DIY Rat Infestation: Successful Battle Plans?

Question

I purchased a 3/2 tax sale home. Now that I have moved in I see that the home has a rat infestation. Not mice, large big body brown RATS.

I'm literally having to go to war.  I'm hearing that pest control companies are expensive. My glue traps are not work (rats flip them over).

Is the basic battle plan to put down poison, put down expensive homedepot traps, and seal entry holes?  I'm waiting for my income tax refund to drop next week and am planning on finishing the rehab on this home in no more than 3 days. I can't have rats here!

Killer part is that there are at least 10 cats surrounding my home. Ain't that supposed to be the first line of defense?

I will post pictures of the holes and weeds (the jungle) that I have to get rid of.

Jerry Murphy · Answer

The most important things are to remove food and fill in all the entry points. The neighborhood cats are worthless. 90% of cats would rather eat trash than try to kill a rat that might fight back.

Dead rats in your wall is going to stink so avoid using poison as a first line of defense. Snap traps are great.  Peanut butter works well.  My rats were smart. They bumped the traps without stepping on them and made them snap. Then they ate the peanut butter.   So I was smarter.  I covered the traps with peanut butter without setting the trap.  I did this for two nights - let them get comfortable with the traps.  Then set the traps on the third night. Got 'em.

An exterminator is probably quicker and easier but d.i.y. killing rats is fun and cheap.

Will Barnard · Answer

Pest control companies are not that expensive considering the work involved to do this job properly.

First and foremost, never put poison in the interior of the home including the attic. If the rats eat it and die in the house, you will have an additional problem of a disgusting rotting rat carcus with an unbearable aroma. Bait stations on the exterior are a very good idea but personally, the first step is to set snap traps in the attic and catch what is inside currently, step 2 is to seal up the house to remove the entry points, and step 3 is the exteriobait stations to control the population.

You mentioned Home Depot expensive traps - snap traps are not expensive and can be used over and over again. In fact, once you catch one, the fermones left on the trap by the dead rat will cause other rats to feel more comfortable around the trap. The older and more gross the trap, the better it works!

Mindy Jensen · Answer

@Anastasia Jordan , I had mice in my house - not even rats - and it was super gross. We hit them HARD and it took a bit of time, but they are all gone now.

@Scott F.  is right, put traps literally surrounding the house, and inside as well to get any that cross the lines. Use rat-specific traps, seal up any entry points, leave NO FOOD in the home unless in cans or the refrigerator. They won't stick around if they have nothing to eat.

Weeds surrounding your house? Weedwhip them  and keep them short.

Scott F. · Answer

Anastasia,

I had the same thing due to a tenant overfilling the trash can, leaving the top open next to a concrete wall and an empty field = Free lunch for all!

My pest control guy used bait stations specifically for rats and surrounded the home with them.

The plan was to get to them before they entered the home and died in the walls, it worked. Within two weeks we were rat free, never to return mostly due to closing the trash can and not placing trash bags on the ground next to the can.

Rats don’t just hang out for fun without a food source nearby, they are smart and actually spend most of their day grooming themselves – go figure.

When you do this hit them hard and don’t give up, try an exterminator or if it’s a DIY go to the local Home And Farm style store they have better baits (Ramic) and bait stations for farmers that need them around their livestock and barns. Good Luck!

https://www.qcsupply.com/230010-ramik-rodenticides...

Matthew Paul · Answer

Do it the old fashioned way . Put some good food  in the middle of the living room floor , some candles , some mood music to set the tone .  And blast them away with a 12 gauge shot gun .   Messy but effective and fun

Donald Howaniec · Answer

Since my last post on this subject I have started using a different product from Do my own pest control called Take Down. I haven't had a mouse (or rat) call in over 6 months. I'm in Englewood (Chicago's battle zone) surrounded by abandoned buildings.

Anastasia Jordan · Answer

Update: called a professional. They used glue and snaptraps.  Trapping took weeks to rid my house of them.

Sam Shueh · Answer

Try all the above. If results are limited hire a professional on service contract.  What about cockroaches?  fleas?

Suggest: Ultrasonic repeller.

Anastasia Jordan · Answer

Pecans, bird carcasses, corn cobs.

I quit.