How to get rid of rats under decking

Question

We've spotted a rat going under our decking a couple of times now. We'd rather sort it ourselves before calling pest control. Is that realistic, and what bait actually works?

Adam · Accepted Answer

From a professional pest control perspective, handling this yourself is realistic, but please skip the DIY store poison.

Retail rodenticides are restricted to very weak active-ingredient strengths. Because the lethal dose per block is so low, you have to flood the garden with a massive volume of bait just to kill an adult rat. This puts a huge amount of unnecessary rodenticide into the environment.

Furthermore, you run a severe risk of secondary poisoning.  A dying, sluggish rat is an easy target for neighborhood cats, foxes, owls, and birds of prey, passing the lethal toxins straight up the food chain.
If anyone does choose to use rodenticides outdoors, industry standards require a strict environmental risk assessment first to check for non-target wildlife like hedgehogs. The bait must also be secured inside lockable, tamper-resistant bait boxes that are mechanically tethered or anchored to a wall or the decking so they can't be moved, flipped, or blown away.
For a DIY setup, stick strictly to mechanical trapping (snap traps). It avoids spreading toxins into the eco-system, protects local wildlife, gives you an immediate result, and ensures the rat doesn't die and rot inside the unreachable voids under your decking.

If that doesn’t work I recommend you contact a professional pest control technician who has the training and expertise to handle and use rodenticides safely.

Many Thanks
Potteries Pest Control

Alison · Answer

Rats need and want only 3 things ,
Water
Food 
Harbourage

Look.to remove any of these , unfortunately rats love decking as its a safe space for them

Rodenticides are not a great way to go if you dont know what you are doing.

We personally use traps first as using baits run the risk.of secondary poisoning to non target species.

If rats are going under the decking look around the perimeter for holes apx the size of a tin of beans .If rats have been there a while a clear path should be noticeable (rat run).

Don't fall for the miracle cure of ultrasonic as they dont work.

If you do use baits they have to be contained within tamper proof boxes.

Michael · Answer

Hi Sarah, firstly the bait you can buy is not effective as it is not for professional use. Secondly, you need an expect like us proofing specialists to come and do a survey to see where and what's attracting them in your property. Bait alone won't solve the problem. The more you try to do it yourself the more the damage to your property. Thanks

Chris · Answer

Hi 
You could put mesh wire around the base and dig it into the ground a fair way to prevent them digging

Tony · Answer

You need to find where they are coming from. Traps and bait may solve your problem initially but without knowing how theyve got there you could have the same problem reoccurring. Chances are the rat you saw going under your decking is going back where he came out from.

How to get rid of rats under decking

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