Rats are unwelcome guest in our homes and offices. They causes extensive damage not only to our properties by gnawing, but they also destroy food grains in much large quantity than they eat. Rats and mice are found in every country and live nearby human population. They can be very destructive if they are able to enter your home and made their permanent shelter. They can cause a major problems to the health of your family. Both rats and mice are mostly found living near people. Everyone should take precautions and take measures to prevent them making nests in and around your homes. Rodents and in particular rats are known to transmit some serious diseases like plague, leptospirosis, dysentery and many more diseases some of which could be fatal. Also not only they spread diseases but, their feces, urine and hair contaminate food and utensils which can cause food poisoning or make it unfit for eating. Colonies build by rats damages buildings and furnishings and also generate terrible smell. They are also known in some cases to be cause of fire when they gnaw electrical wires. Since they bring so much troubles its very necessary to control them or prevent them coming in your homes.

Steps To Control Rats
If necessary steps are not taken to control rats or mice, then they can breed very fast. An adult female rat gives birth in just two months, so after two months you will have both young one and the mother giving birth to new generation of rats. So within few months their numbers would just multiply. Follow below steps to control rats:

Stop Feeding Rats
Rats and mice mostly feed on the left over food or garbage. So keep your left over food and garbage in tightly covered cans. Feed dogs and cats in a dish, then take up the food they don't eat. Don't leave it out for rats and mice.

Don't Provide Them Shelter
Remove card boards, trash, old boards, weeds and junk cars from around your house. These are excellent places for rats and mice to hide. Don't pile wood against the house. Store wood and other materials at least a foot off the ground.

Clean up Your Surroundings
Clean up all your house and its surrounding. Rats attract each other through their urine and droppings. So wash away all the droppings and their track marks.

Seal All Their Holes and Entryways
Rats and mice can crawl through very small spaces usually found in walls, floors and foundations or also through small spaces under the doors. Keep floor drains tightly sealed. Cement or caulk around pipes and cables where they pass through walls. Seal small holes and cracks by stuffing them with stainless steel scouring pads, then caulk over
them.

Trap Rats
Use rat traps and avoid rat poison especially inside houses. As rat poisons are highly toxic and dangerous when kids are around. Also, poisoned rats and mice will die and stink in walls and attics. Use plenty of rat traps in a room. Put them along the wall, in cupboards