Removing Rats Domestic Properties - 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.

Removing Rats Domestic Properties

In Pests

Removing Rats Domestic Properties:
This year (2015) has been an exceptional ‘bad’ year for rats. Rat calls to PEST UK would generally fall off quite dramatically during the Summer months. This has not been the case this year. Although there was a drop off compared to the Winter the demand was fairly constant. The weather meant rat populations didn’t Summer from prolonged periods of very dry weather. Rats have to drink daily, unlike mice who tolerate much drier conditions and extract most of the moisture they need from the food they eat. There was also another bumper year for natural berries, fruits and seeds meaning food supply was in abundance. Judging by the calls we are getting at PEST UK the rat population is extremely high. This means that the next few months will be very busy with rat calls. The reason for this is that once the natural food dries up, the vegetation dies back (leaving the rats more exposed) and the weather gets colder, there will be a general movement as rats search out alternative food supplies and places to live. Although very adaptable rats originally are from hot climates so prefer warmer conditions that would be found in the Winter in the UK. This does not stop them adapting to much colder conditions and countries if they have to.
Dead Female Rat killed by brodifacoum Posion
The three things that rats need are:

Food
A suitable place to live.
Water
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If they are denied at least 2 of these they won’t survive. The food aspect is most important and any baiting treatment will fail if this is not addressed. Rats prefer to get to the food source under cover. They do not like to cross open ground to get to the food site but they wil if they have no choice.

They need a safe, preferably dry place to live. In completely natural situations they will live in burrows or holes in trees or caves but will take advantage of any cavities.

Access to water in the UK is generally no problem except in exceptional dry Summers.
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In most cases getting a professional in to deal with rats is required.
Rats BPCA Advice

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