Rats

The rat population in this country has over the last few years enjoyed an explosion. There are now more sightings and more infestations, and when coupled with the strong adverse public reaction rat control should be taken very seriously.

Rats are large rodents weighing up to 500g with strong chisel like teeth. For their size they have relatively small ears and large feet. The tail has sparse hairs and is shorter than the body in the case of the brown rat which is by far the most common species in this country.

Like all rodents, they have the need to continually chew in order to keep their incisors in good condition and as a result they can cause very serious damage to the structure of buildings. Indeed, they have been associated with many house and farm fires. Droppings are approximately 12mm in length and are torpedo shaped; shiny when first laid they quickly harden and become dull in colour. They are associated with the spread of diseases that affect man including Salmonella and Weils' disease.

Rats exhibit a great hoarding instinct and will often take much more food than they can consume in one sitting. They are also neophobic, being very wary of new objects within their environment making bait siting absolutely critical to achieve control. Trapping may kill individual rats but you will not normally be able to destroy colonies where the best you will achieve will be approximately 80% control.

Hillbans Pest Control provide a number of programmes for curing rat infestations.