4 non-toxic ways to get rid of rats with pros and cons

For both residential and commercial customers, rodent infestation is one of the most difficult and urgent pest problems to deal with. Nowadays, there are a variety of medicines and appliances that claim to be able to kill rodents. If there is no sign of a serious rodent problem, many people will prefer the following DIY rodent removal and elimination methods.

Rat trap

Pros:

• Effectiveness: Mousetraps are effective at catching mice, especially if placed in areas where rats are known to roam or have been sighted.
• Non-toxic: Unlike other types of mouse traps that use poisons or chemicals, traps are non-toxic and pose no risk of secondary poisoning to pets or other wildlife.
• Quick: When used correctly, the trap can kill rats quickly and humanely.
• Reusable: Rat traps can be reused many times, making them a more cost-effective option than disposable traps.

Cons:

• Health Hazards: Captive rats can carry disease, and the handling and disposal of captive animals can pose a health hazard to humans. 
• Non-selective: mouse traps are not selective and may catch unintended targets such as birds, cats, dogs and even hurt wild boars.

Rat glue board

A rat glue board is a type of trap that uses sticky glue to catch rats. Like any pest control method, these have both advantages and disadvantages.

Pros:

• Effectiveness: Rat-adhesive boards are in general effective at catching rats, especially when placed in areas where rats have been sighted. But bear in mind that rat glue boards may not catch the targeted rats if their sizes exceed the capacity of the board stickness.
• Easy to use: Rat glue boards are easy to set up and require no special skills or knowledge.
• Non-toxic: Unlike other types of mousetraps that use poisons or chemicals, the adhesive board is non-toxic and poses no risk of causing secondary poisoning to your pets or other wild animals.

Cons:

• Cruelty: Glue boards can be considered a cruel method of trapping rats, as the animals can cling to the board and suffer before dying. Inhumane: If housed rats are not inspected regularly, they can suffer and eventually die from starvation and dehydration.
• Health Hazards: Rats trapped in adhesive boards can carry disease, and handling and disposal of trapped animals can pose a health hazard to humans.
• Not Selective: Sticky boards can catch animals other than mice, such as birds and small mammals, which can be a problem if they are unintended targets such as pets and normal insects.
• Inhumane Disposal: Disposal of captive rats can be problematic. If found, the animals may still be alive and in distress, raising ethical concerns over humane disposal.

Rat Cage

A rat cage, also known as a live trap or humane trap, is a type of trap that captures rats without harming or killing them. Like any pest control method, these have both advantages and disadvantages.

Pros:

• Humane: Rat cages do not kill rats and are considered a humane method of pest control.
• Safe: Live traps are considered safer than other types of traps as there is no danger of accidentally harming pets or children.
• Non-Toxic: Live traps are free of poisons and chemicals, making them a safer choice for homes with children and pets.
• Reusable: Rat cages can be reused many times, making them a more cost-effective option than disposable traps. Selective: Live capture is selective. This means it only captures the intended target species and does not harm other animals.

Cons:

• Ineffectiveness: Rats may be suspicious of new objects in the environment and avoid traps, so rat cages may be less effective at trapping rats than other types of traps.
• Relocation: Once a rat is caught in a live trap, it must be relocated to another location. This can be a challenge as rats are territorial animals and if you get too close they can move back to where they came from.
• Time-consuming: Acknowledging and resetting live traps can be time-consuming especially when there are multiple traps to monitor.
• Injury Hazard: When handling live rats, there is a risk of injury as they may bite or scratch out of fear.

What scent will keep rats away?

Certain scents are believed to repel rodents. These include peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, ammonia, garlic, onions and other natural plants that release strong odors.

Although these scents are very strong, it is important to note that there is no evidence that they eliminate rodent infestations. Additionally, strong odors can be a nuisance to people in residential and commercial properties.

Check out the top 3 smells rats hate most. And how to properly manage the rat infestation. 

Getting Rid of Rats with Rentokil

If the rodent problem grows significantly, or your working site is exposed to obvious rat infestation, it is time to get rid of obsolete rat trap. Contact us to know more about our innovative Ekomille rodent control system. It is non-toxic, eco-friendly, odor-free and incredibly effective compared with other solutions. 

At Rentokil, our qualified local service technicians are backed by global knowledge and innovation. If you have spotted signs of a rat infestation, such as droppings or an unpleasant urine smell, it is time to get professional treatment. 

Rentokil Hong Kong provides comprehensive rat pest control solution. 

Call Rentokil today at +85229546888 for your home and business premises and we will be determined to arrange a site inspection. Alternatively, you can drop us an enquiry online.