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How to Get Rid of Rats Permanently (Spoiler: It's Not the Cheese)
Rats are smart, suspicious and very committed to your property. Getting rid of them for good takes three things done in the right order: take away the food, remove the rats, and close the doors behind them.
Step 1: Take away the buffet
- Garbage in cans with tight lids — every night.
- Bird seed off the ground (rats love bird feeders more than birds do).
- Pet food inside, dog waste picked up.
- Compost in a closed bin; fallen fruit picked up.
- Ivy, wood piles and clutter cleared away from the house.
Step 2: Remove the rats inside
Snap traps set along walls, where rats actually run, work best. Rats are suspicious of new things, so many pros leave traps baited but unset for a few days first. Peanut butter is a classic. Cheese is mostly a cartoon thing.
Step 3: Seal them out for good
A rat needs a gap about the size of a quarter. Look at: foundation cracks, gaps around pipes and AC lines, garage doors, crawl space vents, broken basement windows and burrows along the foundation. Seal with materials rats can’t chew — steel mesh, hardware cloth, metal flashing or concrete. This is the step that makes it “permanent”.
When to call a pro
If you see rats in daylight, find burrows along the foundation, or keep catching rats week after week, the problem is bigger than a few traps. We find every entry, set up a safe trapping or station plan, and seal the house — see our entry point sealing service.
Watch: Silver Bullet mice & rat work
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Common questions
How do you get rid of rats permanently?
Remove food and shelter outside, trap the rats already inside, then seal every entry point with steel, hardware cloth, flashing or concrete.
What is the best bait for rat traps?
Peanut butter, nuts or dried fruit work well. Rats are cautious, so baiting traps unset for a few days can help.
Should I use rat poison in my house?
We don’t recommend it indoors — rats can die inside walls, and poison is a risk to pets and children.
How small of a hole can a rat get through?
About the size of a quarter.
Schedule today
Call 973-510-2585, text us or request a free quote online. Silver Bullet Pest Control is licensed and insured in New Jersey.