Rats
The facts
That allowing any type of insect or rodent within your premises or home will obviously be a nuisance and in some cases serious illness, loss of business and in extreme circumstances, legal and civil prosecution. There are 2 main types of rats in Britain, the Common (alias Brown or Norway) Rat (Rattus Norvegicus) and the Ship (alias Black) Rat (Rattus Rattus). The ship rat was once the dominant species in this country, but is now rare and mainly confined to port areas. In Britain it lives only indoors. The common rat is found in both rural and urban areas and lives indoors and outdoors. It can also live within the sewage system. Adult rats measure 20-27 cm long (minus tail) and weigh approximately 100-500g. They are usually brown in colour with a lighter belly but black and other colour variations are possible. Common rats live for approximately 1 year, are sexually mature at 3-4 months, and a female rat can have several litters, with 6-12 young in each litter, within this time.
Where do Rats live?
Rats can be found anywhere that offers shelter, food and water. They are very agile, can climb and are great burrowers. Common places to find rats are in compost heaps, under sheds, in and under other buildings, in heavy undergrowth, cavity walls and loft spaces. They can also pop up from drains and sewers. They eat almost anything and will dine at dustbin areas, bird tables, on animal feed, at the roadside on dropped rubbish, compost heaps, fallen fruit, etc. The list is endless! They will drink from puddles, ponds, streams, bird baths and animal troughs/bowls, etc. They are mainly active at night but it is not unusual to see them during the day looking for food and water.
Why keep Rats under control?
The reason rats are considered a public health pest is chiefly because they consume and contaminate vast quantities of food, worldwide, intended for human consumption. Rats can carry diseases such as Leptospirosis (Weils Disease), Salmonella and Typhus which can all be fatal to man and can also be passed to animals and birds, etc. Rats can also cause damage by gnawing wood, metal and chewing through electricity cables. Their digging can cause subsidence.
Prevention & Control
Remove food and water sources. Place all household rubbish in bins with tight fitting lids, clear up fallen fruits from the garden, avoid putting food scraps on compost heaps, use rat proof bird tables, keep outside pets houses clean and remove any excess food left by them. Keep gardens clear of overgrown areas and avoid accumulations of rubbish, wood and rubble, etc. Check buildings for access holes and fix any broken airbricks, gaps round pipes, broken windows, etc.
Treatment
Contact Paramite Pest Solutions if you suspect you may have a problem and we can advise you on the best course of action. A visit by our pest control officer can be arranged. He will carry out a survey and may suggest that poison be laid. If poison bait is used you will be advised on the type and action to take in case of accidental poisoning. Paramite Pest Solutions will take all possible precautions in the placing of poison baits. Revisits will be made until the problem is cleared.