Updated On 14/04/2026
One question we regularly get asked is: how to get rid of rats in the garden? While garden rats might not seem like an issue, they often start looking for shelter, which can lead them to find their way into your home. Rats only need a gap of 12mm to get inside, and once they do, they’ll leave pheromone trails to alert other rats.
In some cases, rats might move into gardens nearby but use gaps in your fencing to enter your garden in search of food or water. While this isn’t your fault, it can cause issues for you and your home. Even rats entering your garden and not living in it can soon become a problem, as they might spot an entry point into your property and make the most of it.
So, what starts as a sighting of one rat in your garden can quickly become a major rat infestation. Rats spread diseases and can be incredibly destructive, so you need to be proactive. That’s why it’s important that you understand why rats are in your garden and how to get rid of them. As experts in rat control, we’ve put together this guide to getting rid of rats from your garden.
Signs Of Rats In Your Garden
The most obvious sign of rats is always sightings, but this isn’t always possible. If your garden is very overgrown, then it can be difficult to see rats themselves. It can also be difficult to tell the difference between rats and mice, and the two different species of rats found in the UK. Whether you have brown rats or black rats, some other tell-tale signs of rat activity in your garden include:
- Rat Droppings: Garden rat droppings are a clear indication of a rat infestation. Rat droppings are 1-2cm long, barrel-shaped and dark brown or black in colour.
- Rat’s Nests: While they’re often hidden in burrows, rat nests look like piles of soft materials and can sometimes be seen in outbuildings.
- Footprints: If you have gravel or soft mud in your garden, then you might notice rat tracks where they’ve been running. Like mice, rats have four toes on their front foot and five on the back, but rat footprints are usually around half to 1 inch in length, whereas mouse tracks are less than half an inch long. You may also notice drag marks where their tails have been pulled behind them.
- Gnaw Marks: Rats often like to make their home beneath decking or in wood piles, and like other rodents, they have teeth that never stop growing. As a result, you might notice gnawed wood or chew marks on other materials, such as plastic garden tools, garden hoses, bins (pictured) or garden furniture.
Why Are There Rats In Your Garden?
There are several things that attract rats to your garden, including:
- Food Sources: Sources of food, such as fallen fruits, decomposing waste, pet food kept in a shed or unsecured bird feeders, will attract rats.
- Water: Rats also need water and will seek out areas with ponds or leaking pipes.
- Shelter: If rats can find shelter in sheds or overgrown hedges, then they will build burrows and make themselves at home.
- Seclusion: Rats are prey animals that are often food for other wildlife, so if they can find an area without a lot of predators, they will move in.
Should You Be Worried If You See Rats In Your Garden?
Rats in your garden are a definite sign that they are close-by, which increases the risk of health hazards and property damage. Also, nearby rats will try and enter your home, and will use pheromone trails to attract other rats.
Therefore, rats in your garden are definitely something to worry about, and you need to work to ensure you get rid of them promptly with help from experts like Pest-Tech.
What Causes Rats To Move Into Your Garden?
Rats are usually found in your garden because they have migrated there. While rats are territorial, they will leave and seek a new living situation for several reasons.
First is the simple fact that they are not safe where they are. A good example of this would be rats living in their natural habitat in a farmer’s field of crops, and then when the farms harvest their crops, they cause all manner of creatures to move on; this can be rats and mice, or other wildlife. Another example would be building sites with lots of noise, banging and machines, which can scare rats away.
Rats also migrate if their food sources are depleting, and they need to find new sources of food. This is ties into another reason, which is overcrowding. If there are lots of rats all competing for the same food source, then this causes problems as the food runs short, so rats move on to search for more food. Also, adult rats will happily eat babies, as well as young and adult rats, so a female will move areas if she is pregnant and food is sparse to protect her young. Rats are very intelligent as well, and they will restrict their reproduction if food is scarce.
Flooding is another common problem that will cause rats to migrate. Rivers are renowned as a good spot for rats to set up home. There are plentiful food sources and water to drink. Therefore, towns such as Maidstone and Tonbridge can have a healthy population of rats living down by the river. This is not too much of a problem until flooding during the winter months. The overflowing riverbanks can waterlog the rat’s home and cause displacement of the rat population.
What Attracts Rats To Gardens?
For a rat to survive, it needs to have its basic needs met. These include needs food and water, and if they are present, then they will set up a burrow or rat’s nest. If you have a rat problem and they are setting up a home in your garden, then this is what you should be looking out for. Water sources such as ponds or even just upturned flower pots can also benefit rats. The most common food source in the garden normally, would be a bird feeder. As pest controllers, we are always looking for a feeder and pond, and we often find a rat’s burrow close by.
