Rat Control and Removal Information

Rats are large long-tailed rodents and one of the worst possible pest infestations you can be subjected to. Rats are extremely unhygienic creatures, which cause lots of damage to property and pass on diseases.

If you discover you have rats in your home, it is vital that you get it dealt with immediately. Do not delay; call your local pest control professionals immediately. Rats are extremely unsanitary and are a serious hazard to public health. Historically it was fleas from rats that caused the outbreak of Bubonic Plague and to this day they regularly spread diseases such as Salmonella Food Poisoning, Jaundice and Typhus.

Rats contaminate food with their droppings and urine and they cause untold damage to buildings, equipment and personal effects. Their teeth are sharp and can gnaw through wood, they destroy anything in a bid to build their nests and this regularly causes fire hazards when the chew through insulation and electrical wires. A bite from a rat can be extremely serious, even fatal in certain circumstances.

Rats can be a nuisance at any time of the year but are more common in homes as the weather gets cooler. They are most active in the early evening and build their nests behind walls or underground. They want to be safe and near to food and water sources, if you are suspicious of rats in your home you should check behind cupboards or worktops and wall spaces near to rubbish disposal.

Rats multiply very quickly, they are fertile creatures and have as many as six litters per year, with 6 to 14 baby rats in each litter. By three months old the offspring are ready to reproduce themselves, therefore if you ignore a rat infestation in your home, it could rapidly take over. The usual lifespan of a rat in the wild is 18 months.

There are a few tell tale signs indicating the presence of rats. Evidence could include gnawing, damage to stored products, rat droppings (dark brown and the size of a sultana), oily rub marks (rats excrete an oil to protect their fur), small footprint tracks in dust, burrows, nests, and the noise of rats scurrying about.

The most common rat found in homes is the brown rat. This is also known as the Sewer Rat or House Rat. It is dullish brown and measures 32 cm to 43 cm from nose to tail. Its ears are small and close-set and it has very sharp teeth.

The biggest reason for rats is unsanitary conditions, which encourage them to set up home. When you call in the pest control professionals they will give you advice on rat-proofing your home and improving the hygiene levels to deny them access to any food sources other than the poison bait used to catch and kill them.

In order to prevent rats entering your home you should ensure that all foodstuffs are carefully stored in sealed containers and rubbish should be kept in bins that are regularly emptied.

Further preventative methods include the following:

• Keep your pet food stored tightly and clear up crumbs and spills immediately.
• Regularly clean up dog mess because rats really will eat anything
• Remove any sources of water that the rats could gain access to.
• Try not to feed animals or birds until you are sure there are no signs of rats in the area
• Clear blocked drains and repair any broken or damaged drains
• Do not let gardens become overgrown
• Remove piles of materials from your garden
• Keep all household rubbish in bins with tightly fitting lids.

Rat infestations cannot be dealt with immediately because rats are naturally wary of new food sources and it can take them a little time to be convinced to eat the bait. Once they start to feed on the bait it can take between 3 to 10 days for the poison to be effective.