How to Keep Rats & Mice Out of Your Garden

Your garden is a relaxing haven, not just for you, but for your guests. As we enter the spring season, it’s only natural for homeowners alike to venture out into their outdoor spaces to enjoy the warm sunshine and fresh breezes that spring brings with it. However, there are some people who might go out into their gardens for the first time since winter only to come across rats or mice who have chosen to make your garden their new home. In this article, we’ll be discussing how to spot signs of a rodent infestation and how to remove rodents from your outdoor spaces, together with some tips for deterring these furry pests.

It’s an unfortunate experience to find that rodents have chosen your garden as their home for the foreseeable future, but the signs aren’t always obvious. Where you might think that your garden is safe from nesting mice and rats, it could be quite the opposite situation, if you know how, and where, to look. Here are a few signs that you have rodents living in your garden:

You see them - this might seem like an obvious one, but it can be typical for a homeowner to see a rat or mouse on their land and assume it’s a one-off case. Unfortunately, it’s likely that there are many others and they won’t be far away. Just one rodent can be a sign of a larger infestation, so don’t ignore it.

Plants seem to be disappearing - people often find, when infested with rodents, that new plants, seedlings and even sprouts seemingly disappear from their gardens. This is usually because rats will burrow underneath the earth, meaning they’re ripped from their roots. Although, other animals, such as rabbits, hares and deer, are partial to a few fresh plants, so it could be down to those creatures as opposed to rats and mice.

You find tunnels underground - whether you’re digging out for a new extension or want to plant a tree in your back garden that needs to be deep-rooted, if you come across what you believe to be tunnels then, chances are, you could have a rat infestation. Keep in mind, however, that the tunnels will be particularly small, but if you suspect that it could be a passageway for unwanted visitors, then call the professionals.

Bad smells & droppings - the last thing that you might see if you have a rodent infestation is droppings. If the infestation is large, then you’ll likely see a lot of droppings scattered in different places. They often present themselves in small piles and you’ll also find that it comes with a very distinctive, unpleasant smell.

The places you should pay particular attention to if you want to locate a rodent infestation are as follows, but it’s important you do not touch the nest or any animals that reside in there - call The Pest Master:

• Compost piles
• Wood piles
• Bird feeders
• Under decking
• Recycling bins
• General bins
• In the garden shed
• Underneath the garden shed
• Overgrown and unkempt gardens
• Down the side of outbuildings 
• Anywhere that’s confined and away from sunlight

How to remove a rodent infestation from your garden

It is imperative that rodent infestations, once identified, are dealt with humanely, responsibly and professionally. Where you might think that you can tackle the problem yourself with shop-bought remedies and solutions, such as poisons and traps, the process is far more complicated and needs to be handled with the utmost care. 

This is to protect other wildlife, pets and even humans from secondary poisoning, which is a criminal offence if caught poisoning a non-target species. It’s important to note that secondary poisoning can easily, unfortunately, affect birds, foxes, badgers, hedgehogs and more.

This is where The Pest Master comes in. We pride ourselves on ridding people of rat infestations and mice infestations whilst helping to protect against it in the future. Not only that, but we can also help you to identify and confirm your suspicions before we go ahead with rodent extermination services. This is the only way in which a rat infestation or a mouse infestation can be removed. 

How to keep rodents out of your garden

There are many ways in which you can deter rodents from your garden. If you choose The Pest Master to help you, we’ll put those measures in place for you as well as provide you with expert, specialist and bespoke advice so you’re aware of what you can do to try and keep your garden rodent-free. Some of the things you can do include:

• Keeping your bins in a bin store
• Keeping food and compost heaps off the floor
• Keep your lawn neat, tidy and cut to a decent length
• Remove bird feeders if this is attracting the animals to your garden
• Remove their habitats altogether, including log stores
• Improve the sanitation of your garden in general, such as keeping bins clean 
• Try replacing hedges with fences if you’re having a real problem with rodents

Although, it should be noted that The Pest Master cannot guarantee that rats and mice won’t choose your garden to nest in again. But by putting the right measures in place, you’ll be able to deter any rodents who are looking for a new home.

The Pest Master has a team of dedicated, highly-trained pest control professionals at the helm of everything we do. Whether you have a rodent infestation, a bug problem or anything in between, you’ll have absolute peace of mind that our qualified team of technicians will be on hand to help. If you would like further information about how we can help you today, get in touch with a member of our friendly, knowledgeable team - we’re always pleased to hear from you.