Seeing a rat running across your wall is never fun and there are quite a number of poisons easily available to get rid of those nasty pests, but scientists and bird rescue centres are increasingly finding ill or dead owls with secondary poising from these rat poisons, and they are encouraging people to rather use owl-friendly rodent traps as part of their
pest control solution. While there are a few of these traps on the market, just cleaning up a bit around the house can make a huge difference in the rat population on your property. Here’s how to get rid of rats without harming owls and other animals that prey on rats.
1. Remove plants that give rodents access to your roof
Wall creepers are beautiful and an easy way to hide an unsightly wall, but if they’re against a wall that leads to your roof you might want to consider removing them until you’ve got your rat problem under control. These creepers give rodents easy access to your roof and provide concealment for them while they climb. Also cut away any tree branches touching your roof. Some exterminators recommend a clearance of at least two metres between trees and exterior walls.
2. Ensure your bird feeders are rodent-proof
Exterminators claim that bird feeders are one of the biggest problems when it comes to unwanted rodents. By ensuring rodents can’t climb up and steal the bird food, you’re eliminating a food source and they will find another place to feed.
3. Close up areas underneath decks, garden sheds and verandas
The dark spaces under these are generally undisturbed and offers warmth and shelter to rodents. Secure steel mesh around the underside of these garden fixtures, making sure the mesh touches the ground to effectively keep rodents out.
4. Seal holes in exterior walls
Any holes in exterior walls that are larger than 6mm should be sealed to ensure even mice can’t get into your home and make their way straight to your kitchen.
5. Clean up the refuse area
All bins containing refuse should always stay closed and be placed on a concrete floor. Don’t allow any refuse to lie around as that will attract rodents.
6. Vacuum the ceiling before winter
As bizarre as this sounds, vacuuming your ceiling can help reduce rodents in your house. If you’ve had rodents in your ceilings before, they will have made a nest there and left a considerable amount of droppings. Those droppings will attract even more rodents you don’t want.
7. Rodent-proof your compost heap
Instead of having a big open compost heap that is like heaven for rodents, invest in a compost bin that can be sealed. If your compost bin has an open bottom, just add some wire mesh to the bottom to keep the rodents out.
8. Erect an owl box in your garden
An owl box is a place where owls can nest and breed. Erecting an owl box in your garden will attract owls to your neighbourhood, and they will help you get rid of your rodents. Studies have shown that owl populations increase according to rodent populations, so the more rodents the better. Owl rescue and rehabilitation centres offer owl boxes for sale and will help you set it up correctly. Some centres also offer cleaning and servicing of these owl boxes.
9. Opt for poison-free and humane rat traps
There are a few rat traps on the market being sold as poison-free and humane. These include the Rat Zapper, a device that electrocutes the rodent the moment it’s triggered, and the A24 rat and mouse trap that strikes a steel piston at the skull of the rodent that triggers it, killing it instantly. Both traps reset themselves automatically for multiple kills, and claim to be humane. Some owl rescue and rehabilitations centres also offer humane traps that trap the rodents alive. The centres then collect the live rodents from the traps in your garden and feed them to their birds in rehabilitation.
Some rodent infestations are so bad that you might be itching to just reach for the rat poison and be done with it. Research suggests that there are no rodent poisons available that can guarantee not to cause secondary poisoning in owls and other birds of prey. By doing your part in keeping your home and garden clean and rodent-proof, and by supporting rehabilitation centres through owl boxes and humane rat traps, you can get rid of the rodents in and around your house, and keep the birds of prey happy and safe.