mice hate a lot. They will instantly run away from the smell, making it an effective method.
Peppers are another vegetable which can prove effective as it contains Capsaicin, which is the compound that gives peppers their heat. This heat is also a natural rat deterrent.
6 – Ammonia cleaning products – Sticking with the sense of smell theme, ammonia cleaning agents make for excellent rat repellents. To use, mix 2 cups of ammonia with 200mls of water and 2-3 spoons of detergent and place in a bowl near locations where rats are commonly found.
Ammonia is a super cleaning agent, but it acts as an excellent repelling agent to the rodents.
7 – Owls Feathers – A natural predator of rodents, using owl feathers which have been placed all over your farm will ensure rats and mice do not want to stay there long. Using human hair is also another useful option, as rats and mice tend to stay away from predators.
Tackle the mice in the house and out.
Remove debris around your home where mice can hide. Keep weeds to a minimum and destroy burrows and nesting areas as you find them. Lining your home’s foundation with a strip of heavy gravel is a good way to prevent nesting and burrowing. The less debris and clutter around your home and property, the easier it is to spot signs of rodent activity and stop mice dead in their tracks.
Try a humane trap.
There are traps that catch the mouse in a box. The mouse can get in but not out. This can be a humane way to catch mice, but once you catch them you will need to release them at least 1 mile from your home, perhaps a heavily wooded area to give them somewhere else to go. And be sure to check the trap at least once a day as mice will die if left in it more than a day or two.
Zap with beeps.
There is an electronic unit that emits a beeping sound that mice hate. I’ve found that the effect wears off over time, but initially mine was very effective at keeping mice away. This sound is not a hazard to dogs and cats.