Description
Pest Control Products UKRat Control Information and Advice
Common rat, Rattus Norvegicus (Norway, sewer or brown rat)The
common rat has only been recorded in Britain since early in the 18th
Century. It is thought to have been introduced in shipping from Russia.
It is now by far the more abundant of the two rat species and is widely
distributed in both urban and rural areas. It occurs both indoors, and
outdoors away from human habitation, and is the species often
associated with sewer systems.
Ship rat, Rattus rattus (roof or black rat)The
ship rat probably originated in south-east Asia and was thought not to
have reached western Europe until the Middle Ages. Although once the
dominant rat species in this country, the ship rat is now rare and
confined mainly to port areas. It may, however, occasionally be found
in some inland towns, especially those linked to ports by canals, and
its range probably continues to contract. In Britain it lives only
indoors.
General informationRats
are a major hazard to health. They spread many forms of disease, some
of which, such as Weil's Disease, can be fatal to humans. Rats may eat
food that is intended for human consumption, and they often cause
damage to much more, which must then be discarded. They also cause
considerable structural damage to woodwork, water pipes, electric
cables, etc., through their habit of gnawing.
Rats can be
found anywhere that offers shelter and food - including sewers. They
are efficient burrowers and favour compost heaps and the ground
underneath hedges and sheds where they will dig shallow burrows and
form nests with dry grass and leaves. In houses they will nest in wall
cavities and beneath floorboards. Both species of rats are active
mainly at night, but may be seen in search of food and water during the
day.
The life expectancy of the rat is around one year, during
which time a female rat will typically breed five times, producing a
litter averaging between seven and eight each time. Breeding usually
occurs throughout the year but especially in the spring and autumn.
Signs of rat activity
Outdoors:- Chewing or gnawing of any fallen fruit or other food sources
- Burrowing or displacement of loose soil
- Gnawing on timber at the base of doors, sheds and outbuildings
Indoors:- Droppings (approximately 1-2cm in length)
- Chewed food, food packaging or soap
- Displaced fruit and vegetables
- Chewed carpets or floor coverings at the base of doors
Control methods:The
ability of rats to burrow, climb and jump make them difficult to
control, and you may need professional help to deal with an established
colony.
Early or lighter infestation, however, can be addressed in various ways:
1. Baiting
The pestcontrolproducts
range includes poisons identical to the ones used by professional pest
controllers. These products are designed to be highly attractive to
rodents
specifically, but care should always be taken to place baits where they
cannot be accessed by pets or children. The result of many years of
research and development, they do not result in an instant kill, but
their effects ensure that the rat is as dehydrated as possible, to
minimise any smell caused by the cadaver.
An all-natural alternative rodent bait is Eradirat,
which contains absolutely no toxic ingredients, and as such eliminates
the risk of poisoning predators which may feed on rats, such as birds
of prey. This method also causes extreme dehydration to the rodents,
leading them to retreat to their burrows, where they lapse into a coma
and die.
Rodent baiting guidelines
For most effective control, the baits must be the primary food source available to the rodent.
- Clear away all other food sources from the area to be treated.
- Foodstuffs should ideally be contained in metal, glass, ceramic or hard plastic.
- Bait all areas where rodent activity is seen - particularly along runs and around holes
- Keep bait dry, as wetting may reduce effectiveness
- Continue to bait until rodent activity has completely ceased
- Always carefully read the label and any other information materials supplied with the baits
2. Traps
Large, robust rodent traps, such as the Power cat,
can make short work of most rats, and make it easy to locate and
dispose of cadavers. For a humane, non-lethal alternative, the rat cage trap allows rodents to be caught without harming them, for later release.
3. Repellers
Electromagnetic repellers
are a completely humane alternative, which can be effective in
deterring rats from taking up residence within a home or premises. The
range available from pestcontrolproducts is especially selected for
high standards of effectiveness. In order to harness the power of
electromagnetism against rodents, it is essential to carefully read and
follow the instructions supplied. |
