Rats are creatures of habit with agoraphobia.
Rats appear to be clever and agile, but they are actually very dependent on their habits. They choose fixed routes and avoid open spaces as much as possible. This natural fear of open spaces – also known as agoraphobia – determines their behaviour: they prefer to move along walls, through dark corridors and via sheltered paths.
Black rats are also always thirsty: they seek out water and nest around ponds, canals and streams.
This is an important insight for livestock farmers and entrepreneurs. Understanding how rats think and move makes it much easier to prevent them from gaining access to stables, storage areas or feeding places.
The strength of two front lines
Effective rat control begins with prevention and remote control. This is achieved by establishing two lines of defence:
1. The outer line: keep rats at bay
The first line of defence lies (well) outside the buildings, preferably along a hedge, around a pond, by a stream, etc. Here, you create an environment that is as unattractive as possible to rats and where rat poison is available:
✅Remove food sources: do not spill food and store everything in tightly sealed containers.
✅Clear away rubbish: ensure that bins are properly closed and do not become breeding grounds.
✅Cut back vegetation: tall grasses, piles of branches or rubbish make ideal hiding places. ·
✅Place Ristorat bait boxes containing rat poison, which may be used for permanent baiting, around ponds and in streams.
This measure ensures that (black) rats ingest a lethal dose of rat poison before they reach the stables.
2. The inner line: block access
The second front line is close to the buildings themselves. Here, it's all about removing access routes:
✅Seal holes and cracks larger than half a centimetre. Install stainless steel mesh, XCluder dispenser.
✅Place sturdy grilles in drain pipes and ventilation openings (valves, flaps, air inlets, etc.).
✅Check doors and gates for gaps and ensure they close properly by installing a rodent-proof door strip.
✅Place rat bait boxes around the stable every 5 metres, filled with rat poison: professional rat bait box or Easycheck rat bait box.
Rats will always try to sneak in via their regular routes. By cleverly blocking these routes, they literally collide with their own habits.
Prevention is the best form of control
Those who focus on prevention and organise their business with two front lines reduce the chances of rats entering their premises significantly. This helps you avoid major damage, costly control measures afterwards, and health risks for your animals (such as EMC, leptospirosis, dysentery, etc.).
👉 Remember: if a rat doesn't get in, you don't have to fight it.
