How to Get Rid of Rats in Yard Areas (and Keep Them Out)

Quick answer: To get rid of rats in the yard, take away what feeds and shelters them first: bird seed on the ground, open compost, pet food, fallen fruit, woodpiles and dense brush. Then trap along their runways with rat-size snap traps or electronic rat traps placed inside a covered box, and fill or block burrows once activity stops. Avoid loose poison outdoors; it can kill pets, owls, hawks and other wildlife that eat poisoned rats.

Learning how to get rid of rats in yard spaces is mostly about making your property a bad place to live. Rats go where food, water and cover are easy, and a typical backyard often offers all three.

Traps finish the job, but if the food source stays, new rats move in within weeks. This guide covers both halves, based on guidance from the CDC, the EPA and university extension programs.

Signs of rats in your yard

• Burrows. Norway rats dig holes about 2 to 4 inches wide, often along foundations, under decks, sheds, concrete slabs and shrubs. Active holes have smooth, packed edges and no cobwebs or debris in them.
• Runways. Narrow paths of flattened grass or bare dirt along fences, walls and garden beds.
• Droppings. Dark, capsule-shaped, about half an inch to three quarters of an inch long, bigger than mouse droppings.
• Gnawed fruit, vegetables or trash bags, and chewed holes in compost bins or garbage cans.
• Rats at dusk. Seeing one in daylight often means a larger population nearby.

There are two common species. Norway rats are heavy, burrowing rats that live at ground level. Roof rats are slimmer climbers that nest in trees, ivy, palm fronds and attics. Knowing which one you have tells you where to set traps.

What attracts rats to your yard

Rats need food, water and shelter every day, and they usually stay within about 100 to 150 feet of their nest. Common attractions include:

• Bird feeders. Spilled seed is one of the biggest rat magnets in suburban yards.
• Compost piles, especially open piles or bins with meat, dairy or cooked food.
• Pet food and water left outside, and dog droppings, which rats will eat.
• Fallen fruit and vegetable gardens, including nuts and berries.
• Garbage cans with loose lids or bags left on the ground.
• Shelter: woodpiles, piles of lumber or debris, dense ivy, overgrown shrubs and the space under decks and sheds.
• Water: leaky hoses, pet bowls, birdbaths and ponds.

How to get rid of rats in yard spaces: step by step

1. Cut off the food. Take bird feeders down for a few weeks, or use seed catchers and clean up spilled seed daily. Feed pets indoors, pick up dog waste, harvest ripe produce and pick up fallen fruit every day.
2. Rat-proof the compost and trash. Use a closed compost bin with a solid bottom or hardware cloth underneath, and keep meat, dairy and oily food out. Store garbage in metal or heavy plastic cans with tight lids.
3. Remove shelter. Stack firewood at least 18 inches off the ground and away from the house, clear debris piles, trim shrubs off the ground and cut back ivy and vines, especially near the house.
4. Find active burrows. Loosely fill suspected holes with soil or crumpled newspaper. Holes that are reopened within a day or two are active. Those are the areas where you focus traps.
5. Pre-bait before setting traps. Rats are wary of new objects. Place traps unset with bait for two or three nights so rats get used to them, then set them. This often doubles your catch.
6. Set traps along runways, never in the open. Place traps next to walls, fences and burrow entrances, inside a covered box, bait station or sturdy crate with rat-size openings. This keeps pets, kids and birds out and keeps electronic traps dry.
7. Check traps daily. Wear gloves, bag dead rats in a sealed plastic bag and put them in the outdoor trash, and re-bait. Use peanut butter, nuts, dried fruit or bacon.
8. Close the burrows. Once activity stops for a week, fill burrows with soil and pack them down, or collapse them. Under sheds and decks, add a buried L-shaped footer of hardware cloth to stop new digging.
9. Protect the house. Seal gaps around pipes, vents and the foundation so rats in the yard can’t move indoors. See our guide on how to get rid of mice for sealing methods that work for rats too (rats need bigger holes, about the size of a quarter).

Rat-size snap traps are strong enough to break fingers and injure pets. Always set them inside a covered box or station, away from children, pets and birds. Electronic rat traps deliver a high-voltage shock: keep them dry, switch them off before opening and follow the manual. Wear gloves when handling traps and dead rats, and wash your hands afterward.

