Pest Control For Rats
Pest control for rats Expert Treatment for Rat Infestations
It is milder winters in recent years that have helped rat populations thrive, which is where professional pest control comes in.
While Do-It-Yourself (DIY) products are a cost-effective way to stop rat problems in low-risk areas. For high-risk areas, more established rodent colonies you need professional rat control where there is a repeated infestation.
If you have a more extensive infestation and are unable to get this under control, you will need more specialised treatment which is not available over the counter.
National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) – Their members cover the whole of the United Kingdom and will advise and stop any pest problem, whether it be small or large. If you are in the South Yorkshire Area, Apex Pest Control is a leading NPTA member based in Sheffield and Barnsley.
Apex will help minimise pest activity using a range of techniques and have the technical knowledge and experience to apply pro-grade products efficiently while minimising risk to the environment and non-target species.
Rat bait stations professionally managed by Apex Pest Control is a trusted rat deterrent and is safe to use even in locations where children or pets are present.
DID YOU KNOW: Rats can detect noises up to around 90,000Hz that’s four times greater than our own hearing and twice as high as a dog’s Rats are social animals, so if you see one rat then there are likely to be more nearby.
How do I know if I have a rat problem?
Rats typically come out at night, so you’ll rarely see them during the day. Even so, there are many ways to know if you have rodents in your home or business.
Rat droppings are dark brown and about the size of a grain of rice. The rats are commonly found in concentrated places, making them easy to spot.
Bite marks – Rats need to constantly gnaw and chew on objects to file teeth down. Search for bite marks on anything from wood to concrete.
Movement Rats are nocturnal and get in the cavities of your house, such as the walls, your roof space or underneath the floorboards. You may hear their noises moving around at night.
Footprints – If you think you have rats, you can test by sprinkling some flour on the surfaces and checking the next day for footprints in the flour.
Common gnaw-spots’ include the sheathing around electrical cables, which present a significant fire risk, and pipes, which is likely to result in leaks. Both water and gas, wood, glass, metal, bone – rats’ teeth will bite and gnaw most materials, which is why they can cause untold damage to both homes and businesses.
Rats have oily fur, which will leave smear marks when they regularly run along a set route. It is sometimes possible to see rat tail swipes or footprints on surfaces. Often noises will be heard in loft spaces or within the cavities of buildings.
Knowing which type of rats you have is vital for rat removal as there are different types of rodents such as the black rat and common brown rat.
Business Rat Control
When rats enter your food premises, they are likely to cause many significant problems, and they pose substantial public health risks. However, the cost of damage to your reputation due to rodent infestation can be even higher.
Scare – Seeing rodents or knowing vermin are on the premises will unease customers.
Instant loss of trust – Your reputation quickly gets damaged as people will report the news.
Damage – Property gets damaged by rats chewing on cables, walls, wood beams and contamination.
Losses – Profits get affected due to inventory contaminated, fewer customers and reputation.
Legal side – Certain industries like food, warehouse and agricultural premises require environmental management.
The legislation states that food premises are to permit acceptable food hygiene practices, including protection against contamination and, in particular, pest control.
In the UK, the regulatory framework concerning pest control on food premises gets based on the Food Standards Act 1990 and the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995 made under it.
Hungry rats “can wander quite a distance and end up in a different neighbourhood completely that had no rats prior”, Dr Corrigan told the BBC
“It’s easy to assume the need for home and business pest control is on the rise.”
Rat Proofing to Prevent Infestation
Rodent infestations can be prevented by rodent-proofing your home or business. If you have found evidence of rats, or recently resolved a rodent infestation in your home or premises, then it is crucial to your health and safety to rat-proof your home. Effective and professional rat control is the best way to prevent a future rat infestation from ruining your property and harming your health.
Block all entry points – The single most important preventive measure you can take to keep mice and rats away is to inspect the foundation and walls of your property to make sure any potential entry points are blocked.
Rodent-Proofing Materials – Caulk coarse steel wool concrete copper or Aluminum wire mesh hardware cloth – 19 gauge Sheet Metal 26 gauge thickness Standard Access Points Plug or repairs all cracks and gaps in the foundation, walls, basements, etc.
Checking the location of sewers nearby and broken drains and covers are access points for rats.
Seal the gaps and cracks around doors and window frames.
Rat-proofing using a service can get implemented indoors or outdoors to control rats. Also rat-proof the bin sheds of a residential block of flats or commercial warehouses. Sometimes a proofing service will also involve placing air vent covers or metal composite plates at the base of a door.
Apex pest control – Rat Control Solutions
Our National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) Certified Technicians provide safe, practical solutions for rat removal using industry-leading treatments.
Treatments will include the oversight of any potential breeding sites. They will advise actions to take according to the pest problems Regular rodent control is often the most reliable form of prevention.
We are here to help so if you are unsure about a rodent problem or wish to arrange a treatment, and please contact us.
Common Questions and Answers
How does pest services get rid of rats?
1. Inspect and identify which type of species you have, the size of the infestation, rodent runs and entry points.
2. Seal any gaps – Rodents can get into your building through exterior cracks and holes. The rodents will also enter premises through damaged drains.
3.Declutter and clean – Keep clutter to a minimum. Less clutter means fewer places to hide. Ensure waste gets kept in sealed bins.
4. Eliminate potential food sources – This can get done by storing dry foods in sealed containers, make sure food is not left sitting out on worktops and counters
5. Use the right type of rodenticide when poisoning rats using bait boxes placed in the correct locations.
6. Regular visits to manage the situation.
How much is rat pest control Services?
The cost of a rat exterminator will vary from pest services and location. In Yorkshire, the average price is £110 for two visits, including inspection and treatments.
The length of time will depend on the size of the rat problem you have in your home. For smaller populations of rodents, it may take two visits, however broader vermin issues will take 4 -5 visits and some situations take ongoing monthly inspections to control rats if the root cause is out of your control.
Will the council remove a rat infestation?
It all comes down to where you live, and you still have to pay for the service.
The local authority’s pest control services or Environmental Health team will give you help and advice in dealing with problems with pests and vermin.
However, service will vary across different councils, and some response times will take weeks before they get back in touch and others contract out to national companies with varying levels of success.
If the problem isn’t dealt with quickly, the rat problem gets worse, and the more it will cost you. For this reason, using local pest controllers is the best option in many cases for your home and property.