How Rat Exclusion Works
(and Why Traps Are Not Enough)
Maybe you’ve heard scratching in your walls or seen rat droppings in your cabinets. Maybe you’ve heard rustling sounds in your garage or seen unexplained, oily holes around your basement. You may have rats, and because rats are carriers of disease, it becomes important to try to find ways to eliminate your rat problem.
Many people’s first instinct is to lay rat traps around their home, but this might not be the best option. That’s because while traps kill rats that are living on the property, they do not address the more important issue: how the rats got there.
Why Use Rat Exclusion
Rat extermination can kill rats that live on your property. But there are thousands of rats all around you, and those rats are attracted to smells, food, and safety. If one rat found their way on your property, more will follow.
The better method to dealing with rats is exclusion. Rat exclusion works by first identifying the points of entry where rats are coming into your home and blocking them off. Often this is done with ¼” mesh screen, but can also use wood or cement depending on the location. By sealing every single point of exit and entry, no more rats can enter, and rats already in the home can be trapped or removed.
As opposed to the traditional method of killing rats in traps, rat exclusion offers these benefits:
- Humane – While rats can pose a health concern, many lethal methods of dealing with rats can cause undue suffering. Because exclusion keeps the rats out entirely, it removes any need for ongoing lethal traps.
- Preventative – Not only can rat exclusion take care of an existing infestation, exclusion also prevents rats from entering your home in the future.
- Child and Pet Friendly – Traps can catch curious fingers and pets who might try to go after the rat bait. Poisons can cause injury or death if ingested. Rat exclusion does not use dangerous traps or poisons, making it safe for the entire household.
Rat exclusion can be done on your own if you know the signs to look for and can install mesh to block entrances. But rats can fit through spaces as small as a quarter, many of which are nearly impossible to see without experience.
For best results, it is better to use a professional exterminator. Professionals like NY and NJ Animal Control Trappers know how to identify entry points for rats and block those areas off. They can work quickly and safely to leave you confident that your home will remain rodent free.
