The five steps you need to take TODAY to prevent enormous 22-inch rats invading your home & garden
RAT ATTACK The five steps you need to take TODAY to prevent enormous 22-inch rats invading your home & garden
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THIS week Brits were left shocked after a gigantic 22-inch rat was discovered in a UK home.
The supersize rodent repulsed locals in Redcar and Cleveland, North Yorkshire, after a picture was shared on social media by local politicians.
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A 22-inch supersized rat was discovered in a property in the Normanby area by a pest controller who had been called to investigate
And it seems many Brits are also worried about their own houses and gardens being infested, as 'giant rats uk' has been one of the top trending searches.
Thankfully there are some ways to deter rats away from their homes.
Garden shed expert, Sam Jenkinson, for garden building retailer Tiger, has shared five tips for keeping rats and mice at bay in a non-hurtful way…
Plant peppermint
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Peppermint plants can help to deter rats
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Rats hate the smell of peppermint, so in the area that surrounds your garden building, we'd suggest planting peppermint to deter them from trying to sneak their way in.
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Not only will this deter pests from infiltrating your garden building, but in the summer, it will also flower with delicate purple flowers – brightening up your garden space.
You can also create your own peppermint spray using 10 drops of peppermint oil, one cup of white vinegar (or three to five drops of liquid dish soap) and one to two cups of water.
Spray the mixture in entryways and around areas you've noticed rat activity and they'll soon disappear.
Remove food sources
Garden buildings, especially in the summer, are often used as a place for entertaining and hosting guests.
If you don't remove food sources from your garden building, rats and other pests may be attracted.
Ensure you clean any outdoor buildings out thoroughly after use to remove all traces of food.
Monster '22-INCH' rat 'as big as a cat' is found in UK home - as locals warned more could be on the loose
Seal up any holes
Rats can squeeze through very small holes, so if your garden buildings have holes, they'll find their way through.
This is why tongue and groove boards, like shiplap, are a good investment – sheds with overlap or OSB (like large chipboard) seem to have more gaps with weathering or age, so tongue and groove boards are better at stopping intruders, large or small.
It's important to seal up any holes in your garden buildings and other garden items such as fences and foundations.
You can use wire mesh caulk to do so.
Use ultrasonic devices
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If you don't remove food sources from your garden building, rats and other pests may be attracted
Credit: Getty
If your garden building has a power source, you can plug in an ultrasonic device.
These devices emit high-frequency sound waves that are inaudible to humans but can be irritating to rats and vermin, keeping them away.
However, this system may only be effective as a short-term solution, so consider other additional options to ensure pests stay away for good.
Keep your garden buildings clean
Rats are attracted to cluttered and dirty places, so it's advisable to regularly clean and tidy your garden building, removing debris such as leaves and sticks from the outside and any materials which could be used for nesting.
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