Rats are intelligent rodents. They belong to the culture followers of humans and increasingly appear in their vicinity. The animals are usually on the move at night, but can sometimes also be seen in broad daylight.

In a nutshell

  • Rats are very intelligent and trainable
  • they are shy and usually nocturnal
  • sometimes they are often in search of food during the day
  • a plague of rats is notifiable and must be combated
  • fragrances to expel

Rodents are nocturnal

Rats are very clever, docile, but also shy and suspicious animals with a very sensitive nose. As a rule, they are active at night and avoid contact with people. The rodents can multiply rapidly in a short time and it can easily lead to a plague of rats. Then there is the possibility to see the animals during the day. They are then often in search of food, but usually only a fraction of the rodents are visible. A garden offers a lot of opportunities to get food. Incidentally, there are countless hiding places here and contact with natural enemies such as buzzards or owls is quite rare. Mainly brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) cavort in the garden. Black rats (Rattus rattus) prefer warm, dark places in the house.

Notice: Rats can carry over 120 dangerous diseases. In the Middle Ages it was mainly the plague, dysentery and cholera. This also includes diseases such as toxoplasmosis and the transmission of the life-threatening hantavirus infection.

detect rat infestation

There are several clues to spotting a rat infestation in the garden. Of course, the presence of rodents during the day already indicates this. It can usually be expected that where there is one rat, there will be several more. The emergence during the day are the first signs of little food or the rat population has already assumed larger proportions. A rat clan can quickly include up to a hundred animals and more. In addition to visible rats during the day, attention should be paid to other indications such as:

holes and nests

Rats mainly move into burrows with at least two entrances. These are round and have a diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Holes are common:

  • at short intervals on walls of sheds and garages
  • along the edge of terrace stones
  • in the bottom or lid of compost bins
  • between tree and shrub roots
  • next to drain covers

running streets

Although the rodents have an excellent smell, their eyesight is poor. Therefore, they always use known paths. There are real trails:

  • on garden paths, along walls
  • narrow, well-trodden paths
  • clear footprint
  • Front paw with four toes
  • Hind paw with five toes
  • Middle toe extra long
  • Trail of the tail between footprints

feces and urine

  • smelling strongly of ammonia
  • brown to black-brown
  • Brown rat: in a pile, 1 to 2 cm in size
  • Black rat: distributed over a large area, 0.5 to 1 cm in size
  • fresh droppings shiny black

gnawing marks

The animals have strong teeth. The teeth keep growing. They will therefore gnaw even when they are not hungry. Typical of the gnawing marks are parallel grooves. Hardly any material is spared.

Notice: According to § 2 of the Infection Protection Act, rats are considered dangerous health pests. In Germany there is an obligation to report a rat infestation, also for rats in the garden.

drive away rats

Scaring away or driving away the rodents is one of the more gentle measures to get rid of the pests. Rodents are extremely clever and learn from the mistakes they make. Therefore, they can also adapt very quickly to new conditions. This also makes driving the animals away more difficult. Various home remedies can be used here. However, their effectiveness is limited because the animals can quickly get used to it. These include various fragrances such as:

  • ammonia water
  • diesel
  • turpentine
  • Mint and Clove Oil
  • neem oil
  • citric acid

These agents contain unpleasant odors for rodents. Rags are simply soaked with these liquids and then laid out near the whereabouts. However, regular renewal is necessary as the effectiveness lasts only a few weeks.
Some garden owners also swear by the following home remedies

  • used cat litter packed in air permeable bags
  • chilli or pepper powder
  • green salt (iron vitrol)
  • Use of ultrasonic devices
  • Lime paint on walls

It can be helpful to use these agents alternately, as the animals quickly ignore the smell.

Notice: Rats are also active in winter, but eat less and are therefore not out and about as often during the day. They then look for warm hiding places in sheds, animal pens or gazebos.

fight effectively

If a whole clan of these pests invades the garden, gentle means of deterrence are hardly sufficient. Sharper artillery must then be deployed to finally put an end to the plague. These measures include:

Alive - and snap traps

Live traps are animal friendly. The rodent can then be released at another location, which should be at least one kilometer away. However, this means that the plague of rats has been shifted to this location. The animals are killed by snap traps. For the application it should be said:

snap trap
  • set up on walkways
  • safe from pets and children
  • Cheese, bacon, sausage, peanut butter as bait
  • check every 8 to 12 hours
  • thorough cleaning after use

Snap traps and the bait should not be tightened for a few days so that the animals can get used to them.

Rat poison and poison bait

In the case of a full-fledged plague of rats, the only thing that can really help is laying out rat poison. It should be noted:

  • never lay loose
  • inaccessible to children and pets
  • Use of lockable bait boxes
  • daily check
  • only refill when empty
  • Use preparations with chlorophacinone, sodium wafarin or coumatetralyl
  • contact exterminator if necessary

Natural predators

Especially when there are natural predators on the property, the rodents can no longer move safely. Sometimes a dog or a cat is enough. Further measures in this regard can be:

  • Hang nest boxes for owls
  • Leave mixed hedges and piles of stones for martens
  • Set up vantage points with perches for hawks and buzzards

prevent rat infestation

Prevention is always better than fighting a plague of rats. It doesn't even take that much:

  • Maintain order and cleanliness
  • do not put food leftovers and kitchen waste on the compost
  • Mix the compost well
  • optimal use of closed high-speed composters
  • collect fallen fruit regularly
  • Clean animal stalls regularly
  • Do not leave uneaten food outside or in the stable
  • Keep animal feed supplies and other supplies closed
  • Clean places at bird feeders daily
  • ideal attachment of special cuffs at feeding points
  • Close garbage cans tightly
  • do not throw leftovers in the toilet
  • belong in the trash
  • Remove hiding places such as piles of wood, construction waste and other rubbish
  • Close loopholes in the house, gazebo, garage

frequently asked Questions

What is the life expectancy of a rat?

Brown rats usually live up to two years and black rats much older. They can reach an age of 12 years. A female can produce between six and eight litters per year with up to eight young per litter.

Do Rats Attack Humans?

These animals are nocturnal and shy, although they can sometimes be seen during the day. They don't seek contact with people. However, if cornered, an attack is possible.

Can poisonous baits be laid out as a preventive measure?

No, only on suspicion private individuals are not allowed to lay out rat poison of any kind. A rat infestation must be established. However, exterminators can carry out permanent baiting in exceptional cases.

Category:

Garden maintenance