Rats seek the shelter and resources a garage provides, making this space a frequent entry point to a home. Garages often contain clutter and stored food, offering rats everything they need to thrive. Eliminating an infestation requires immediate, active removal coupled with rapid structural exclusion to prevent new rodents from entering. Addressing the current population and fortifying the structure must be done simultaneously to eliminate the problem.
Immediate Removal Methods
The fastest way to reduce the immediate population is through the strategic deployment of traps. Traditional snap traps are a cost-effective and reliable option, delivering a quick kill when positioned correctly. Electronic traps offer an alternative, using a powerful electric shock for a clean, contained kill, which many find easier to manage and dispose of. Glue traps should be avoided, as they are often ineffective for large, strong rats and are considered an inhumane method of control.
Rats are wary of new objects, so effective placement is paramount for a quick catch. Place traps perpendicular to walls, with the bait end touching the wall, as rats prefer to travel along edges for safety. Use multiple traps spaced a few feet apart, focusing on areas with fresh droppings, gnaw marks, or visible runways. Bait the traps with a small, secured amount of high-protein foods like peanut butter, dried fruit, or nuts.
Do not use too much bait, as a large portion can be safely nibbled away without triggering the mechanism. For snap traps, a pea-sized amount of sticky bait like peanut butter is sufficient to force the rat to interact with the trigger plate. Electronic traps typically lure the rat into a tunnel, requiring only a small smear of bait placed deep inside the chamber. Regular monitoring and resetting of traps is necessary to quickly reduce the infestation.
Identifying and Sealing Entry Points
Structural exclusion must be paired with active trapping to prevent new rats from replacing the captured ones. Rats can exploit incredibly small openings due to their flexible skeletons; if a rat can fit its head, the rest of the body can follow. An adult rat can squeeze through a gap as small as one-half inch. Inspection should focus on the entire perimeter of the garage, looking for any hole or crack that meets or exceeds this size.
Pay close attention to the garage door itself, which is the most common vulnerability. Inspect the rubber seals along the bottom and sides for wear, tears, or chew damage. These seals should be replaced with rodent-proof varieties that contain embedded metal mesh, which rats cannot chew through. Also, examine the foundation, checking for cracks, gaps around utility lines, and any vents that are not covered with a durable screen.
Seal any identified small gaps by tightly packing them with coarse steel wool or copper mesh. These materials create an abrasive barrier that rats cannot gnaw through. For larger openings, use one-quarter-inch galvanized hardware cloth, a sturdy metal mesh, secured over the opening with screws. Do not use plastic, wood, or expanding foam alone, as rats will quickly chew through these softer materials.
Removing Attractants and Sanitation
Once active removal and exclusion have been implemented, eliminating attractants is the final step for long-term prevention. Rats are primarily drawn to garages by accessible food sources and nesting material. All potential food items, including pet food, bird seed, and grass seed, must be stored in heavy-duty, airtight metal or thick plastic containers. Do not leave bags of garbage or recycling bins uncovered, as this provides a consistent food supply.
Reducing clutter immediately limits the available nesting sites and hiding places for any remaining rodents. Replace cardboard boxes with hard plastic storage bins, which rats cannot chew through or use for bedding. Storing items on shelving units instead of directly on the floor further reduces the available shelter and makes it easier to spot signs of new activity. A clean, organized garage is significantly less appealing to a rat seeking shelter.
Cleaning up after an infestation requires specific safety precautions to mitigate health risks associated with droppings and urine. Never sweep or vacuum droppings, as this can aerosolize viral particles like Hantavirus. Instead, wear gloves and a well-fitting mask, then lightly mist the droppings and nesting material with a disinfectant or a solution of one part bleach to ten parts water. Allow the solution to soak before wiping up the waste with paper towels, which should then be double-bagged and placed in the outdoor trash.