Closed restaurants mean empty dumpsters, creating a food shortage for many rats. So they're pushing their search into residential areas — where trash cans are fuller than ever. hereandnow
that urged readers to look for signs of infestation in their cars. Here & Now’s Robin Young herself never had rats in her backyard before, until she found them feasting on her birdseed.
But there are ways to avoid being next on this list of unsuspecting victims. Villamil says the key is to be proactive. “There are a lot of things people can do to help discourage rats from coming, to make it unfriendly for them,” he says. “If we do that, then the chances of getting rid of the rats or slowing them down are high.”
Villamil recommends people be careful with their waste. Turn compost regularly and spray food scraps with water to dull the smell, he says. Power washing trash cans every so often is also a way to curb rats’ ability to sniff out your garbage, and it’s important to properly clean up after pets — rats love the smell of dog poop, Villamil says.
Rats are also attracted to gardens, he says, but there are ways to make them less rat friendly too. Herbs such as rosemary, lavender and peppermint can ward off rodents. Still, be sure not to let fresh vegetables lay on the ground where pests can easily snatch them up.
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