For helpful pest information visit: http://www.rentokil.co.uk/rats/
Rats can be very persistent even gnawing through metal to get in, and if they do gain access into your premises they can spread diseases, cause damage and contaminate food. Rats can cause other problems too, so it’s vital to eliminate a rat infestation quickly as rats can:
- Damage property with constant gnawing, rats can damage insulation, pipes, doors, floorboards and will also shred soft materials for nesting
- Contaminate foodstuffs as pathogens in rat’s urine and droppings can transmit diseases such as Weil’s Disease (Leptospirosis), Rat Bite Fever and Salmonellosis.
Check for common signs of rats which will help you identify a problem early, ensuring
effective treatment can start as soon as possible.
Signs of Rats
Rats are most active during the night therefore it is often easier to spot the signs of a rat
infestation than the actual rat.
Below are signs that could indicate that you have a potential rat problem.
- Scratching Noises ↓ – Black rats are agile climbers and often found in lofts so you might hear scratching noises at night.
- Rat Droppings ↓ – Brown Rat droppings are dark brown in a tapered, spindle shape – like a grain of rice.
- Rub Marks ↓ – Grease and dirt on their bodies leaves smudges on surfaces.
- Rat Holes ↓ – Brown rats are well known for digging extensive burrow systems for shelter, food storage and nesting.
- Rat Nests ↓ – Rats will shred available materials such as loft insulation, cardboard and other soft items to make nests.
- Footprints ↓ – Rats leave foot and tail marks in dusty, less-used areas of buildings.
If you have heard scratching noises or spotted any of the signs mentioned, we recommend acting quickly to ensure the potential infestation doesn’t spread any further.
Also Checkout:
- Where to Check for Rats Inside a Building
- Where to Check for Rats Outside your Property
- Prevention:
- How to Prevent Rats
- Top Tips
- Deterring Rats
- Rat Proofing
- Rat Species
Rise of the Rats
Known for their fierce survival instincts, brown rats prefer to build their burrows in urban sewers and the dwellings of humans, eating one-fifth of foodstuffs planted every year, but contaminating far more. In major cities, some experts say they are as many rats as there are people, while more conservative estimates put the ratio closer to one rat for every four humans. To fully understand how the rise of the rats has happened, you must understand the staggering rate at which rats can reproduce. Visit the website, swipe the images, to see how quickly two rats can breed in an ideal environment.
Also Checkout:
- Rat reproduction facts
- Why don’t rats outnumber people?
- The raise of rats in numbers
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