re: Anyway to go full DEFCON 1 on rat problem?

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The damn things got on the kitchen island last night and ate some avacado. I'm full blown Caddishack at this point. I spent $120 on Amazon last night buying 2 5 gallon bucket roller bars, 20 sticky traps, 12 more snap traps, and some 1 bite poison. Maybe some other stuff too. Went down the youtube rabbit hole of rat traps.

I'm having the tenant put the food in bins in the pantry and on the counter.

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Your tenant can help by eliminating ANY food left out. I'm talking dirty dishes in the sink, dirty dishes left in a dishwasher (tell 'em to run it every night, even if not full)...they need to make sure kids aren't leaving dishes in bedrooms. Indoor trash needs to be taken out EVERY night, and it also needs a secure, tight lid. All foods need to be in fridge or sealed tight inside plastic boxes (buy some of the rubbermaid bins for tenant). Those bastards have a great sense of smell, and lax housekeeping draws them in with the quickness.

The outdoor trash can needs a heavy, secure lid, and it needs to be stored away from the house if at all possible. Talk to tenant to ensure that they're putting the trash out 2x weekly whether or not the can is full. Any pet food left outside is just a welcome mat for rodents, as is a full birdfeeder of seeds.

Will tenant consider adopting a big housecat? They are excellent rodent deterrents. Rats will often avoid spaces where cats live.