Getting Rid of Mice and Rats: Natural and Effective Solutions

Study of Rats’ Habits and Behavior

Although they're pests and can be very unpleasant, rats are sentient beings and surprisingly intelligent, with their own distinct habits.

To get rid of them, you must first understand their habits, how they move, where they live and when they sleep, in order to implement the right strategies. Like many rodents and pests, they prefer to move about at night, when humans are asleep, as humans are their primary predators. They are agile and can squeeze into tight spaces where we cannot reach them.

They swarm around bins and sometimes move in packs for safety. Rats also have a highly developed survival instinct. They are afraid of humans and even more so of animals like cats and dogs, which are better able to catch and kill them.

Good to know : Contrary to popular belief, the presence of rats is not unusual in urban areas. What should raise concern is the repeated presence of signs of rat activity in the same location.

What Attracts Them?

Rats seek above all to meet their basic needs such as drinking, eating and sleeping. They are therefore constantly on the lookout for a warm, dry place to rest, water or liquid to quench their thirst, and food of any kind.

Bin areas, compost piles and bins are a veritable goldmine for them, as is standing water. In cities, they often swarm around bins to scavenge for scraps, but also in sewers where they have unlimited access to water.

What about mice?

Like rats, mice are nocturnal rodents that move about discreetly in search of food and shelter. However, they are generally smaller, more agile, and capable of climbing with great ease. Unlike rats, they tend to live in smaller groups and settle in places closer to human dwellings, such as attics, walls, or closets. They are attracted to the same food sources as rats, but their need for water is less. Curious and opportunistic, they explore their surroundings and leave traces of their presence, particularly in the form of small droppings and gnawed materials.

If you suspect that rats may be present on your property, here are some signs that can help you confirm or rule out an infestation.

• In your garden: look for dark, greasy trails in certain areas, fruit or vegetables that have been nibbled, or tooth marks on garbage bags, cardboard boxes, and other materials.

• In your home: signs may include scratching sounds, noises in the walls that you did not hear before, unusual squeaking, holes in food packaging, small droppings in hidden corners, brown or greasy marks along the lower parts of walls, or chewed cables.

These are all signs that should put you on alert. Keep an eye out for these clues and you can detect these rodents before their presence becomes a serious problem.

To limit the appearance of rodents or prevent them from coming back, several simple steps can be taken on a daily basis.

Some guides still recommend homemade recipes based on bleach, baking soda, or quicklime, presented as homemade “rat poison.” We do not recommend these methods: they rely on the ingestion of toxic substances and can pose a risk if there are children or pets in your household. We favor a deterrent approach rather than elimination.

Eliminate Food and Water Sources

Take your garbage out as soon as the bins are full, store food in airtight containers, and avoid standing water, which can become a gathering point for rodents or a potential source of contamination.

Use Natural Repellents

Chili peppers or cayenne pepper, thanks to the capsaicin they contain, can reduce the attractiveness of food to rats and mice (2). Certain essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, have also demonstrated a repellent effect on these rodents (3,4).

Limit Entry Points

Avoid leaving openings that rodents could use as entry points, such as a cat flap, a poorly insulated basement, or cracks in a wall. Inspect and seal all openings, even the smallest ones.

Encourage Natural Predators

Rodents are wary of dogs, but even more so of cats. Studies have shown that even rats that have never encountered cats avoid areas marked by their scent and prefer neutral areas (5).

However, if your four-legged companions hunt these rodents, it is important to remember that rats and mice can carry numerous internal parasites. In the event of ingestion or close contact, it is essential to protect your cat against worms and maintain regular deworming treatment for your dog to help prevent the risk of infection.

Why Are Ingested Solutions Often Ineffective?

Individual rats are naturally wary of unfamiliar foods. They typically consume small amounts at a time, which may not be enough to cause poisoning (6). This natural caution helps explain why poisoned bait treatments often affect only one individual at a time rather than the entire colony.

If you are dealing with a colony, it is therefore safer to call in a pest-control professional.

Rats and mice have a highly developed sense of smell. Therefore, when it comes to answering the question “How can you get rid of rats?”, we favor scent-based methods to repel these rodents.

Black Pepper

Black pepper is often combined with chili pepper for a repellent effect. It is not actually a physical barrier, but rather creates an unpleasant sensation. The study demonstrates a reduction in bait consumption by rats and mice (2). Black pepper contains piperine, while chili pepper contains capsaicin. These two compounds make the bait less appealing to rodents.

