Getting Rid of Rats
Rats are one of the most common pests in the United Kingdom today. They pose a real threat to the health of both humans and pets so it is important to protect your family and home from these unwelcome guests. Rats can carry a large number of diseases most common of these diseases being Salmonella, Weil’s disease, E.coli, Cryptosporidiosis and Tuberculosis. As well as carrying these harmful diseases rats can also carry fleas, mites and ticks and can also cause acute allergic reactions.
If rats are entering your home, even if they are not entering a direct living area, it is an extremely serious issue and one that would need to be prevented quickly. Any rat problem in the home requires urgent attention. Gardens and other external areas can also be at risk from rats and it is important to prevent this especially if these areas are used by children or pets. Removing rats from garden areas will also help prevent rats from entering the home, searching for food and finding shelter. Special care is also needed for homes and garages that use pet flaps as rats can use these as a method to enter the home. There are many rodent pest control methods that can be used to prevent rats from entering the home and garden.
One of the best rodent pest control methods is having the ability to identify a rat problem in your home or garden area. Rats are nocturnal so they will usually hide from humans; this makes the identification process harder so some of the typical signs to look for are:
- Scratching Sounds – Usually heard within walls and under floorboards or decking. These sounds are most commonly heard when rats are scurrying around looking for food.
- Droppings – Rat droppings are large in size for a rodent usually about 1-2cm, dark in colour and tapered in shape.
- Damages – Rats teeth grow all of the time, they will gnaw and bite on all sorts of materials including wood, plastic and even mild steel in order to keep these teeth trim. Rats are known to have caused fires as they gnaw through cables and wiring.
- Ripped Packaging – Rats will bite and tear through all types of packaging during their continuous search for food, this will often leave rips and teeth marks throughout the home and garden.
- Nests – Rats will often build nests for their young. These nests are often found in hidden areas using materials such as newspaper, plastics and fabric.
- Burrows – Rats will dig burrows in gardens, compost heaps, under sheds and under decking. These burrows will usually lead to nests.
- Smell – Rats will leave a distinct and strong ammonia like smell in enclosed spaces.
Fully proofing your home is the first defence in getting rid of your rat problem. Sealing up any holes and areas underneath and around door frames will help prevent a problem, it is important to insure that all holes and gaps are sealed as young rats can fit through spaces as small as 1cm. Ultrasonic repellers will omit a sound that cannot be heard by humans but is extremely uncomfortable for rats preventing them from approaching your home and garden. Storing food in plastic or steel air tight containers and cleaning regularly under cookers and fridges will stop rats becoming attracted to your home by food. Rats can also enter via pipes and drains so it is important to ensure that all pipe work is in good condition and proper working order.
There are a wide range of products for amateur use that will get rid of rats quickly and effectively. These DIY pest control products include rat traps and rat killer bait, more commonly known as rat poison, which can be used in both indoors and outdoors.
A rat infestation can quickly take hold. Amateur DIY pest control methods are a cost effective way of removing rats from low risk areas but for a more established colony or an area where a repeated problem is occurring professional help is usually required. There are many trained professionals and technicians that can be contacted for help.
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