Best Rat Poison Pellets

However, a lesser known fact is that one reason for the bubonic plague spreading so virulently was largely due to an increasing Christian ideology and practice at the time. “Witches” were burned at the stake and because cats were associated with witches, the village cats were killed along with all the witches.

These hideous acts of cruelty came back to haunt the unwitting perpetrators as without the rat’s natural predator—the rat population exploded and the rest, as they say, is history. While the bubonic plague does not pose significant health risks today, the destruction of rat environments attracts rats to urban areas where there a few natural predators.

Once again, we see unchecked rat populations that can grow exponentially—in a similar way as it did back in the Middle Ages. Rat populations continue to exist today due to the way we live our modern lives and structure our environments. However, with improved understanding and methods, it is possible to stay safe from rats and the diseases they carry.

This product is a popular choice as it contains more than one feed and works within four to six days. The poison is effective with a single feeding and can be used both inside and outside the home. The good thing about this poison is that it is less harmful to non-target animals. Non-target animals would need to eat more of the poison for it effect them.

The best way to deal with rats is to make your home and yard as unappealing, inhospitable and impenetrable as possible to a rat that is looking for a potential home. There is no rocket science involved in these measures just common sense and basic hygiene standards.

Owning a pet is a serious commitment and not one that should be taken lightly; however, having a pet cat or indeed a pet dog is a sure fire way of getting a grip on a rat problem. Owing to the size of rats, domestic dogs have been bred for centuries to be “ratters.”

All dogs have the natural instinct to hunt mice and rats regardless of the breed—their desire to please their owners means that they will remain active hunters long after a cat has decided it is too old for hunting and retired itself. While it is unlikely that one pet dog’s hunting activities will be effective on the whole rat population, having a pet dog or cat will restore the predatory environment a little.

Rats will be deterred from homes with dogs as the sheer size of a dog to a rat is a formidable predator as well as the barking that will also distress them. Smaller dog breeds have historically proved to be the best ratters as they are able to get into holes, tunnels as well as nooks and crannies that larger dogs cannot access. Many people much prefer this natural way of dealing with rats.

Rats and garbage go hand in hand. When any government’s shut down of refuse removal services are threatened, the immediate concern is that a public health crisis could result as rats breed. Dealing with trash near your home and yard is key to deterring rats.

When you put out the trash, you should ensure that not only is the garbage bag sealed but it is then placed in a sealed dumpster. Rats will quickly gnaw through a garbage bag to access the contents. Rats are not too fussy and will also feed on pet feces so make sure that you clean up regularly in your yard.

Having made sure that your garbage is not a restaurant for rats then make sure your yard and home are not a hotel. Remove compost piles that make warm and dry nests for rat families. Inspect the exterior and interior of your home for any cracks in the walls and foundations. If you see any cracks that a rat could access then seal it up using an epoxy sealant. If the cracks are larger, you will need to call in a professional to carry out the work.

While rats can cause damage to your home by gnawing and chewing through your home and electrical wiring, by far the most significant problem associated with rodents are the diseases they carry which potentially can be dangerous to humans. Rats carry a whole host of diseases that include:

• Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: Many rodents in both North and South America carry Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). You can contract this illness by being bitten by an infected rodent as well as touching infected feces and rodents. Transmission can also occur simply by breathing in areas where there are droppings and dust.
  Leptospirosis: Many rodents carry the Leptospirosis bacteria. Humans can become infected if they consume any contaminated food or water.
• Murine Typhus: Murine typhus is a global problem and is transmitted to humans by rat flea bites. This type of illness is associated with humid and tropical environments and may affect travelers returning from overseas.
• Plague: While rare, the plague can still be contracted. It is carried by many wild animals and humans can contract the disease by touching an infected animal or by a flea bite from the infected rodent.
• Rat-Bite Fever: Humans can become infected with rat-bite fever by touching an infected rodent or receiving a scratch or bite. Infection can also occur by coming into contact with contaminated food, water, and feces.
• Salmonellosis: Rodents often carry the Salmonellosis bacteria which is associated with food poisoning in humans. Eating contaminated food or water can result in serious illness and even death.

In a 2014 study carried out in New York, it was concluded that an average adult rat (of the estimated two million estimated in the city) weighed around half a pound. The largest caught was a huge one and a half pounds. The size of these pests and the fact they are mammalian opens up questions and concerns with regards to humane methods of killing them.

Clearly, the threat to human health outweighs our need to live in harmony with these animals unchecked but, at the same time, few people want to deal with a horrendous sight of an injured and suffering animal that you may need to kill yourself. There are only really two ways you can deal with killing rats and those are traps and poison or baits and bait stations.

If you use a trap you will, of course, have to deal with a rat that has been caught dead or alive whereas if you decide to use rat killer then you will not have to deal with this eventuality—and dead rats start to smell quite quickly. This is the main reason that people choose poisons rather than traps.

The poisons which are used to kill rats are usually anticoagulants. The rat killers work by stopping the blood from coagulating in mice and rats, which results in death within days, but it may take longer. The poisons that will effectively kill mice and rats will also cause serious illness or death to other animals as well as humans.

If your child or your pet has ingested rat poison then there is no time to wait. Call 911 or a veterinarian as a matter of urgency and advise the professionals of the type of rat poison that has been swallowed. Placing down rat poison should be only ever be done with a great deal of thought and care.

Rat poison can kill wild animals and birds as well as beloved pets. You should only place rat poison and baits in containers that are sturdy enough to withstand pets, children and any non-target animals in the area. It is best to use gloves when handling poisons of this nature.

Similarly, it is also advisable to wear gloves when removing dead animals from traps and household areas as transmission can occur from simply coming into contact with infected rodents. After setting down the poison ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly. When disposing of rats that have succumbed to the poison it is best practice to double bag the remains to avoid secondary poisoning.

Secondary poisoning is when a poison is ingested from an animal that has ingested poison rather than directly consuming poison. It is possible for foxes and badgers as well as owls and hawks to be killed from secondary poisoning after consuming poisoned rat carcasses. We have taken a look at some popular rat poisons on the market to help you decide, which is best for you.