Rats are known carriers of several types of diseases which can lead to serious illnesses and death. One such diseases is Lassa fever which has claimed many lives in Nigeria. Rats are pests that can intrude your home and cause a nuisance with you not knowing what to do about it. Rats require shelter, food, and water for survival and since they can find these in a house, they stay. Many times, it is a tough task to get rid of rats. This is because rats breed very easily. These rodents reach sexual maturity in about 4 to 5 weeks. They also have a litter size of about 6 to 12 pubs. They begin weaning the pubs after 21 days. What this means is that in about 3 weeks, you will have an additional 6 to 12 rats running around your house and invading your space and it can only get worse. The most commonly found rats are the Norway rats and Roof rats, these ones are easily attracted to garbage, food droppings, fruits, and other sweet things in your home. Rats carry even more deadly diseases than Lassa fever. Rats target places such as the Kitchen, pipelines, and cabinets. This article provides you with information on how to get rid of rats in your homes in Nigeria. Many poisonous remedies sold in the markets can be dangerous for the health of yourself and other family members. Below are various remedies that are inexpensive and can be referred to as natural home remedies that you can use in getting rid of rodents in your homes. Owning cat is also the best way to get rid of rats, here you will get the detailed about costs of owning a cat at homes.
Ways to get rid of Rats at home
Ammonia
This is a colourless gas with a distinct odour composed of nitrogen and hydrogen atoms.
Ingredients
2 spoons of detergent
A quarter glass of water
2 cups of regular ammonia
Mix all these together in a bowl. Place it where rats appear frequently. Rats cannot stand the smell of ammonia and thus run away because of it.
Moth Balls
Mothballs are small balls of chemical pesticide and deodorant which are used when storing clothing and other articles susceptible to damage from mold. Mothballs tend to repel rats. Mothballs are easy to find in Nigeria. You can find them in market places and they are ready to use with no preparations involved. Place a few in hidden places to keep the rats away.
Note: Take proper care not touch mothballs with your bare hands.
Peppermint Oil
This is the essential oil made from peppermint leaves. Peppermint oil can be used to prevent rats because they cannot stand its pungent smell. All you have to do is dip some cotton wool or balls in the peppermint oil and place them in places you find rats the most in your house (rat-prone area). This works wonders. You can also grow mint plants around your house to drive away rats.
Owl’s Feather
Owl’s feather scares away rats and forces them out. Try placing some owl’s feather in rat holes.
Pepper
The smell of pepper makes it hard for the rats to breathe. All you need to do is sprinkle some crushed pepper in rat holes and other corners of your house. Keep repeating this until you notice results.
Bay Leaf
Bay leaf is common in Nigeria and also easy to find. Rats think bay leaf is food and they eat it. But it is actually poisonous for them and kills them. Put some bay leaves in the rat holes and another rat-prone area. Keep repeating the process until you notice all of the rats are gone.
Onions
This is a very effective way of getting rid of rats naturally. Rats hate the smell of onions and it helps drive them away. Just slice an onion and keep it inside or near the rat holes.
Make Your Own Trap
Setting up traps is one of the best ways to get rid of rats quickly. All you need to do is put a bait in the trap so as to attract it. Bait could be dried fish or cheese, which is one of rat’s favourite. As the rat tries to eat this, it will be caught in the trap. After the trap has caught the rat, you can take the trap far away from the house so the rat never comes back.
Note: Wear gloves when setting a trap
Dried Snake Litter/ Cat Litter
Buy some of the dried snake litter and put them in areas rats are likely to visit. The rats will run away because of the fear of snakes. Some also use cat litters but some infected rats are attracted to cat litters. When using this method, please be extra careful and keep out of the reach of children.
Also when using this method, you need to be extra careful not to attract snakes to your area. If you see a snake or suspect snakes have visited your place, the best people to contact are the Snake Catchers Brisbane for fast response times.
Human Hair
Rats cannot bear the sight of the human hair. This can also be an effective way to repel rats. Take a few strands of hair and throw them inside rat holes, or other rat prone areas. If the rats eat the hair, they will die.
Cow dung
Some use cow dung to drive away rats. Take some cow dung cakes and spread them in your backyard or garden. When rats eat the cow dung, it will inflame their stomach and cause death.
Baby powder
This is a mild remedy for getting rid of rats. This method might not be all that effective; however, you can try it. Sprinkle some baby powder at corners of your house and other rat-prone areas. This powder intoxicates the rodents and could help you get rid of them to some extent.
Steel wool
This is often referred to as iron sponge in Nigeria. You can use steel wool to create barriers. Rats find it hard to nibble on steel wool. When you block their access with this, you will be able to get rid of them.
Ensure good sanitation
Ensure you maintain a clean environment at all times. Rats are attracted to dirty environments. Make a habit of cleaning your environment by disposing of dump refuse and ensuring all trash cans are properly closed. Also, by destroying all potential shelters and breeding places for rats. This way, you can have a rat-free home.