How can you get rid of a ground rat in the garden? - briefly
Use snap or live traps baited with peanut butter, remove accessible food and water, and clear dense vegetation and debris to eliminate shelter and entry points.
How can you get rid of a ground rat in the garden? - in detail
Eliminate a burrowing rat from a garden by addressing attraction, shelter, and direct removal.
First, remove food sources. Collect fallen fruit, secure compost in sealed bins, and avoid feeding birds on the ground. Store animal feed in airtight containers and clean up spilled seeds promptly.
Second, reduce shelter. Clear dense vegetation, trim grass to a height of 5 cm, and eliminate piles of wood, stones, or debris where tunnels can develop. Fill existing burrows with soil or sand and compact the surface to discourage re‑excavation.
Third, employ physical traps. Choose snap traps or multi‑catch cage traps sized for rodents. Bait with peanut butter, dried fruit, or canned cat food. Place traps along active runways, near burrow entrances, and check them daily. Dispose of captured animals according to local regulations.
Fourth, apply repellents when traps are insufficient. Sprinkle powdered garlic, cayenne pepper, or commercially available rodent‑repellent granules around the perimeter and near potential entry points. Reapply after rain or irrigation.
Fifth, consider targeted rodenticides only if other methods fail. Use anticoagulant baits that meet safety standards, place them in tamper‑proof stations, and monitor usage to avoid non‑target exposure. Follow label instructions precisely.
Sixth, maintain ongoing surveillance. Conduct nightly visual inspections for fresh tracks, fresh droppings, or new burrow openings. Record findings and adjust control measures accordingly.
By systematically eliminating food, shelter, and access while employing traps, repellents, and, when necessary, regulated poisons, a garden can be cleared of ground‑dwelling rats and remain rat‑free.