Rats

What to look for:

• Sightings – although rats are usually nocturnal animals you may see them in the day.
• Droppings – look like dark brown to black olive pits, usually 2cm long, but sometimes up to 5cm long.
• Signs of gnawing – habitual gnawing is commonplace as their incisor teeth continue to grow and need to be ‘worn down’.
• Tracks – (often called “runs”) about palm width, in and around a building; between a harbourage and a food or water source.
• Burrows – holes in the ground up to the size of a tennis ball.
• Holes in the fabric of the building
• Smell – musky/urine.
• Noise – Rats are dusk to dawn feeders so you may hear them in the building at night.

How to control them:

• Ensure foodstuffs are stored in sealed containers.
• Clean up any food spills immediately.
• Remove rubbish promptly and store in containers that deny access to rats.
• Clean work surfaces and appliances regularly and thoroughly.
• Find out how they are getting into the building.
• Check for broken air bricks or gaps around waste pipes.
• Do not block air bricks but cover with a fine grade metal mesh.
• Seal gaps around pipes and across door thresholds.

Rats are controlled by trapping or poison baiting.

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