I have heard on the radio a book advertisement for a book about getting
rid of pests.

OIL OF PEPERMINT on cotton balls is a deterrant for rodents.
They are supposedly allergic to pepermint.
I have not tried this yet, but I am sure that the aroma of pepermint
leaking into my living space, kicks the crap out of decaying carcasses
of the consumers of rat poison I have left around to get them out.
Cheers