Rat Control - How to Get Rid of Rats
Rat control efforts in the UK have led to the decline of the black rat or ship rat. However, the Norwegian or brown rat continues to be a common pest throughout the country. Driven indoors when the weather turns cool, they can be found in houses, barns, warehouses and businesses. Once established in the warm and comfortable environment, they will remain there year-round. The only way to get rid of them is with proper pest control measures.
Eliminate Rats in 4 Easy Steps
- Rat Poison is highly effective at killing rats and easy to use. Our poison bait is loaded with proven attractants to ensure rats consume their lethal dosage fast. For best results and to reduce accidental exposure, we highly recommend using a Bait Station
- Rat Traps are a very effective method for controlling rat infestations and provide the peace of mind knowing that the measures you have chosen are working. Our Rat Traps are extremely powerful, ensuring that you are not left with the unpleasant task of killing the rat yourself. Rat Traps are ideal for use in chemical sensitive areas and where exposure to poisons is a risk to non-target animals.
- Rat Killer kits combine the best products on the market, to rid you of your rat pest problem quickly and efficiently. Our Ready Made Rat Killer Kits provide all the necessary equipment for the control of small to large scale rat infestations, helping to reduce the economic costs and health risks associated with having a rat infestation in your home.
- Rat Trap Cages are ideal for use in gardens or in the home. They are very effective at controlling and observing rat infestations. Rat Cages are designed to capture rats without causing any threat to other animals that may venture in accidentally, as they use no poisons or 'snap traps'. As it is illegal to release captured live ship rats back into the wild, the captured rat will need to be humanely killed.
Identifying Rats
They are much larger than normal house mice, with the males weighing in at 500 grams and the females at 335 grams. They can be up to 25 centimetres in length, without the tail. The fur is usually brown or grey, although you may run across a black rat from time to time.
Problems Caused by Rats
Rats can consume between 25 and 30 grams of food in a single day. They are omnivores and are more than happy to eat all of your favourite foods. Plastic storage containers are no match for their powerful jaws, and nothing in your home will be safe from their appetite.
Rats no longer carry the plague, but they do carry another fatal disease. Leptospirosis, or Weil's disease, can be fatal to humans. They also carry and can transmit ringworm. If cornered, they may lash out and bite as they try to escape. Rats also cause a great deal of damage to the home. They will gnaw through cables and electrical lines and the holes they can create in your home can grow large enough to compromise the structure.
Signs of Rat infestation
There are many signs that rats are moving into your home. Their droppings are typically 12 millimetres long and you will hear scratching noises in the walls or cupboards. Signs of gnawing may be evident on walls, woodwork and even furniture. Evidence of items like paper and cardboard being shredded for a nest is also a strong indicator that rats are now sharing your home with you.
If you ever see little tracks in dust on the floor that are accompanied by a tail mark then you should absolutely begin treating for a rat infestation. Smears of grease on walls or other solid surfaces are left behind when they rub against items and are also a cause for concern.
Rat Control
Some local authorities may remove rats from private residences for a charge or you can hire a professional to come in and do the job. Alternatively you can do some DIY rat control with products from Pest Control Supplies. There are excellent products available to help you clear your home of these invading rodents and protect your family. Here are a few of your options.
Rat Poison
Set down in an area the rats may visit, the rat poison is highly effective at killing rats but care needs to be taken when placing the poison as the enticing odour can also be appealing to your pets. The rats will usually wander off to die in private so you could be left with an unpleasant odour if you don't search for the offending corpse. Rat poisons contain anti-coagulants which slowly kill the rat over a period of time, this is to ensure that other rats will continue to eat the bait and not immediately associate it with death.
Rat Traps
These are larger than mouse traps and are usually spring-loaded. Choose a rodent trap that is properly sized and powerful enough to finish the job so you are not left with the unpleasant task of killing the creature. The rat traps are usually effective and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that the measures you have chosen are working.
Electronic Traps
Bait lures the rat into the trap. When they step on a footplate an electric volt will kill the intruder. The carcass can then be emptied neatly into the trash bin. The Electronic Battery Operated Instant Rat Killer Trap is highly effective and safe to work.
Humane Rat Control
Of course, you don't have to actually kill the rats. One of the simplest solutions is to have a cat or dog in the house. These animals will typically make your home less inviting to rats. However, it is important to note that it is illegal to release captured live ship rats back into the wild. Therefore any ship rats captured alive should be humanely killed.
Rat Repellent
One of the best options is to use a rat repellent system such as ultrasonic rat repellents. These devices usually plug into an electrical socket where they emit a sound that only rodents can hear. Dogs and cats are unaffected by it, but if you have any pet rodents such as pet hamsters or gerbils then these shouldn't be used.
Rat Deterrent
The best way to keep rats out of your home is to make sure that your home is not inviting and appealing to them. The home should be kept clean and tidy, both inside and out. Food for other animals should be stored away when it is not in use. Rubbish should never be allowed to lie around outside where it might attract rats. Areas outside that collect water should be levelled to avoid water collecting in them.
A female rat can start breeding by six weeks of age and will have about six litters a year. Each litter will have between six and a dozen baby rats. When you understand this, you will understand why it is so vital that rat control methods be implemented at the first sign of the disease-carrying intruders. Throughout the process of trapping the rats, steps should be taken inside and outside the home to clean away rubbish and eliminate any food sources.