My neighbour has a compost heap and now we have rats!
Composting food waste is great for the environment. It’s not so great for the community when the compost attracts rats.
A Pest HQ Facebook commenter recently complained about her neighbour’s rodent-prone compost heap. “This is ridiculous. And dangerous,” she wrote.
Rats are known to transmit disease. They damage homes and vehicles by chewing electrical wires. Roof rats can gnaw holes in soffits to nest in your attic.
So what can you do?
First, try having a respectful conversation with your neighbour. Explain the rat activity and the danger they present to people and pets. Photos or video evidence helps! Share how rats reproduce quickly and that one or two rats can quickly create a bigger problem.
Present them with expert insights on why rats are drawn to compost and how they can make their compost less attractive to the pests.
Second, take steps to protect your own property. Learn what will attract rats (besides compost) and modify your yard. Then follow tips from Pest HQ experts on how to get rid of rats.
This includes inspecting for rat activity around your home. Look for burrow holes, chew marks and oily smudges along walls where rats travel and rub up against. Remove ground cover that hides rat burrows, as well as their sources of food and water. This includes windfall fruit, spilled bird seed and water-filled containers.
You also may need to use professional-grade products recommended by Pest HQ to eliminate rat populations. These include bait stations, traps and trap attractant. Get tips for getting rid of rats in Pest HQ’s extensive online Learning Centre.
Questions? Contact Pest HQ.
Also read:
5 steps for DIY rat and mouse control
