There is a well-known saying in London; you are never more than six feet away from a rat. But don’t panic; the reality is that rats are actually timid animals. They are more likely to be scared of you than you are of them. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have a rat problem in your home, office or in any of your outbuildings.
But if you can’t see them, how do you know if you may have a rat infestation? Well, there are a number of warning signs to be aware of that will tell you if there are rats on your premises. If you see any of these signs, you will need a premier rat control London service.
A Rat’s Habits…
Contrary to popular belief, rats will hide away from you; they are highly unlikely to harm you, your children or your pets. They are generally omnivorous, although some species of rats do like cereals, too, but they have a low tolerance for moist foods.
They thrive on water – if you have a stream, pond or other similar type of water source, watch out for the following warning signs. Rats are adventurous creatures are known for roaming, but they are not too keen on new things in their environment.
Rats Are Likely To Make Their Home:
- Under or even in kitchen cupboards.
- Underneath garden decking or in a kitchen garden.
- Under or in outhouses, outdoor WCs, garden sheds, outdoor conservatories or other types of outbuildings.
- Behind bath panels.
But this doesn’t mean you will not find them in other areas where there is a plentiful supply of food/grains, warmth and water.
Having a rat infestation is a hazard in your home or on your premises, particularly if they breed – they are vociferous breeders in the right situations – and can even be harmful to your health.
How Do I Know I Have A Rat Infestation?
There are a number of warning signs to look out for which will indicate you have a rat infestation. These are:
- Rat Droppings – one of the most obvious signs is small droppings usually found in areas where there is food stored, such as kitchen cupboards and pantries, in cardboard boxes, as well as along the tops of beams or skirting boards.
- Chew Marks – rats’ teeth are sharp and they will chew all sorts of materials, including wood, plastic, metal and even wire cables. They chew in their search for food.
- Nests – when rats (or mice) settle on a home, they will build nests for breeding. You will find these in dark corners and secluded areas where they are unlikely to be disturbed. They will often use the materials they have chewed, such as bits of wood and plastic, fabric, like cotton, and even wall insulation.
- Dirty Tracks – rats aren’t clean animals at all, hence them being harmful to your health. If you start to see dirty tracks over your surfaces, in cupboards, on walls and floors, it is the rats’ tracks as they move about looking for food.
- Strange Noises – rats aren’t necessarily quiet creatures either, particularly as they move about. If they’ve been in your home or premises a while, it’s quite likely they’ve grown a little in confidence so you may hear them running around or chewing.
- You Find One! The most obvious sign is that you actually find a rat; but it is also an indication that you probably have a rather large family of rats living with you.
What To Do If You Find A Rat Infestation?
If you find you have a rat infestation, the best plan of action is to immediately call Catch It Pest Control who specialise in rat control London. We will visit you to assess where the rats are breeding, their entry and exit points, where their source of food is, as well as their routes around the home or premises. Once we have this information, we can then determine the right treatment plan to get rid of the rats for you, as well as recommend methods to prevent them from returning.
