No one likes uninvited guests, especially those from the rodent family. These tenacious scavengers only need a half inch of space to enter your home, and they never come alone. Discover how to keep rats out of your yard and away from your property. Restore order with this collection of clever DIY rat-repellent ideas.
Rats are mammals—they are motivated by food and warmth. When the weather turns cold, they aggressively seek shelter and an easy food source. Rats and mice have no problem chewing through building materials and electrical cables to access nesting resources.
Rats are famous for their ability to multiply quickly. Some rodent species can produce 2,000 offspring annually. The truth is that rodents are everywhere, and it’s almost impossible to control them. However, you can deter and repel rats by making your home a place they don’t want to visit; learn how.
Discover How to Get Rid of Backyard Rats
It’s essential to think about the ecosystem and how to live in balance with the wildlife around us. Rat removal is a big job, so why not focus on prevention before it gets out of hand? This guide is for anyone seeking solutions beyond poison bait and traditional snap traps.
We’ve compiled a helpful list of DIY suggestions that don’t cost a lot of time, money, or effort while still being eco-friendly and sustainably-minded. These tutorials give you the tools to deal with a rodent infestation, regain control of your yard, and manage pests like roof rats and field mice safely and effectively.
Start Rat Control With Yard Cleanup
Do you find yourself overwhelmed by the question, “How do I keep rats out of my yard?” We have some constructive tips. Take these few simple steps, and discover how to control the rat population without toxic rat poison or inhumane traps.
Start rat control patrol by removing hiding places. Check your wood pile regularly for signs of rat activity, like food scraps, pellet-shaped droppings, and nesting material. Cover compost and be aware of any food scraps that could attract a rat infestation.
Rats love to scavenge. They are omnivores that eat almost anything. Bird feeders are a big attraction for any rodent seeking an easy meal. Store bird feed and pet food in a sealed container. Do a final check for cracks and crevices leading into your home, and stuff them with inexpensive steel wool to prevent rats from gaining entry.
How to Keep Rats Out of Your Yard With Plants
Many plants, flowers, and trees have super abilities. Neem, cedarwood, and eucalyptus trees possess natural insecticide that repels pests and rodents without chemical-heavy deterrents.
It could be time to rethink your gardening strategy if you see a rat burrow or signs of rat activity. Since robust smells are often effective rodent control, choose plants that act as an eco-friendly rat deterrent for the yard.
Plants like chrysanthemums contain a potent insecticide called pyrethrin, which wards off bugs and rodents. Choose potent alliums, daffodils, and elderberry trees to accent your garden and provide extra security for your property.
Plan your garden carefully; just as there are plants that repel rodents, there are also plants that attract them in droves. Avoid growing grains, leafy greens, and juicy vegetables, if possible. Or, cover your plants with secure horticultural fabric or greenhouse plastic to remove temptation.
Make an Ammonia Rat Repellent Spray
Find out how to keep rats out of your yard with two simple ingredients – ammonia and vinegar. Ammonia mimics the smell of predator urine and effectively combats the curious roof rat or Norway rat.
This DIY spray does double duty as cockroach control, too, because many members of the roach genus are just as sensitive to strong, repellent scents.
Get a clean spray bottle; it’s okay to repurpose anything you have lying around the house. Mix a cup of white vinegar and household ammonia, and you have a reliable, homemade repellent spray. Use this ammonia deterrent anywhere you notice rat droppings and refresh weekly for continued protection.
Use a Fake Owl to Scare Pests Away
Have you ever seen an imposing scarecrow watching a farmer’s field? These clever inventions act as a deterrent to hungry pests. Achieve the same results. Explore how to keep rats away from your yard with an all-natural security system.
Owls strike fear into the hearts of every small rodent; they’re skillful, ruthless predators who exist at the top of the food chain. A few fake owls suspended around the yard defer and deflect would-be invaders like mice, rats, squirrels, and even crows.
Many fake owl models have reflective eyes, intimidating sounds, and ultrasonic waves that ward off animals sensitive to specific frequencies. Pet owners should be aware of the effects of ultrasonic sounds on their animals and avoid these features, if necessary.
