How to Get Rid of Rats in the Vegetable Garden

No one wants rats in the garden. Rats will not only eat the vegetables you spent so many hours cultivating, they can also spread disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rats and mice can spread over 35 different diseases. These illnesses can be spread directly through rat bites and indirectly through the fleas and ticks that live on the rodents. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Prevent rats from finding a home around the garden. Rats live in abandoned cars, furniture and appliances, so remove these from around your garden. Keep your yard clutter-free as well. Rats will also inhabit the area around refuse that has been left lying on the ground, so get rid of that, too.

2

Pick up after your pets. Rats will be attracted to any pet food left outdoors. This includes bird seed that has fallen to the ground. Clean up your pet's droppings as well---especially dog feces.

3

Keep the lid tight on your outdoor garbage cans.

4

Place rat traps around the garden. You can either use snap traps or glue traps. Bait these traps with a small piece of fruit, a chunk of meat or peanut butter.

Set the traps where you have noticed piles of rat droppings. Check the traps twice a day and discard any captured rats in a small plastic bag. Immediately place the bag in an outdoor garbage can.