| 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. |
