- 1). Consider composting in a closed bin rather than a pile. While this will require regular watering (see step 4), a closed bin is a basic physical repellent to rats and other pests.
- 2). Avoid adding food to your compost. Meat scraps, bread, dairy products and bones are all attractive prizes to rats. Consider disposing of these items in other ways, like bokashi, a Japanese composting method (see Resources).
- 3). Bury any food scraps you do compost. Instead of tossing them on the top of the pile, put on gloves, dig a little ways down and hide the food under a layer of rat-unfriendly material.
- 4). Keep your pile wet. While you ideally want compost in a hot, sunny part of the garden to speed up decomposition, a dry pile is a perfect attractant for rats seeking to feed or nest. Wetting it down with water from a hose or sink makes it less attractive.
- 5). Make sure your pile has a good mix of wet, soft, green materials (like grass cuttings and vegetable peelings) and firm, dry, brown materials (like leaves and cardboard.) This is good compost practice anyway as it balances the heap, keeps the composting process moving swiftly and deters rats.
- 6). If all else fails, go to a hardware store and buy a sheet of 1/4-inch wire mesh to wrap around the sides and bottom of your compost bin. This is especially useful if rats have already become used to feeding at your compost.
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