We therefore recommend using the two together on bait placed near areas where food is stored, such as basements, cupboards, etc. Make sure to place the bait away from your pets’ food and out of the reach of children.

Precautions: Handle capsaicin with gloves to prevent skin and eye irritation.

Repellent Essential Oils

Please note that, in this context, essential oils should be diluted and used for external application only. Do not use them around children or during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Daily spraying of lemon eucalyptus essential oil can reduce food consumption. However, the application needs to be renewed every day to maintain this repellent effect on rodents (3).

Bergamot essential oil and peppermint oil have also been shown to act as a repellent barrier, helping to reduce the number of visits (3,4).

Never use essential oils undiluted; they should always be diluted. Soak a cotton ball in the diluted mixture and place it in areas where rodents are present. Renew every 2 to 3 days.

Bergamot essential oil: do not use around children or during pregnancy or breastfeeding. For external use only.

Peppermint essential oil: do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or in children under 6 years of age. It may have a stimulating effect on ovarian function and therefore potentially on estrogen activity. It is not recommended in cases of estrogen-dependent conditions such as mastosis, endometriosis, fibroids, or estrogen-dependent cancers (breast, ovarian, or endometrial cancer). At high concentrations, it may cause skin irritation. Always use diluted.

Lemon eucalyptus essential oil: not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding or for children under 6 years of age. Avoid contact with the eyes and mucous membranes. Always dilute before us

Cloves

Cloves also have a repellent scent that rats and mice tend to avoid. You can place a few cloves in a small sachet and put it in areas where these rodents are likely to pass.

Certain smells have been studied for their avoidance effect on rodents, with varying results. Any use of essential oils should be approached with caution, particularly when pets are present.

Despite the best intentions, some situations go beyond what repellents and preventive measures alone can solve.

Call in a Professional

If, despite these natural methods, you are still unable to get rid of these pests, the best option is to call in a professional pest-control specialist. They will have the expertise and appropriate tools to help you without compromising your safety or that of your pets. They can also provide valuable advice on how to prevent the rodents from returning in the future.

When Should You Consider Professional Intervention?

In the event of a significant infestation or one that persists despite using several repellents and preventive measures, it may be appropriate to call in a professional pest-control specialist. They can accurately identify entry points that you may have overlooked, assess the extent of the infestation, and recommend a solution suited to your situation while minimizing risks to your household.

Delaying action rarely improves the situation when rodents have already settled in. Here is why it is better to act early, and why rats and mice may sometimes return even after an initial successful intervention.

What Are the Risks Associated with an Infestation?

Beyond being a nuisance, a prolonged rodent infestation in a home can cause damage to electrical cables, walls, and food supplies, while also raising hygiene concerns.

The longer an infestation persists, the more time and effort it can take to locate and remove the rodents. Rats and mice can also carry diseases such as leptospirosis, which can affect pets as well.

Why Do Rodents Come Back?

A rat or mouse that has found access to food or a comfortable shelter, even just once, tends to return to the same area. This is why repellents alone, without accompanying preventive measures, often have limited long-term effectiveness: as long as a source of food or water or an accessible entry point remains, another rodent may settle in after the previous one has left.

Combining scent-based repellents with measures to eliminate sources of attraction remains the best way to reduce the likelihood of rodents returning.

Keep products out of the reach of children. Follow the instructions for use.

Essential oils are highly concentrated natural substances. Always refer to the intended uses and precautions provided on each product’s technical information sheet. Store them in a suitable glass bottle, away from light and air. Keep out of reach of children. Do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or on children under 6 years of age. Avoid contact with the eyes and mucous membranes. Refer to the general essential oil safety precautions as well as the specific information sheet for each essential oil.

The best solution remains prevention: keep food sources securely stored and protect water sources. If the solutions mentioned above are not sufficient, it is important to contact a professional promptly to prevent the infestation from spreading.

If you use essential oils, make sure that children in the treated area and your pets are kept safe.

Laura is a health, beauty and lifestyle writer. Passionate about travel and gastronomy, she shares all her nutritional advice on how to combine pleasure with wellbeing. Through her articles, she is committed to providing you with meaningful information and practical advice to nourish your body and mind.