Hi everyone!
I live in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, where rats are invading my shed and garage despite the arid climate! They’re chewing through storage boxes and digging under the foundation. I’ve tried snap traps, but the heat seems to make them less effective. Any advice?
Use metal mesh + high-temperature silicone for gaps—rats can’t chew through steel! Set heavy-duty plastic traps that won’t warp. Bait with peanut butter—it’s sticky and long-lasting in heat!
Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and stuff them into rat pathways. The scent lingers in dry air! Also, plant rosemary around your home—rats hate the smell and it thrives in deserts!
Remove ALL water! Fix leaky spigots, elevate pet bowls, and use drip trays. Rats can survive weeks without food but only days without water!
@DesertPestPro Where do I find high-temp silicone? Regular caulk cracked after a week!
Auto parts stores sell silicone rated for 500°F+! Seal gaps at dawn when temps are cooler. Focus on AC lines and garage door edges!
Bucket trap with antifreeze (non-toxic propylene glycol). Rats jump in for water and can’t escape. Place in shaded areas—works even in 100°F heat!
Sprinkle cayenne + crushed garlic around nests! Rats avoid spicy scents. Mix with sand to keep it from blowing away. Reapply after windstorms!
Install owl boxes! Great horned owls hunt rats at night. Avoid glue traps, they’re cruel and ineffective in dust/dryness.
Sealed AC lines with metal mesh + silicone. Trapped 4 rats with peanut butter-baited traps. No new activity in a week—Thank you!
Desert rats breed year-round but slower than in wet climates. Clear clutter and store firewood 20+ feet from home. They avoid open spaces with no cover!