Should you use rat poison in the yard?

For most homeowners, no, or at least not as a first step. Rodenticides kill slowly, so poisoned rats wander and are easily caught by owls, hawks, foxes, cats and dogs. This is called secondary poisoning, and wildlife researchers have found rodenticide residues in a large share of the predators they test.

Poison also doesn’t stop new rats from coming if the food source stays. Regulators have tightened the rules: the EPA requires rodenticides sold to consumers to come in tamper-resistant bait stations, and some states, including California, have restricted the strongest anticoagulant baits. Check your state and local rules.

If rodenticide is used, it must go in a locked, tamper-resistant bait station secured to the ground, never loose on the ground or in burrows unless the label specifically allows it. Keep stations away from children, pets and vegetable gardens, and follow the label exactly. If a pet or person may have eaten bait, call a vet or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) immediately. Many people hand this job to a licensed pro.

Do rat repellents work outdoors?

Honestly, not much. Ultrasonic devices have little evidence of a lasting effect and are even less useful outdoors, where sound disperses. Peppermint oil and predator-urine products may briefly change behavior but don’t clear a population that has food and shelter. Owl boxes can help a little in rural areas, but they won’t solve an active infestation.

The equipment that helps

Traps work best outdoors when they’re sheltered from rain and out of reach of pets. Classic rat-size wooden snap traps are a solid budget choice (note that mouse-size traps are too small for rats). For electronic options, these are our picks; see our full guide to the best electric rat traps for more.

For an in-depth look at the newest Victor model, read our Victor electronic rat trap review.

How to keep rats out of your yard

• Use bird feeders with seed catchers, or switch to no-mess seed, and bring feeders in at night.
• Keep compost in a closed, rodent-resistant bin and turn it often.
• Store firewood off the ground and at least 20 feet from the house if you can.
• Keep grass mowed and shrubs trimmed so there’s a clear strip along the foundation.
• Fix leaky hoses and faucets, and empty standing water.
• Block the space under decks and sheds with hardware cloth buried 12 inches deep.
• Talk to your neighbors: rats move between yards, and a shared plan works much better.

Rats in the yard often come with other pests. Our complete guide on how to get rid of pests in the yard covers mosquitoes, moles, grubs and ticks. If rodents are already in your garage, read how to get rid of mice in the garage.

When to call a professional

Call a licensed pest control pro if you see rats during the day, find many active burrows, keep catching rats after two to three weeks, or hear rodents in your walls or attic. Call a pro before using any rodenticide, and if rats are burrowing under your foundation, slab or patio, which can cause structural damage. Many cities also offer rat inspection or code enforcement programs, especially when the source is a neighboring property.

Frequently asked questions

What smell keeps rats away from the yard?

No smell reliably keeps rats away for long. Peppermint oil, ammonia, predator urine and mothballs are often suggested, but research shows little lasting effect, and mothballs are a pesticide that is not meant to be used outdoors this way. Removing food, water and shelter works far better than any scent.

Will rats leave my yard on their own?

Rarely. As long as there is food, water and cover, rats stay and breed. A single pair can produce several litters a year. Rats sometimes appear to disappear in winter, but they’ve usually just moved under a shed, into a garage or into the house. Remove attractions and trap steadily until activity stops.

Do bird feeders attract rats?

Yes. Spilled seed under bird feeders is one of the most common reasons rats show up in yards. Use a seed tray or catcher, clean up spilled seed daily, choose no-waste seed blends and bring feeders in at night. If you already have rats, take feeders down for a few weeks while you trap.

Is it safe to use rat poison if I have a dog?

It carries real risk. Dogs can eat bait that’s dragged out of stations, or eat a poisoned rat. Anticoagulant rodenticides cause internal bleeding, and some newer poisons have no antidote. If you have pets, use traps in covered boxes instead, or hire a pro who uses tamper-resistant stations. Call your vet right away if you suspect exposure.

How do I know if a rat burrow is active?

Loosely fill the hole with soil, leaves or crumpled newspaper and check it after 24 to 48 hours. If it’s been reopened, the burrow is active. Active burrows also tend to have smooth, packed edges, fresh dirt at the entrance and runways leading to food sources. Focus your traps near those holes.

Ready to pick a trap? Compare the options in our guide to the best electric rat traps.