Wild rats are opportunist omnivorous eaters. That means they will eat whatever they can find. In most cases, this includes grains, fruits and vegetables, seeds and nuts and any other edibles they might find. Although rats prefer to eat what they find, they will hunt in occasion, catching bugs and other small animals.

Pale field rats are an Australian species who live in the north of the country and along Queensland’s east coast. On average, their bodies measure 5 1/2 inches and tails roughly 4 3/4 inches. Their pelage is yellow-brown above and paler underneath. These gentle creatures are primarily nocturnal.

Rats are omnivores eating both plant and animal materials.

The long-tailed field mouse is omnivorous, meaning it eats both plants and animals. Field mice commonly eat seeds, berries, fruits, insects, invertebrates, and even carrion.

These animals are considered natural predators of mice since they eat them daily.

• Cats. Cats of all sizes, wild and domestic, hunt and eat mice.
• Canids. Pet dogs generally don’t have to rely on mice as a food source, but many of their wild cousins do, including foxes, coyotes, jackals and dingos.
• Birds.
• Snakes.
• Humans.

Field mice tend to mostly eat seeds from trees, but they also eat snails, insects, fruit, berries, nuts and fungi.

Some people foods can be hazardous to mice, so be careful. Some of the foods that are harmful to them are peanuts, corn, cabbage, onions, chocolate, cabbage, rhubarb and raw potatoes and candy.

Only a small number of human foods are toxic to rats. Top of the list is blue cheese, which could kill your pet. Others are licorice, poppy seeds and bitter almonds. Green potatoes are toxic to most animals, including you, and rats are just as vulnerable.

An apple cider vinegar and water mixture sprinkled around your house is said to keep rats and mice away. Ultrasonic devices fall under this category because they work wonders for some people and do absolutely nothing for others.

These include…

1. Create a ‘bait station’ to trap the rat (without harming it) and then release it safely away from your home.
2. Use a traditional rat trap.
3. Place peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, pepper and cloves around the home to keep them away.
4. Sprinkle crushed pepper, or spray a pepper spray, near openings and holes.

I wonder if there exists any spray or something similar which can kill rats. ANSWER: There is no “spray” treatment for rats. The issue is to determine why the rats are there in the first place. Rats come in from the outside looking for food, shelter, and water.