What are the clear signs of a Rat infestation?
Rats are crepuscular (active between dawn and dusk) and nocturnal animals, so it is often difficult to see them. There are however a few signs which could indicate that you are suffering from Rat activity that requires help. These can include:
- Rat Droppings: The most obvious sign of a rat problem, the average Rat can produce anything up to 40 fresh droppings a day. They are tapered and usually the same length of a 1p coin.
- Odour: Rats provide a distinctive and unwelcome smell both dead and alive. A live rat in a small area such as a loft space can be identified by an ammonia-like smell, whereas the smell of a dead rat is far stronger, with the ability to linger for up to 10 days without removal.
- Footprints: Rats are creatures of habit, and will continuously use the same path when travelling. If the infestation is in a garden, tell-tale signs may be worn grass. Without proper treatment this problem will only worsen.
- Damage: Rats need to continuously gnaw on items to stop their teeth from overgrowing. This constant need to chew can manifest itself outside in either wood, plastic or electric cables and wires. Inside the house, ripped food packaging is a clear sign of a rat problem. The teeth marks should be noticeable, usually around 3mm in width.
- Nests: Rats seek warm, concealed, dark areas to create a nest. The average Rat litter can be well over 7 young, and they can have up to 6 cycles in a year. Common locations can include in the loft, under the floorboards, behind bath panels or even below decking in the garden.
Problems associated with Rats
- Leptospriosis (Weil’s disease): Caused by bacteria called leptospira, this disease in its mildest form can cause flu-like symptoms. It can be transmitted to humans through contaminated water, or soil. The more serious, and far rarer, strain of this bacterium could lead to life-threatening problems.
- Salmonella: Rats often carry the salmonellosis disease, which can be picked up by humans and any household pet through contact with droppings and contaminated food. This can cause gastroenteritis’s in humans, and could possibly have fatal consequences for pets.
- Rat-bite Fever: As the name suggests, this disease is most often transmitted through being bitten by a rodent, however, it can also be caught through contact with urine or secretions from the nose, mouth or eye of an infected rat. Symptoms included chills and a fever.
- Musophobia: Some individuals suffer from severe revulsion at the sight of a rodent in their home, business or workplace. This can even lead to depression, stress and other anxiety disorders
How to get rid of Rats?
Quick Rat control treatment is essential should you have a rodent infestation. The three week gestation period means that even the smallest problem could soon escalate into a serious situation that increases both the risk to your health, but also the overall cost to treat your problem.
To help you get rid of your Rat problem Total Pest Control can offer a secure pest management call out service. This will include:
Treatment:
- A visit guaranteed within 24 hours of your call or enquiry
- A visit by a fully-trained local technician, who has the knowledge and expertise to conduct an in-depth inspection of your problem,
- A quick solution to your problem; Bait stations with strong poison placed exactly at the root cause of, offering a swift remedy
- Fully secure, locked bait stations, resulting in them being safe to be used household pets.
Rat Proofing Works:
- Advice on possible proofing works that could be carried out that would help to limit the possibility of future problems
