Hey everyone!
I’ve been battling a persistent rat problem in my urban backyard for months. These critters are relentless—chewing through wires, raiding my compost bin, and even nesting in my shed! I’ve tried traps and peppermint oil, but they keep coming back.
I’ve heard some communities have successfully reduced rat populations through coordinated efforts. For example, cities like Chicago and New York have implemented large-scale programs. But I’m curious about smaller-scale success stories.
@LindaWild Seal every entry point! Rats can squeeze through holes the size of a quarter. I used steel wool and caulk to block gaps in my foundation and walls. Combined with snap traps, this reduced my rat issue by 90% in two weeks!
Steel wool, genius! Did you use bait in the traps? I’ve heard peanut butter works well.
Yes! Peanut butter mixed with oats. Just reapply daily, it dries out quickly.
Adopt a cat! My neighborhood feral cat colony took care of our rat problem naturally. Plus, they’re adorable pest control agents.
Dry ice in burrows! A friend in Denver used this method, it releases CO2 and suffocates rats underground. Eco-friendly and effective!
Organize a community clean-up! Rats thrive in clutter. Our block started a weekly trash patrol and removed overgrown vegetation. Rats left within a month.
Electronic traps. Pricey but worth it, they zap rats instantly. No mess, no stress.
Barn owls! Installed nesting boxes on my property. One owl family can eat 3,000+ rodents a year. Silent and sustainable!
Used a mix of ammonia-soaked rags (they hate the smell) and motion-activated lights. Rats are gone, and my garden is thriving!
Work with local authorities! My city offers free rat-resistant trash bins. Reduced infestations by 60% in our area.
Switch to a sealed compost system. Rats stopped raiding my pile once I got a tumbler bin. Also, avoid composting meat/dairy.
I sealed all foundation gaps under my porch last spring, set bait stations along the wall, and by summer I found zero new droppings. That was huge.
It really works when you combine cleanup + community action. On my block we started a trash patrol + weekly yard check, and rats vanished within eight weeks.
@SealAndBaitBen Adopted two feral cats and cleaned up the shed. Between cat patrols and eliminating clutter, I saw fewer rat sightings each week.
Success isn’t just about trapping, it’s about habitat. I filled in old burrows, removed wood piles, and replaced broken mulch with rock. No rat holes since.
Used dry ice in burrows once (safely, per local code). It killed the underground tunnels without heavy chemicals. Then sealed the burrows. Rats didn’t come back.
I set motion-activated cameras near suspected runs and caught the first night when traps got triggered. Then I adjusted the placement and bait type. Game changer.
@CommunityCleanCara Totally agree on cleanup. In my house we had toddlers and pets, once I cleared trash lids and spaced bins away from walls, the indoor rat signs stopped.
Sealed under raised beds, switched compost to sealed tumbler, and placed bait stations along the garden fence. Rats stopped raiding the veggie patches entirely.