Super Rats

In Pests

Super rats

The term super rats conjures up the image of a larger than normal rat, bullying other animals out of its way. In fact this term actually refers to their immunity to current poison baits used across the UK. The current heat wave will also see rats being more visible due to their searching for water sources as they do not take moisture from their food like mice can. Our own Director Alec Minter was recently interviewed by The Sun regarding this matter and its recent appearance in the media.

Rats and poison

To successfully treat rats PESTUK use poison baits containing an anticoagulant poison. This poison usually requires that the rats feed several times before dying. It can take up to 7 days before the rats start feeding on the bait as they are suspicious, or neophobic, of new objects.

It is important to achieve a complete kill as rats breed rapidly so that any survivors soon replace the dead with their offspring. A female rat will live for two years and can produce up to 60 young per year alone. In heavy infestations rats can be seen feeding during the day, these are usually the old and weaker animals that feed during the more dangerous hours of daylight to avoid the more aggressive and dominant rats. Seeing rats during the day time means the problem is quite severe.

Reasons for tolerance

The reasons for these super rats include-

• All poison baits thin the blood of the rats and are used the world over. Resistance will occur due to genetic mutation and hereditary traits.
• The misuse of poison baits by farmers, general public and some pest control companies whereby not enough baits have been placed  or other factors.

To book an appointment for a rat treatment with a professional company who are full members of the BPCA, the governing body for pest control companies in the UK please call us on – 03301002811.

PESTUK cover areas from Oxford, Guildford, Enfield, Shepperton, Wantage, St. Albans, Salisbury, St Albans, Enfield