Rats and mice can be a major problem for farmers and homeowners alike. Some landowners turn to poison, but are worried about what may happen to other livestock that encounter a trap meant for rodents.
Fortunately a farmer from Oregon’s Cascade mountains has a clever solution to get rid of rats and mice for good with two non-toxic ingredients most people already have in their kitchen.
In the video below, Jerry Hanson of Pine Meadows Hobby Farm shows us how to turn baking soda and cornbread mix into an effective rat control solution.
First he takes a small plastic container and cuts out a small hole large enough for a rat to enter. Then he mixes equal parts cornbread mix and baking soda and puts them in the container. Jerry does recommend using Jiffy brand honey cornbread mix as it seems to attract more rats and mice than the non-honey version.
The trick works due to the a chemical reaction and the unique anatomy of rats and mice, which prevents them from being able to pass gas as easily as larger animals. In the video below, Jerry incorrectly states that rats and mice cannot pass gas or burp. While they can actually pass gas, the baking soda and cornbread mix reacts with their stomach acid to create a large volume of carbon dioxide which causes the internal organs to rupture before the gas can exit through “natural means.”
This simple and effective solution helps farmers cull the pest population without putting other animals at risk. Watch the full video below to learn more!