Wild animals such as rats and mice are more common in everyday life than any other. In addition, they are quite dangerous for us, we have to wage a fierce struggle with them. These annoying animals can eat all food supplies in a very short time, destroy small pets, and also bring infectious diseases with them. Therefore, the fight against rodents was and is very relevant.
Rats are a very important problem, but this problem is not always clearly visible. In addition to damage to the wires, they are able to contaminate products, as well as transmit various dangerous diseases. But rats are nocturnal animals; during the day, they rarely come to light in an open place. However, there are signs of rats staying in your home, which are not difficult to detect.
Signs that rats are in your house
- You can observe a certain amount of litter near the places where food is stored, or at the garbage can.
- There is some noise in the dark, scratching.
- You can find nest materials or nests in a secluded place.
- There are teeth marks on the wiring or wood products.
- You can find bitten fruits and vegetables, as well as minks in the yard or under the house.
- The hair of rats appears, dirty stripes on the walls.
However, a person can always go the way of destroying uninvited guests in the house. After all, the fight against rats in the house is simply a necessity for further existence.
Rodent control folk methods
Many people believe that you can get rid of rodents with the help of old and proven methods used by their grandparents, hunting rats and mice in their homes. You may notice that some recipes can still come to the rescue in this battle. Here are the most popular ways to get rid of rodents:
- You can scatter wood ash in the cellar, in the basement on the floor (about a bucket of ash for 5-10 square meters). The alkali, which is contained in the ash, begins to injure the paws of animals, they lick it, and this, in turn, begins to cause irritation of the rodent organs. Over time, dangerous animals will want to change their habitat.
- A mixture of wheat flour and gypsum (1: 1) will not scare away mice and rats, having a familiar smell. For a better effect of this mixture, water containers should be placed everywhere. Plaster with water hardens in the stomachs of animals, and they die.
- To protect non-residential premises, such as a garage and a warehouse, kerosene and formalin can be used. Since rodents do not like such smells. A similar treatment should be carried out in the fall before storing vegetables in the winter. But don't get too carried away.
- Also, rodents do not favor the smell of mint. Plants can be laid at possible pest sites.
- Elderberry branches with berries should be put in the pantry.
But the most common folk method of fighting mice and rats is to bring a cat. However, not all cats love to hunt, especially if you can get a tasty and satisfying dinner from the owner, without making much effort.
Trap Precautions
- When laying out the poison, you need to wear protective gloves, and then be sure to wash your hands.
- Poisoning substances should always be stored out of the reach of children and other animals.
- Never store food or food near the poison.
- If you have children, then it is safer to use "sparing" traps for rats and mice.
Modern methods of combating mice and rats
Humanity was forced to invent more and more new means in order to rid itself of annoying neighbors. Mice and rats are fought biologically, physically and chemically.
Physical methods of struggle
One of the physical methods is the destruction of rodents by filling their holes with boiling water or foam-glue compositions. The hole move quickly fills. Animals devoid of movement and oxygen die. This method is quite time-consuming, the efficiency is not 100%. If the hole is sufficiently branched, then the pests will run away without being injured.
Another method is rat traps, as well as home-made rat traps that are installed in rodent habitats, but not all dangerous neighbors come across them. There are times when the bait was eaten, but the animal was not caught in the trap. If the rat trap worked, then the corpse must be pulled out and removed somewhere, which is not a pleasant process.
In general, in the process of combating rodents, various traps for rats were invented: swinging platforms, crushes, trapping cylinders, plate traps, various live traps. There is plenty to choose from. A self-made rat trap brings good results, as these animals eat a lot.
The glue trap for rats is also effective. There they put a treat in the same way as in the case of the rat trap, the rodent steps on the glue and gets stuck in it. Such rat traps are disposed of with the animal. However, a more experienced animal may get out.
How best to place traps
Traps for mice and rats should be placed in suitable places. These are places where there are gnaws, droppings, footprints, exits from holes. Traps bring good results if they are located along the walls, in quiet places. The bait should have an attractive smell and taste. Previously, a couple of days before the installation of traps, you should remove the food that animals eat. Bait must be clean and fresh. In summer, they need to be changed once every two days, and in winter - every 3-4 days. The pieces of the bait should be small so that it is convenient for the rodent to eat.
Physical methods, including a self-made rat trap, help to get rid of only single individuals. This is their biggest drawback. They are effective when only a few mice or rats bother you. But if there are already a lot of them, then the problem cannot be solved by similar methods. Then other ways come into the struggle.
Chemistry Control Methods
Using chemical methods of controlling rodents, great results can be achieved, although safety is not discussed here. You can use poisoned bait, pollination, aeration.
Poison baits kill animals instantly or over time. These lures are an excellent tool when there is no other food. Then the animals, overwhelmed by hunger, eat everything and poisonous treats as well.
Rats love cleanliness. They often brush their skins with their tongue. If there is pollination of those places where rodents have been seen, then there will be poisonous powder everywhere that remains on the skins of pests. Animals, cleaning their fur coats, are poisoned by poison.
In industrial areas, gas treatment is carried out, which poisons all living things. This is done by specially trained people. This way of fighting needs good preparation and substantial finances.
However, the use of chemicals adversely affects people and animals. Poison baits can be consumed not only by rats, but also by other animals, as well as children. Pets often die due to eating a poisoned animal. Pollination with poisonous powder is also harmful, because it can settle on other animals and on humans. It can easily enter the body of animals that feed on grass.
All the above methods of controlling with the help of chemistry are effective for controlling part of rodents. But their number is growing very quickly and after a lapse of time they can return to their favorite places again.
Ultrasonic rat trap
Electronic methods are considered more effective methods of pest extermination: electroderatizers and ultrasonic repellers.
Electroderatizers are used where there are no people or animals, since the grate of the deratizer is energized and, when touched, rodents die.
Biologists with the help of their research have found that the sequence of non-repeating waves of ultrasound helps to get rid of rodents in a short period of time. Escape is the salvation of mice and rats from ultrasound. With all this, addiction or adaptation in pests does not occur. Already after a week after the start of the ultrasonic attack, the pests have a feeling of anxiety, which makes them leave the room.
In order to effectively place this device, you need to find the favorite place of rodents. Usually this is a room where there is something to feast on. After that, you need to plug the device into an outlet that is not blocked by furniture so that ultrasonic waves are not blocked. Hard surfaces reflect ultrasound, unlike soft ones that absorb it.
Ultrasound does not cause any side effects on humans and animals such as dogs, cats, fish, birds. But if there are other rodents in the house, for example, hamsters, then they should be moved to a room where the device is not used.
The results of the repeller can be observed from the first days. And within 2-3 weeks, rats and mice should completely leave your home.
In conclusion
The fight against rats in the house, as well as mice, has been going on for centuries. Every day you can see the emergence of new technologies and ways to combat these pests, but it is easy to notice that this war is with varying success, its outcome depends on timely prevention and necessary measures.