Rats & Mice Are Back! - PEST UK

Providing pest control services in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, London, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, West Midlands, West Sussex, Wiltshire. Est. 1985.

Rats & Mice Are Back!

In Pests, Rats & Mice

Rats & Mice Are Back!

Now that we are in the winter in pest control we see a change in the pests that our technicians are out treating. We see the change from all the wasps and bees that dominated the summer season to the infamous rats and mice. There is a reason for this major change with the pests that we treat, which is the weather. As it gets colder rats and mice are looking for a warmer place to stay and call their warren for the winter months. You will usually find they stay within loft spaces as this is an easy place for them to access as they run up the cavity walls and the loft is left fairly undisturbed (other than getting the Christmas decorations down) so they can stay there in peace. Many people ring us up saying that they have heard a scratching noise within their wall or above them at night. This is because rats and mice are nocturnal animals and tend to come out around 12am – 3am looking for food. If you do see rats or mice in the daytime then you have a much larger problem. They have a very complex hierarchical structure where those who are bigger stronger and potentially younger get to go and look for food and eat before those who are weaker and older. So if you are seeing rats or mice in the day it means that there are a lot of them as they are risking looking for food in the day light as they had to wait for Rats & Mice Are Back!
Pest Control Food Premises and Restaurants
Now that we are in the winter in pest control we see a change in the pests that our technicians are out treating. We see the change from all the wasps and bees that dominated the summer season to the infamous rats and mice. There is a reason for this major change with the pests that we treat, which is the weather. As it gets colder rats and mice are looking for a warmer place to stay and call their warren for the winter months. You will usually find they stay within loft spaces as this is an easy place for them to access as they run up the cavity walls and the loft is left fairly undisturbed (other than getting the Christmas decorations down) so they can stay there in peace. Many people ring us up saying that they have heard a scratching noise within their wall or above them at night. This is because rats and mice are nocturnal animals and tend to come out around 12am – 3am looking for food. If you do see rats or mice in the daytime then you have a much larger problem. They have a very complex hierarchical structure where those who are bigger stronger and potentially younger get to go and look for food and eat before those who are weaker and older. So if you are seeing rats or mice in the day it means that there are a lot of them as they are risking looking for food in the day light as they had to wait for the other stronger rats or mice to go.

 Rats and Mice in cold wether feeding in a kitchen in Hounslow

Rats and Mice in cold wether feeding in a kitchen in Hounslow

Proofing
the other stronger rats or mice to go.

Proofing

Along with the rise of rats and mice that are present this time of year there is also a rise in the proofing work that is carried out. The main reason for this is because the cold is driving rats and mice into a house due to the warmth that they provide, which leads them to finding small gaps and holes. The most common place for them to come into a household can be the gaps around pipes. They do not need a big gap at all as mice only need a 6.35mm entry hole, which means some even fit through the gap under a door. Customers who are aware of larger entry points for these pests sometimes want us to only fill in this for them. However, this is not always wise as it will not treat the problem that they have and may even cause more damage to the property as the rodents try to find or make new ways back into the house hold. This is why we will always do a treatment and then offer you with proofing as it cases a lot less damage to your property and is an overall more effective way of treatment rats or mice.

Attracting The Pests

Some people find that they are ringing us year in, year out for us to come out to them and treat their rodents for them. This is usually because they have something in their property that is attracting the rodents too them. The most common thing that attracts rats or mice is the feeding of other animals. Many people have bird feed up in their garden, however bird feed isn’t just good for the birds it is unfortunately good for any rodents as well. As birds peck away at the nuts and grains left out crumbs fall down to the floor leaving them for rodents to eat. This is a problem as nuts and grains are a good source of proteins so the rodents will keep returning for the food which is where a problem may start. You may have seen this for yourself either on a video or if you have a bird feeder where squirrels can be found to try and jump onto the feeders to get food. Also if you keep chickens this can also attract rodents. The same rule applies really as the food is put down and anything that is not eaten rodents will happily eat. In cases where you do keep chickens or other animals like this we suggest that you have a pest control contract put in place to minimise the problems as if you are feeding them you will always have a rodent problem.
Rats – BPCA Advice
Mice by the BPCA

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