Combine an IPM program with a few of these DIY deterrents and repellents, and you can come up with a successful comprehensive plan to get rid of mice naturally. How Poison Works: Most rodenticides on the market today are anti-coagulants.
Rats are rodents that can spread disease, contaminate food and chew up property. Rats burrow in the ground, forming tunnels with one main opening and one or two exits. The 2- to 3-inch wide entrance hole is usually found under a covering like a low plant, mulch or debris. Before closing up burrows, the rats must be eliminated or they will just re-open the holes.
They have very hard teeth and can chew through wood and plaster or any other material that is softer than their teeth. They can crawl through holes the size of a quarter, tread water for three days and land unharmed after a five-story fall. Norway rats live in colonies that have very well defined territories. The strongest colonies get the best places to live. The risk of disease being spread from rats to humans is very real. By their very nature, rats carry a variety of potentially infected fleas and ticks which may be passed on to people. In rare occurrences, especially when cornered, rats can bite humans or pets.