Rats in the yard

A rat is a rodent

A rat is usually a brown rodent. Rats prefer living places close to the ground, where you can easily dig underground passages. The rat thrives in population centers and has generally conquered farms, green areas, landfills, sewer networks and waste sheds. Rats can also come indoors. Rats avoid open areas and usually move after dark. The rat leaves the nest only when looking for food.

Accuracy for composting

Rats can occur if food (bio-waste) composting is not properly managed. There must be a thermally insulated composter for bio-waste, protected from harmful animals. The composter must be intact, and if a net is used at the bottom of the composter, it must be sufficiently dense and properly laid. The lid of the composter must also be tight. If the property does not have an appropriate composter, the property must join biowaste collection. Only garden waste, i.e. leaves, twigs and branches, can be composted in open compost.
More information about joining the separate collection of biowaste can be obtained from South Karelia's waste management, customer serviceekjh.fi (customer service[at]ekjh[dot]fi) or phone 010 841 1818 or from their website Etelä-Karjalan Jätehuolto Oy

Keep the waste sheds clean

Garbage sheds must be kept clean. Waste containers must be intact (dry and bio waste) and the lids must close properly. The condition of the waste containers (including the bottoms of the containers) should be checked on the property and the containers should be replaced if they are broken. If there are yard buildings on the property, e.g. playhouses or sheds, it is also worth checking their structures. Various piles in yard areas also provide protection for rats.

Feeding the birds may also feed the rats

Feeding birds can cause rats to multiply. Untidy feeding places attract rats from the surrounding area to eat food dropped from the feeders. Birds must not be fed on the ground, but must be fed from bird boards, feeders or the like. The devices must be high enough and also such that rats or mice cannot reach them. Bird food must also not drip from the feeders onto the ground. The feeding places must be kept clean and that matter belongs to the bird feeder. Due to the rat sightings, you must now be particularly careful when feeding the birds and prefer to stop all feeding for a while so that the situation calms down.

You can repel rats yourself with traps

You can repel rats yourself by setting traps. Poisons intended for rats are not sold to private individuals. Only professionals can buy and use poisons for pest control.

For more information:

environmental engineer Merja Kaksonen
sea. twinimatra.fi (merja[dot]kaksonen[at]imatra[dot]fi)