Rodents are everywhere—even if you don’t see any sign of them. If we put out livestock or pet food and water, feed the wildlife, or even keep a compost pile, we’re installing neon signs to welcome rats and mice onto our homesteads. The good news is that you can minimize the risk of attracting rodents, and you have multiple ways to get rid of them if they’re already a problem on your property.
Rodents can wreak havoc, whether you’re homesteading in the country, the suburbs, or the city. Rats and mice are most problematic in three domains: pet and livestock productivity and health, human health, and property condition and safety.
Rats, particularly, are apt to kill small livestock, including poultry chicks, rabbit kits, and adult quail. Rats can also torment small livestock by chewing on limbs and ears. Not only can this lead to suffering, infection, and death for your livestock, but also the stress of merely having rats around can cause your livestock to stop reproducing or laying eggs.
Both rats and mice can also spread serious diseases to both animals and
