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Health & Fitness

We Have Rats In Our Compost!

We were recently servicing a restaurant dealing with a rat problem.  One finding was this pile of food out back.  On one hand, good for them for not just throwing away all the food scraps.  However, there are some guidelines to follow when composting to help keep unwanted vermin away.

A compost heap will not be the catalyst for a rat infestation on its own.  If there are rats in your compost, then they were already around and the rat problem already existed.  However, an open pile of food waste like this is an easy food source for any critters in the area.  So, how can you keep rats away from your compost?

For starters, use a compost bin with a lid instead of making your compost from a loose heap on the ground.  Wrap wire mesh around and underneath the bin.  Rats do not like to cross open spaces, so keep your compost away from walls or fences.  When adding food scraps, bury them in the compost so the new scraps will be covered.  You can also keep a couple of inches of grass clippings or leaves handy to cover the food.  Do NOT add meats, dairy products, or cooked food to the compost.  These items will attract rats.

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There are four key ingredients for a good compost: carbon, nitrogen, water, and air.  "Brown" materials, such as leaves, sticks, cardboard, and shredded paper, provide the carbon.  Nitrogen comes from "green" materials such as vegetable peelings, old fruit, coffee grounds, and grass clippings.  Adding these ingredients in layers will help keep the balance in your compost.

Although there is debate about how often you should turn your compost, or if you should even turn it at all, it is clear that aeration is needed.

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Turning can also help to provide enough disturbance to deter rats.  Having rats in the compost is a sign that it is too dry.  If rainfall has not provided enough water, adding some moisture may be necessary (think wrung-out sponge).

Keep rats at bay in general by making the surrounding area less attractive. Keep lids on garbage cans and remove any materials that could be used for nesting.  A few other suggested deterrents include planting mint or lavender or sprinkling cayenne pepper near your compost.

If you find rats in your compost, chances are they are more than just a compost issue.  Call Mid-Georgia Pest Control to help you solve all of your pest problems!

Find the Original Blog Article Here: http://www.midgapestcontrol.com/rats-compost/

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