I admit that rat poison is definitely unethical: it causes a horrible, painful death, the animal’s gut is perforated and the poor animal gets internal bleeding. But is is one of the best ways to get rid of a rodent invasion.
Technically you can just get used litter without odor control from someone who has a cat. Cat urine will keep rats away all on its own. Just give them a bag of dollar store litter and put the whole box where you need control. Works for months.
Edit: we have chickens and rats have been an issue with getting into their feed. The chickens don’t care about the smell but the rats stay away.
“Infection with T. gondii has been shown to alter the behavior of mice and rats in ways thought to increase the rodents’ chances of being preyed upon by cats.”
I admit that rat poison is definitely unethical: it causes a horrible, painful death, the animal’s gut is perforated and the poor animal gets internal bleeding. But is is one of the best ways to get rid of a rodent invasion.
Just get a cat and the rats will leave, well most of them.
Technically you can just get used litter without odor control from someone who has a cat. Cat urine will keep rats away all on its own. Just give them a bag of dollar store litter and put the whole box where you need control. Works for months.
Edit: we have chickens and rats have been an issue with getting into their feed. The chickens don’t care about the smell but the rats stay away.
Except rats with toxoplasmosis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis
“Infection with T. gondii has been shown to alter the behavior of mice and rats in ways thought to increase the rodents’ chances of being preyed upon by cats.”