Among other things, the winter months bring a relief from many of the pests that run rampant during the summer. However, while they are instrumental in killing or causing to hibernate, many of the bugs that infest our homes and gardens, they also serve to bring some other pests closer to our homes, such as rats and mice. Rats and mice come in from the fields to keep warm in our homes during the winter. For this reason, rodent control becomes the main focus of pest control when summer and fall are over.

Some of the reasons rats are such a nuisance include:

•They carry diseases

•They chew on wires

•They eat our food

Disease-Carriers

Rats have often been named as the culprits for spreading diseases, such as the well-known Black or Bubonic Plague during the 14th century. Today rats still carry diseases and that is one of the reasons they are a harmful pest. Rats crawl over the ground where your children play and leave germs on the toys they will touch, for this reason, if you have any of these pests living in your home, you should learn how to get rid of rats.

Wire-Chewers

Not only do rats bring harmful germs into our homes, they also do damage while they're there. Rats like to chew on cables and wires. They can chew right through the insulation on wires, which may lead to their own electrocution, but which can also result in a fire hazard. They do this to wires in your house, in your car, and anywhere else.

Food-Eaters

Wires aren't the only thing rats chew on. It is estimated that one fifth to one half of the world's food production is consumed, damaged or destroyed by rats. This is huge! World hunger is a very big deal, and here we have rats eating or ruining half of the food that we produce.

How to Get Rid of Them

There are two basic methods for getting rid of rats: poison them or physically kill them. Rat poison is dangerous, and must be used with caution. There are some guidelines to protect children and pets, while still allowing the rats to partake of the poison.

First, there are some places that rats are likely to be found that are already safe from children and pets, such as in the attic and crawl spaces. In these areas, you can place packets that the rats will chew through to the poison inside. In areas that children and pets can access, however, you probably want to use what is called a bait station. This is basically a box with a space large enough for rats to enter, but too small for children or pets. The rat crawls in there, and eats the bait.

Second is the more holistic method that doesn't require the use of poison. Two instruments are available for this method. One: snap traps. These are just like the good old fashioned mouse traps, only for rats. Two: glue boards. These are boards that rats will stick to if they touch them. They are a simple way to catch a rat.