Rats like garages and sheds. Any outbuilding gives them natural shelter and privacy – often enough to keep them from being readily discovered. It’s an extra draw if you have birdseed or other edibles stored there.
There are a number of things you can do to keep rats out of these areas. First, if you do have birdseed or pet food stored in an outbuilding, keep it in sealed hard plastic or glass containers. Make sure the lids remain tight on any garbage cans. Be careful not to keep cardboard in a garage or shed, as rats will eat it.
Try to seal any openings by stuffing steel wool into the holes or gaps before you seal them. Keep trees and shrubs outside the garage trimmed back as much as possible. If you have a compost bin near the garage or shed, be sure it’s well covered. You’ll also want to keep cut firewood well away from these structures to give rats less of a hiding place.
Finally, keeping the place clean will help to reduce the chances of having pesky visitors.
Be sure that you watch for signs of a rodent infestation. If you see urine, droppings, or chew marks around your stored items, it’s time to start dealing with the problem.
A professional pest control company like Slug-A-Bug can help. Our technicians can locate the nests and eliminate rats in a safe, eco-friendly manner. Your garage or shed will be rodent-free, and you won’t have to worry about further infestations. Get a free evaluation by calling (321) 259-7844.