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Although we don’t see a lot of rats in our everyday life, they are there around us. Rats can cause damage in households and many people want to kill them even though it’s not necessary. If you want to know how to get rid of rats without killing them, you are in the right place.
The good news is that there are alternative ways of dealing with this rat problem with less stress and no killing.
Tip: Use a strong peppermint rodent deterrent spray
This formula is safe around kids and pets, while it keeps rats and mice away.
If you have a rat problem in your house or yard, this blog will explain how to solve it in a humane way. We will look at some methods and steps that you can take to keep your home free of rats.
How to Get Rid of Rats without Killing Them
Method 1: DIY Rat Trap Catch and Release
How to Make a Live Catch Trap for Rats
While humane no-kill rodent traps can be found in many home improvement shops and stores that sell farm equipment or hunting gear, you should try to make one yourself. Read on to learn how to make a live catch trap with a trash bin or a larger bucket.
Step 1: Take a large bucket
Step 2: Place saran wrap on top of the bucket. Tape it down security around. You may use a thicker saran wrap.
Step 3: Cut a rat size hole in the middle of the saran wrap.
Step 4: Add food and goodies into the bucket. Fragrant peanuts attract rats.
Step 5: Place a plank by the bucket so that rats can walk up to the trap hole.
Step 6: Check the trap several times a day to release the rats.
Caution:Â With all catch and release traps, they often don’t come with a buzzer when a rat is trapped. If the rats are trapped and starved, they would starve to death, and that would make it not humane at all. So it’s important to always check live traps.
DIY Version 2
Here’s another way to make a live rat trap.
Step 1: Take a small, thin (less than 1 inch thick) metal or wood pole. Alternatively, you can use a wire.
Step 2: Just next to the rim of your trash bin or bucket, create 2 holes so that they are across from each other. Make sure they’re large enough to let you place the wire/stick over the central part of the container.
Step 3: You will also need a soda can. Create two holes – one at the bottom and another one at the top of the can.
Step 4: Thread the wire or pole through the holes, making sure that everything will cut across the upper area. The soda can should be flimsy or unstable so that it rolls around smoothly.
Step 5: Make a ramp with some scrap wood that allows the rats to easily climb into the bucket. Once the rodents enter the trash bin or bucket, they will not be able to get out.
Step 6: Grab peanut butter and smear it all over the can of soda. A trail of yummy peanut butter should go both on the pole and up the ramp.
There are a variety of design solutions when it comes to DIY live catch traps. Try different options to find the most effective one or come up with your own idea – it’s a process of trial and error.
Method 2: How to Get Rid of Rats without Killing Them with Humane or Live Catch Traps
Most traditional rat traps are intended to kill rats slowly by means of drowning or painful suffocation. There are also snap traps that can kill mice and rats instantly. Although it’s a very effective way to get rid of rodents, you should use catch-and-release or humane rat traps.
How to Use Humane Catch-and-Release Traps
These traps come in different shapes and designs, but they all work similarly. Once the rats are lured into the trap using peanut butter, crackers, or another appealing food, the door shuts behind them and they can’t escape. So humane traps contain rodents instead of killing them.
This means you’ll need to take the trap outside with the rat(s) inside and release them away from your home. Ultimately, you’ll have a rat-free house while the rodents have a chance to keep living without being harmed. Let’s break it down for your better understanding:
Step 1: Buy a live catch humane trap for rats (it’s bigger and stronger than mouse traps).
Step 2: Set it out as per instructions and put the bait (some food) inside.
Step 3: Leave your trap in a place where you’ve noticed any sign of rodents.
Step 4: Check the rat trap every morning. If you find a rat captured inside, take it away from the city. Make sure there are no homes around.
Step 5: Simply open the trap to release the rat(s), allowing unwanted visitors to scamper away in the wild.
Tips: Use a pair of heavier gloves while releasing your trap, just in case. Their teeth are pretty sharp. Relocate the rat at least 3 miles away from populated areas to reduce their chances of finding their way into a house.
Method 3: Keep Rodents at Bay with Natural Rat Repellents
Rats or mice are extremely sensitive to smells. If you want to get rid of rodents without harming them, use do-it-yourself repellents or home remedies. This is an eco-friendly and inexpensive option.
You can make repellents with essential oils and/or other toxin-free ingredients. For example, try cayenne pepper or peppermint mixture. There’s a wide range of options to choose from, including:
- Peppermint oil
- Hot pepper flakes
- Clove oil or cloves
- Onions or garlic
- The mixture of cocoa powder with plaster of Paris
- Ammonia
Once you’ve made a rat repellent, spray or spread it all around the area or room you have noticed a rat. The strong smell will not only make rodents leave your home or garden, but it will also repel them from returning.
Method 4: Use Ultrasonic or Electronic Rodent Repellers & Blast Sounds Only They Can Hear to Keep Rats Away
Ultrasonic rodent or pest repellent units are designed to emit ultrasound high-frequency waves, thereby creating hostile environments that repel pests from your home, i.e. a sound-protected area. Those repellants are inaudible to pets and people alike.
They are safer than poisons and kinder than any traps. On top of that, electronic and ultrasonic rodent or pest repellent units are easy to use. Once you’ve chosen one that suits your needs, simply plug it into an electrical outlet. That’s it.
OK, we’ve seen all the benefits of electronic and ultrasonic repellers, but what’s the catch? It’s hard to find one that really works. You want to choose one that will truly drive rats crazy. It has the side effect of driving away other pests in your house, too.
Method 5: Prevent Rats from Entering Your House and Garden by Making Them Uninteresting and Clean
Last but not least, make your house and backyard less of a party spot for rats. The idea is to make your living space uninteresting to minimize the chances of rodents visiting you. Here are some steps you should take.
Step 1: Keep Your Yard and Garden Clean
Rats don’t like open spaces. That said, keep your garden and lawn clean, well-trimmed, and free of clutter. This involves everything from trimming grass regularly to removing piles of leaves and wood.
That will discourage rats from visiting your property. You should also remove vegetables and fallen fruits in the yard to prevent rodents from having access to any type of food outside the house. The same goes for bird and pet food.
Step 2: Ensure That Food Is Not Accessible
Rodents can easily chew through containers that are soft or flimsy. That’s why you need to use metal rat-proof food containers. Put your food in a place that mice and rats can’t reach, such as your freezer and refrigerator.
Step 3: Seal Rodent Entry Points
Try to figure out where the rodents may come from. Once you’ve identified the entry points, patch them properly. Pay particular attention to holes in your ceiling, walls, and siding. As well, close all storage sheds so they are less likely to make it their home.
Use steel wool to fill in small holes around the home. Rats can use small holes to enter your home.
FAQs About How to Get Rid of Rats without Killing Them
What Scent Can Keep Rats Out of My Home?
Rats are animals whose sense of smell is very powerful. So you can keep them from your house using scents like onion, garlic, clover, citronella oil, naphthalene, and white vinegar. They also dislike house ammonia, hot peppers with capsaicin, peppermint, eucalyptus, and used coffee grounds.
How to Get Rid of Rats Effectively and Quickly?
While there are a lot of different methods to keep rats at bay, traps have been proven to help remove them from homes fast. Avoid using baiting and snap traps if you don’t want to kill them. Use catch and release traps instead. They also work and there’s no killing part.
Takeaway
While rats are not the cutest animals that you can find in the city, they are furry, cuddly, and social. Yet they can become a real problem if you get too many of them in your home. Now that you know how to get rid of rats without killing them, you’ll be able to solve this problem without harming them.
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