moved a step for better flow; minor language tweaks
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==Steps==
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==Steps==
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===Keeping Your Home Clean===
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===Keeping Your Home and Yard Clean===
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#Don’t let trash build up in or around your yard. Keep your garbage organized so it doesn’t become a breeding ground or magnet for rats. Check which days a trash collection service swings by your home, and only set your trash outside on those days. Make sure that any outdoor trash cans or bins are fully sealed, and that the garbage is secured in a trash bag.<ref>https://ift.tt/2LPUD5T>
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#Don’t let trash build up in or around your yard. Keep your garbage organized so it doesn’t become a breeding ground or magnet for rats. Check which days a trash collection service swings by your home, and only set your trash outside on those days. Make sure that any outdoor trash cans or bins are fully sealed, and that the garbage is secured in a trash bag.<ref>https://ift.tt/2LPUD5T>
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#* If you tend to have a lot of trash in your home after 1 week, try setting up an air freshener near the filled bags.
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#* If you tend to have a lot of trash in your home after 1 week, try setting up an air freshener near the filled bags.
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#Stack firewood a good distance away from your home. Don’t keep firewood in your garage, basement, or right next to your house, as rats love to burrow in these piles. Instead, keep your firewood at least outside of your home.<ref>https://ift.tt/2oggkTw>
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#Stack firewood a good distance away from your home. Don’t keep firewood in your garage, basement, or right next to your house, as rats love to burrow in these piles. Instead, keep your firewood at least outside of your home.<ref>https://ift.tt/2oggkTw>
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#* Even if rats decide to nest in your firewood, they won’t be getting into your home.
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#* Even if rats decide to nest in your firewood, they won’t be getting into your home.
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#Keep your lawn tidy and maintained to eliminate nesting areas. Go through your yard and find any piles of brush or wood chips that could be a possible home for rats. Clear out any piles of junk, and place any old appliances on the curb so they can go out with the trash. If rats don’t see as many places to nest, they won’t hang out in your yard as much.<ref>https://ift.tt/2LKZRQ4>
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#Keep your lawn maintained
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#* If you have any litter in your yard, gather it up in a trash bag and throw it away.
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#* If you have any litter in your yard, gather it up in a trash bag and throw it away.
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#* Rats also love to eat birdseed and peanut butter. Try to keep these items contained if you use them to feed the birds.
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#* Rats also love to eat birdseed and peanut butter. Try to keep these items contained if you use them to feed the birds.
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#* Keep especially especially smelly compost out of your backyard, if you have a compost bin. Items like raw meat and egg shells are very attractive to rats.<ref>https://ift.tt/2Ohnb9X>
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#* Keep especially especially smelly compost out of your backyard, if you have a compost bin. Items like raw meat and egg shells are very attractive to rats.<ref>https://ift.tt/2Ohnb9X>
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#Mount a basket off the ground as a bird feeder. While bird feeders are a fun way to see a lot of feathered wildlife in your yard, you can’t always predict who will be snacking on the birdseed. Instead, set up a feeding basket off the ground to prevent rats from getting any free snacks. If you remove the appeal of additional food from your yard, you might not see as many rats.<ref>https://ift.tt/2pFdJ5M>
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===Sealing Your Home===
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===Sealing Your Home===
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#Fill in any cracks in your home’s structure with steel wool and [[Caulk|caulk]]. Search around the walls, floors, siding, and foundation of your home for cracks and gaps that are more than wide, as rats can fit themselves through very small spaces. If you see any gaps around these areas, fill them in with caulk to prevent any rats from entering. You can also use wads of steel wool to plug any gaps or openings.<ref>https://ift.tt/2oggkTw>
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#Fill in any cracks in your home’s structure with steel wool and [[Caulk|caulk]]. Search around the walls, floors, siding, and foundation of your home for cracks and gaps that are more than wide, as rats can fit themselves through very small spaces. If you see any gaps around these areas, fill them in with caulk to prevent any rats from entering. You can also use wads of steel wool to plug any gaps or openings.<ref>https://ift.tt/2oggkTw>
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#* If you’re closing off especially large cracks or gaps, try using [[Cut Sheet Metal|pieces of sheet metal]] to block off entry instead.
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#* If you’re closing off especially large cracks or gaps, try using [[Cut Sheet Metal|pieces of sheet metal]] to block off entry instead.
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#Trim all tree branches to be at least away from the house. Keep any access point to the house a safe distance away from any trees or tall plants, as some rats like to climb trees and leap to higher points of access in your home. Additionally, cut away or trim any ivy or other thick bushes and plants that can provide cover and shelter for rats.<ref>https://ift.tt/331JXXm>
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#Trim all tree branches to be at least away from the house. Keep any access point to the house a safe distance away from any trees or tall plants, as some rats like to climb trees and leap to higher points of access in your home. Additionally, cut away or trim any ivy or other thick bushes and plants that can provide cover and shelter for rats.<ref>https://ift.tt/331JXXm>
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#* Points of access include the rooftop, vents, utility lines, or eaves. Make sure that no rat can jump from a branch or shrub to any of these areas.
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#* Points of access include the rooftop, vents, utility lines, or eaves. Make sure that no rat can jump from a branch or shrub to any of these areas.
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#Check around your home for leaky pipes. Don’t ignore any leaks or breaks in your plumbing, even if they seem minor. Seal away any breaks or cracks in pipes that could provide any water to rats. Feel free to call a plumber if you aren’t sure how to inspect your pipes or just want a second pair of eyes.<ref>https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/pests/rats.htm</ref>
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#Check around your home for leaky pipes. Don’t ignore any leaks or breaks in your plumbing, even if they seem minor. Seal away any breaks or cracks in pipes that could provide any water to rats. Feel free to call a plumber if you aren’t sure how to inspect your pipes or just want a second pair of eyes.<ref>https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/pests/rats.htm</ref>
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#Repair and seal off any possible entry points on your roof. Go to your roof area and look around for any obvious damage or open vents. Use hardware screen or rust-proof sheet metal to cover these areas to prevent any rats from entering your home. Any hole that’s larger than across is fair game for a rat!<ref>https://ift.tt/331JXXm>
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#Repair and seal off any possible entry points on your roof. Go to your roof area and look around for any obvious damage or open vents. Use hardware screen or rust-proof sheet metal to cover these areas to prevent any rats from entering your home. Any hole that’s larger than across is fair game for a rat!<ref>https://ift.tt/331JXXm>
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#Spritz peppermint oil around the likeliest entry points for rats. If rats manage to get into your home, try making it smell as undesirable as possible. Spray once every week or so, focusing on areas close to the edges of walls, doors, windows, and corners, as well as other hotspots for potential rodents. If you don’t want to continuously spray around your house, soak a few cotton balls in peppermint oil and leave them around your home.<ref>https://ift.tt/31QyU2Y>
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#* Only spray peppermint oil as needed. When you no longer smell a slight whiff of peppermint in a previously sprayed part of your home, it might be time to spritz that area again.
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#* Peppermint plants are also an effective way to keep rats away from certain areas of your home.<ref>https://ift.tt/2pFdJ5M>
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==Things You’ll Need==
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==Things You’ll Need==
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===Keeping Your Home Clean===
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===Keeping Your Home Clean===
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*Feeding basket
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*Feeding bird basket
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===Removing Food and Other Lures===
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===Removing Food and Other Lures===
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