How do I keep rats out of my shed?

terminix.com - How to Help Keep Rodents Out of Your Shed This Winter - Terminix

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Sheds are a great way to store lawn and home maintenance equipment. They also come in handy when you need a place to stow items you don’t use that often. However, there is another thing sheds are useful for; they make great shelters for rodents who are looking for a place to ride out a cold winter. When you’re trying to figure out how to keep mice and rats out of your shed, it’s a good idea to think like a mouse or a rat. The two things that are likely to be on the forefront of these critters' minds are shelter from the elements and food sources. If you can eliminate these, you can greatly reduce the odds of finding mice and rats in your shed. Here are some tips you can follow to help you reduce those odds:

Make your shed less appealing as a shelter

Walk the perimeter of your shed and look for any holes or cracks. You want to seal any that are larger than the size of a dime, as most mice will be able to squeeze through spaces of that size. Don’t forget to block entry points around the roof of the shed, and make sure there’s no space under doors or near windows. Mice and rats need a source of water and food and if there is no source in the shed, they have to be able to easily move in and out to find what they need.

Get rid of food sources that could attract rodents

Rats and mice will eagerly set up a winter basecamp in your shed if you’re supplying them with a steady supply of food. Rodents will feed on certain things that can be found in a shed. For example, house mice are seed specialists and will feed on anything that is seed related. Rats are omnivores and if something smells good, then they will eat it. That’s why it’s important to keep birdseed, pet food or anything similar in sealed airtight containers to help keep them from sniffing it out. Rodents will also chow down on wildflower seed, grass seeds and the like, so make sure those are locked up as tightly as any animal feed.

Will Mothballs Keep Rats and Mice Away?

Mothballs should not be used for rodent control as they are not an effective method for keeping rodents away. Again, follow these tips to help keep your shed free of mice so you can store things inside confidently.

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Does shed need to be anchored?

Sheds should be anchored to the earth or the proper base, such as cement slabs. One of the main reasons for this is that a strong gust of wind could knock your shed off its foundation. This will result in substantial damage that is expensive to restore.

diyshedsandplans.com - Do I Need To Anchor My Shed? / It Depends... - DIY Sheds and Plans

Many people ask “Do I need to anchor my shed? Does it really matter?” Well, it depends on size, climate, zoning laws, and other factors. Many sheds require and should have some anchoring. If not, they are more likely to be displaced by strong winds or shifting weather conditions such as seasonal freezing and thawing, which could induce ground displacement under your shed surface. Even a fraction of an inch of shed movement will cause havoc on your shed doors. Floor rotation will cause your doors to get out of balance, making it very difficult to open and shut your doors, and this will only worsen over the lifespan of your shed. You could also be dealing with a dangerous situation in which the roof framing is breached, which may be the worst-case scenario.