Rodents are a common problem in every type of domestic property. As long as they are identified and eliminated swiftly, all will be well. If they remain, over time they can adversely affect the state of the house as well as causing illness in humans, so householders need to be vigilant.
The presence of rats and mice is easy to detect by their droppings, and the size will tell you which you have. Rat droppings are about 3/4 inch (19mm) long, whereas mice droppings are approximately one third the size, 1/4 inch (6mm) long. The dark brown droppings will appear on floors, shelves and furniture.
Rodents will make their presence known in various ways other than their droppings. Chewed food packets, and shredded cardboard boxes are a sure sign, as are gnawed wooden furniture and plumbing. Mice and rats like to make their nests in spaces under floors, in outbuildings, and within hollow walls. When the house is quiet, you can hear them moving around. Even their chewing can be audible at times.
Rodents are attracted by easily available food sources such as pet food and kitchen waste. Kitchen compost should be kept away from the house and treated with lime to speed up decomposition. Garbage needs to be kept in a sealed metal container with a lid, and pet food must be cleared away after feeding.
A bite from a mouse or rat can cause infection, and rodents also spread disease in their urine and droppings. Their ticks and fleas can be disease carriers too. Any food they have partially eaten or otherwise been in contact with must be thrown away, as it can cause food poisoning. Any contaminated surfaces, where rodents may have run, have to be disinfected before being used for food preparation.
Rats and mice breed frequently, so their numbers will increase rapidly if unchecked. They can damage your house by chewing through insulation and electrical cables. They can even gnaw through walls and ceilings.
Ultra-sonic repellers and similar devices may have an initial effect, and removing food sources will be helpful, but the only complete solution to rodents is to kill them. The best way to kill mice and rats is with traditional spring-loaded traps. Effective baits are cheese, dried fruit or peanut butter mixed with oats. The trap should be placed across pathways used by the rodents, with the bait on the side next to the wall.
Dead rodents must be disposed of carefully. Wear gloves to handle them, and seal them in double plastic bags. There may be local by-laws covering their disposal in domestic waste, but if allowed they can be put in the dustbin, or alternatively they can be buried in a hole over 50cm deep. Disinfect traps with a mixture of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water.
Rodents are a frequent and unpleasant problem, and one which must not be ignored, but effective solutions are available. If trapping does not work, consider contacting your local authority or a specialist vermin control company.
The presence of rats and mice is easy to detect by their droppings, and the size will tell you which you have. Rat droppings are about 3/4 inch (19mm) long, whereas mice droppings are approximately one third the size, 1/4 inch (6mm) long. The dark brown droppings will appear on floors, shelves and furniture.
Rodents will make their presence known in various ways other than their droppings. Chewed food packets, and shredded cardboard boxes are a sure sign, as are gnawed wooden furniture and plumbing. Mice and rats like to make their nests in spaces under floors, in outbuildings, and within hollow walls. When the house is quiet, you can hear them moving around. Even their chewing can be audible at times.
Rodents are attracted by easily available food sources such as pet food and kitchen waste. Kitchen compost should be kept away from the house and treated with lime to speed up decomposition. Garbage needs to be kept in a sealed metal container with a lid, and pet food must be cleared away after feeding.
A bite from a mouse or rat can cause infection, and rodents also spread disease in their urine and droppings. Their ticks and fleas can be disease carriers too. Any food they have partially eaten or otherwise been in contact with must be thrown away, as it can cause food poisoning. Any contaminated surfaces, where rodents may have run, have to be disinfected before being used for food preparation.
Rats and mice breed frequently, so their numbers will increase rapidly if unchecked. They can damage your house by chewing through insulation and electrical cables. They can even gnaw through walls and ceilings.
Ultra-sonic repellers and similar devices may have an initial effect, and removing food sources will be helpful, but the only complete solution to rodents is to kill them. The best way to kill mice and rats is with traditional spring-loaded traps. Effective baits are cheese, dried fruit or peanut butter mixed with oats. The trap should be placed across pathways used by the rodents, with the bait on the side next to the wall.
Dead rodents must be disposed of carefully. Wear gloves to handle them, and seal them in double plastic bags. There may be local by-laws covering their disposal in domestic waste, but if allowed they can be put in the dustbin, or alternatively they can be buried in a hole over 50cm deep. Disinfect traps with a mixture of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water.
Rodents are a frequent and unpleasant problem, and one which must not be ignored, but effective solutions are available. If trapping does not work, consider contacting your local authority or a specialist vermin control company.
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We offer friendly and effective pest control Ealing. www.envirosafepestcontrol.co.uk will make sure we get rid of your unwanted visitors, and help you stop them coming back again.
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