Mysterious Holes in Your Yard? How to Tell If Rats Are the Cause Before They Ruin Your Garden

If you spot a rat in your yard or garden, chances are you have a bigger problem. The common brown rat is highly adaptable, lives in close proximity to humans, and reproduces rapidly. They seek out sheltered places where food and water are easy to find and build burrows for nesting and food storage.

Here’s what to look for if you suspect rat activity and how to get rid of these unwelcome rodents.

What Are Rat Holes and Why Do They Appear in Yards?

Lots of rodents dig holes in yards and gardens, but there are certain signs that the one responsible is a rat. The Norway rat, the most common rat in North America, creates a burrow entrance hole 2- to 4-inches in diameter.

You’ll find rat holes close to outbuildings, garbage bins, underneath shrubbery, porches and decks, in dense undergrowth, and around gardens.

Entrance holes have a smooth tunnel-like opening, often with excavated soil spread out in a fan shape around the hole. One or two less obvious exit holes will be located nearby. Rats prefer sandy soil and seek out areas close to food and water where they are least likely to be disturbed.

Yards and gardens provide everything rats need, including safe locations for raising young. Garbage bins, animal feed, bird seed, fallen orchard fruits, ripe vegetables and edible herbs, and flowers are all easily accessible food sources.

Water features, pools, dripping faucets, and hoses provide water, and outbuildings, porches, decks, hedges, and areas of dense undergrowth all offer safe shelter.

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How to Get Rid of Rat Holes in Your Yard

To get rid of rat holes in your yard, you first have to get rid of the rats. Baits and traps are available at big-box stores and retailers. Keep in mind that some methods that kill rats contain toxic ingredients and leave you with a disposal issue, which could cause problems if you have pets. Here are other natural methods that encourage rats to depart for more hospitable locations.

• Direct a high-pressure hose into the entrance hole to flood the burrow.
• Use smudge sticks to smoke rats out of the burrow.
• Remove food sources or secure them with tight-fitting lids.
• Cover water sources and repair leaky faucets and hoses.
• Cover burrow entrances with steel wool or mesh.
• Spray entrance holes with scents rats can’t tolerate. They avoid citrus, aromatic herbs and spices, vinegar, and ammonia.
• Place cut onions or garlic, mothballs, cloves, or cayenne pepper in and around entrance holes.
• Consider adopting a cat or a small dog. Terrier breeds are known for their rat-catching abilities.

How to Prevent Rats from Returning

Keep rats from coming back by eliminating their preferred habitat. First, fill in and seal off burrows. Then, adopt the following practices to remove food and water sources.

• Fill burrows with soil, concrete, gravel, or spray foam.
• Seal entrance and exit holes with caulk and steel mesh or hardware cloth.
• Repair holes and cracks in outbuilding windows, doors, and other entry points like drain pipes or electric wires.
• Maintain your lawn and keep your property tidy.
• Clean up outdoor areas after outdoor activities that include food and beverages.
• Enclose garbage cans and compost, and spray around them with vinegar or peppermint oil.
• Harvest ripe fruits and vegetables regularly.
• Place bird feeders on poles and clean up around them.
• Don’t leave pet food outside.
• Cover water features, including pools and spas, when not in use.
• Stack firewood off the ground.
• Plant aromatic flowers and herbs like marigolds. mums, lavender, catnip, sage, rosemary, and mints in and around the perimeter of your yard.