While owls are fairly terrifying rat predators, rats are more intelligent than we realize. Rotate the location of your fake owls to keep the rats from getting used to them.
Or, look into attracting more real owls to your yard by placing a pre-made owl house on a 10-foot pole. Many homeowners report an almost immediate reduction in rodents after introducing owl houses.
How to Keep Rats Away From Your Yard
DIY diffusers are a quick and cost-effective way to generate scents that are off-putting to rodents. The materials are easy to find and inexpensive to buy. Once you have the oils and a pack of diffuser reeds, make as many diffusers as you need.
Find a few glass bottles with narrow openings. Old cola bottles, perfume bottles, or cheap glass vessels from the discount section are ideal. Start by pouring the safflower oil into the measuring cup; we’re using safflower oil for this recipe, but any carrier oil that doesn’t have a strong scent works.
Add 20 drops each of lemon and peppermint essential oil; these scents are unpleasant to just about any mouse or rat passing by. If you don’t enjoy the smell of peppermint or lemon, add your favorites instead.
Give the mixture a thorough stir, and pour it right from the measuring cup into the glass container. Depending on the size of your containers, you should be able to fill several with two inches of oil. Pop in diffuser reeds, and place the diffusers in the garage, by the back door, on picnic tables, or anywhere you suspect a rat problem.
Hire a Predator to Scare Rats Away
Security isn’t just for famous people; why not hire a helpful rat chaser around your home, too? Cats know how to get rid of backyard rats better than any of us because they are nature’s rat trap. Using the environment and the concept of apex predators to control your yard without chemical intervention is impressive.
While adding a new member to the family might not be practical for everyone, there are many advantages to owning an outdoor cat. Even if your cat isn’t a trained mouser, sometimes just the presence of a natural predator is often enough to keep your home secure and free of rodent invaders.
There are plenty of shelters filled with cats who would love to be reliable security guards for your property. Make an insulated DIY shelter out of a rubber tub and a few handfuls of straw, provide water and supplementary food, and allow nature to take care of itself. If you’d prefer to leave the dead rat dealings to the professionals, get yourself a loyal barn cat.
Put Out Peppermint Cotton Balls to Deter Rats
A minty scent is very attractive to most humans. We associate it with cleanliness, and advertising has made mint practically synonymous with freshness. Harness the power of mint for more than just toothpaste – learn how to keep rats away from your yard with it.
There are a few premixed mint-scented products on the market that are targeted toward repellent pest control. However, it’s just as easy to make DIY peppermint cotton balls.
Add several drops of peppermint oil to a clean cotton ball and place it under the sink, in the pantry, or anywhere there may be rats. Don’t place these cotton balls where pets and children might consume them.
Try Catch and Release Traps
Learning how to get rid of backyard rats without using snap traps, rat poison, or professional pest control seems impossible. However, live-catch or catch-and-release traps are a humane alternative if you want to keep things friendly.
There are many kinds of traps. You might see a wildlife officer carrying traditional steel traps, and there are single-catch traps that look more modern. It depends on your needs and what you prefer. Set traps along fence lines, frequently traveled routes, and in dark, warm places for the best results.
We hope you enjoyed our gentle rat-repellent suggestions and easy-to-follow tutorials. Pest control shouldn’t stress you out, and knowing how to keep rats out of your yard gives you peace of mind in the face of an infestation.
Remember, rat management starts with a regular patrol. Check your yard frequently for rat burrows or other signs of rat activity. Be on the lookout for pellet-shaped rat droppings and squeaking noises. Use a repellent ammonia spray around those areas, and set live-catch traps to cut down the population.
Rat control is, in effect, disease control. We know rats are carriers of disease and fleas, which also carry their own flea-related diseases. If you live in a location prone to rodent activity, consider incorporating natural predators into the mix or creating a garden with repellent plants. Every little bit helps when you’re fighting rodents.
If you benefitted from learning how to keep rats out of your yard with our exciting and practical tips, share this article with friends on Pinterest and Facebook who need rat control advice.