Tips from Olle Garden Bed: How To Keep Mice Away From Compost

Every composter knows that rats may be a major problem in composting. It's easy for rats to contaminate your compost pile with feces, or they can chew the garbage cans to get the food inside. The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.

Fortunately, there are several ways to keep rats away from the compost pile and protect your composting work.

Protect your area

Ensure the safety around the composting area. To further prevent rats, wrap the compost pile with wire mesh or metal cloth. Be sure to bury the fence at least one foot underground to prevent rats from digging holes underneath.

In addition, choose the right location for your compost pile. Rats will be attracted to areas with high humidity, so please avoid putting compost near water sources such as drainage ditches, downspouts or sprinklers. Instead, choose a dry place, such as a gravel bed or dry soil.

Do not add meat

Rats are attracted to the compost because of the food residues that are often added to the compost. If you do not want rats to put extra effort into your compost, it is important not to add any meat or other animal products to the mixture. This includes bones, dairy products, and even fat. If you do, you may invite more mice to join in.

Mulch compost

One of the best things you can do is cover the compost with a lid. This will help control odors and make it harder for rats to get into the compost. You can also try stacking compost in rat proof containers, such as trash cans with tight lids.

This will help keep rats out of the house and help keep the heat, which is necessary for the composting process.

Mousetrap

If you encounter rat problems in your area, consider using a rat trap with cheese or other food bait. These traps may be an effective way to capture and remove rats from your property.

The mousetrap is designed to capture and kill them; They are very effective and absolutely protect your compost from these pests.

Check compost regularly

Even if you take all necessary precautions, rats may still enter your compost pile. Regularly check for signs of mouse activity, such as fresh feces or chewed food residue. If you find any evidence of rats, please take immediate action to remove them before they have a chance to cause more damage.

Call insect killer

Pest control companies have the experience and knowledge to kill rats quickly and effectively.

If you are dealing with rats in the compost pile, please do not hesitate to call the pest control company. They will be able to help you get rid of the mice and prevent them from coming back.

Why don't you want rats near your compost

When it comes to your compost, you don't want any old animals going in there and screwing things up - you want healthy, useful animals like worms and beetles. However, you definitely don't want a creature close to compost to be a mouse.

Mice may look cute, but they can actually be very dangerous, especially in your health. The reasons are as follows:

They spread diseases

It is well known that mice carry a variety of diseases that can be transmitted to humans, including rabies, Hantavirus, typhus and salmonella. Because rats only like to rummage through garbage (including compost bins), they are likely to contaminate your compost with these diseases.

They eat your food

If you're composting food scraps, you don't want rats to go in there and eat worms and other creatures before they have a chance to finish their work. If these pests reach your compost, they will deprive you of all these nutrients.

It is well known that rats carry fleas. If they try to enter your house through the compost box, they may infect your house.

They're just plain sick

Mice are dirty creatures, and their feces can contaminate your compost (and anything else they come in contact with). If you see rats near the compost bin, it is best to keep a distance and call pest control. Trust us - you don't want them near your food!

Don't be fooled

Rats may be a big trouble in composting, but with some simple techniques, you can keep them away from your pile and keep a compost box free of rats.