The ‘safest’ and ‘most effective natural’ way to repel mice and rats as rodent numbers rising
Rodents can be repelled naturally
GETTY
Homes are generally ambushed by rodents between Autumn and Spring, but milder temperatures have extended the breeding season in Britain.
This is bad news for homeowners, who are already experiencing an uptick in mouse numbers as we enter Spring.
Thankfully solutions are at hand, but rodent control measures are wide-ranging and require regular maintenance to work. When used correctly, products like essential oils can prove effective for warding off rodents.
According to Pest Control Expert Robert Collins, peppermint, eucalyptus and citronella essential are some of the safest repellents around.
Rodents have a very sensitive sense of smell
GETTYThe expert told GB News: “There are several essential oils that can be used to deter rats from your garden. This is one of the safest and most effective natural ways to get rid of rats.
“Peppermint, Eucalyptus, and Citronella are great examples of essential oils that are brilliant at deterring rats.”
Mice and rats rank highly in terms of olfactory abilities, meaning they have a sensitive sense of smell.
Because scents like Eucalyptus and Peppermint have powerful botanical compounds, they are quick to perturb the olfactory senses.
“The strong smell of these oils can easily dissuade rats,” notes Collins. “Simply mix together your chosen essential oil in a spray bottle.
“The mixture should consist of one part essential oil and nine parts water.
"Then spray this mixture around the edges of your garden and in any space that you may suspect is a habitat for the rats."
Though these solutions may help, the overall efficacy of essential oils to repel rats is unpredictable.
One of the main challenges is ensuring concentrations are high enough to have a long-term effect, so reapplying the solution is crucial.
It comes as Pest UK recently published an entry on their website reporting a higher-than-usual number of calls concerning mice in March.
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PAThey noted: “We would expect the calls for domestic mouse problems to peak in January and be declining by March.
“This year has been different with calls concerning mice in March actually increasing through February and into March.”
While some homeowners may be tempted to leave the unwanted visitors to their own devices, this could lead to further inconveniences.
“Mice carry the same types of diseases as rats,” warns Pest UK. “They can also cause electrical problems or even be fired by chewing through electric cables.”