Rats can live virtually anywhere, but they prefer to settle in warm spaces that are close to accessible food and water sources. Unfortunately, residential attics, walls, and crawl spaces fit that description perfectly. Once inside your home, rats will quickly nest and breed, damage walls, chew through wires, and spread contamination and destruction throughout your entire property. If nuisance rodents are desecrating and destroying your Polk County property, then here are five effective ways to kill rats.
Effective Rat Killing Methods
- Lethal Traps – Two common types of lethal rat traps are snap and sticky traps. Snap traps are wooden or plastic and kill the rodent when triggered. Sticky traps are boards with glue that trap the rat when stepped on. While lethal traps are popular, they’re not the most humane method for rat control. Snap traps can be inefficient by only injuring a rat instead of immediately killing it, thus prolonging a rodent’s death. It also takes rodents caught in sticky traps a long time to die, and larger rats can sometimes shake themselves free. These traps can also injure children and pets if they’re improperly placed.
 - Live Traps – A more humane way of catching rats is using live traps. Instead of killing it, these traps make sure the rodent can’t get out once they enter the trap. Live traps need to be checked every day, or else the rodent can suffocate inside. Once the rodent is trapped, the most humane option is to release it outside. However, this strategy may not be the best way to ensure the rat is permanently removed from your property.
- Bait Stations – If you don’t want to use traps, bait stations include rodenticide rat poison in a block or paste. The poisoned bait will lure the rat to the station’s entrance. While bait stations might seem more humane than traps, they can create additional problems. Instead of immediately dying, the rat will ingest the poison then sneak into another part of the home and die, and a dead rat somewhere in your home will stink up your property with foul smells. Furthermore, children and other wildlife can ingest the baited poison, putting them at risk.
- Dry Ice – If you know where the rats live in your home, placing a cube of dry ice near their nest can knock them out. The problem with this method is that dry ice can be hard to handle, and you’ll need to know where the rats are hiding for it to be effective.
 - Call a Rat Removal Expert – The most effective way to get rid of rats is by hiring a wildlife removal professional. Instead of injuring yourself or others by attempting DIY methods to kill rats, rely on a pest control specialist to take care of your rat infestation safely and effectively.
Professional Rat Removal Services in Polk County, FL
The experienced wildlife removal technicians at Critter Control® of Polk County will quickly, safely, and humanely remove unwanted wildlife from your property and keep them from returning. To schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate for our fast and effective rat removal services, call Critter Control® of Polk County today at 863-204-2815.