Rats love bird feeders, but more importantly, rats love poorly managed bird feeders as there will be a constant food source all over the floor where the birds have come in and made a mess. In this picture, a resident has set up a large array of bird feeders in the communal garden, and rats have moved in. What’s worse is that around the bottom of the feeder are loads of plants and bushes, which give the rats cover from view. There was also a bird bath present, which gave a good water source, so the rats dug burrows in the bushes next to the building a couple of meters away from the feeders. Some people wonder if they remove bird feeders, will it get rid of rats? The answer is not a definite yes or no, as rats are territorial and will probably return, but may also look elsewhere for a reliable food source.
Damage Caused By Rats In Your Garden
Rats might not seem like a massive issue when they’re in your garden, but they can cause significant property damage. They may make their way into sheds and eat stored pet food and chew other items, such as lawn mowers, potentially leading to expensive damage.
If you have outdoor furniture or lighting, rats may also chew this, which could damage it and potentially cause a fire risk if they bite through live wires.
The most significant damage comes from when rats enter your home. Entering your garden is the first step, and once in they will look for entry points to get into your home in search of shelter and food. As such, rats in your garden can be a significant issue.
Health Risks of Rats in Your Garden
Having rats in your garden can cause potential health risks, including:
- Disease: Rats spread a selection of diseases, including Hantavirus, Leptospirosis (which can become Weil’s Disease), Salmonella and more, many of which can be transmitted through rat droppings and urine, meaning even close proximity to rats can cause health hazards.
- Rat Bites: If frightened or disturbed accidentally while in your garden, rats can bite, spreading rat-bite fever and causing potential skin damage and infections.
- Parasites: Rats can spread parasites including fleas, ticks and worms, which can be transmitted both to humans and pets.
How To Store Food And Compost To Keep Rats Away
As mentioned, bird feeders are one of the most common food sources for rats in gardens. The most effective solution would be to remove the bird feeder completely to get the best results. If you want to maintain the bird feeders, then we advise placing the feeders out in the open, as rats don’t like to expose themselves unless they must. Ideally, position the bird feeder as far away from the house as possible. Try putting a tray underneath and clearing it before the last light. That way, there are no scraps for the rat. We also recommend limiting the food during the summer as birds will have ample food sources, and excess food can attract rats.
In the winter, when the food supply is depleted for the birds, you should be able to work out how much food the birds require daily. There is nothing stopping you from putting the feeders out for set periods as well because the birds will soon learn the routine. Put them out in the morning and then collect leftover food on the tray you have put under at the end of the day.
Another common issue is pet food, as this is often stored in sheds and can be easily accessible to rats. If you keep birds such as chickens, often rats eat the grain that they are fed. Compost bins that contain food scraps can also be a source of food for rats. To prevent rats from gaining access to pet food and scraps, make sure you use strong storage containers and sweep away any unused grains quickly. Also, make sure your compost bin is secure and try not to put human food scraps in it, only garden waste.
With good management, you can feed birds and store pet food without attracting rats to your garden, but it does need to be looked after. You will need to carry out a rodent treatment alongside taking these precautions if you have rats in your garden, but removing food sources is the first step towards getting rid of rats in your garden.
Other Ways To Deter Rats
As well as finding better ways to store food, you can also try other tactics to keep garden rats at bay. These include:
- Use Physical Barriers: If you notice holes in fencing or outdoor buildings that rats could use as entry points, use chicken wire to block them and prevent rats from getting in.
- Rearrange Your Garden Regularly: Rats don’t like change and are neophobic, meaning they’re afraid of new objects. So, consider rearranging your pots and garden furniture regularly to make your garden unappealing to rats.
- Keep Your Garden Tidy: Thick vegetation can be a great hiding spot for rats and make them feel safe, so keeping on top of your gardening and trimming back your hedges could be a simple way to reduce the chances of rats entering your garden.
- Build A Catio: Cats are natural predators of rats, so if you have a cat, consider letting them out in your garden or creating a catio so they can roam while still being enclosed.
- Choose Your Plants Carefully: Rats don’t like certain smells, so plants such as lavender or garlic can be natural rat repellents. While it’s far from guaranteed, these plants are beautiful, and if you were considering them already, then they come with the added bonus that they might repel rats.
How Do You Get Rid Of Rats Under A Shed?
In some cases, rats may build burrows under sheds for shelter and easy access to food. Rats under sheds are a common sight, but they can be difficult to eradicate.
Because the rats are underground, you will need to work with a professional pest control provider to fully remove them. Experts like Pest-Tech can remove the rats and rodent proof the foundations of your shed to ensure rats can’t return.
What To Do If You See Rats In The Garden
Once rats are in your garden, it can be difficult to get them to leave. How do you get rid of rats in your garden fast? While rat deterrents are useful, they only go so far. If you notice garden rats, you need to work with professionals who can carry out effective rat control.
Pest-Tech offers a professional pest control service to homes and businesses throughout Maidstone and Kent. Our team are here to help you get rid of rats from your garden and home.
Call 01892 871 008 to contact us today about your rat problem and get expert support from our experienced team.