Proofing for rats, mice, squirrels and glis glis
Prices from £75 +VAT
To protect your home or business premises from rats, mice, squirrels and glis glis call 0800 026 0308
To effectively protect a property from rodent infestations long term, proofing needs to be carried out by a professional pest control technician who understands their behaviour and can identify and deal with access points. To do this properly is time-consuming and may seem costly, but it’s ultimately more cost-effective as it prevents repeated visits by a pest control company to get rid of rodents from your property.
Preparation you must undertake prior to treatment
- Stop feeding wild birds.
- Stop putting food on your compost heap.
- Clean crumbs from under the cooker and kitchen cabinets.
- Remove any food that is left out including pet food.
Be careful if you handle any items contaminated by rats; cover cuts and scratches, wash your hands afterwards or wear gloves.
Aftercare
To prevent future rat infestations you must identify and deal with the reasons you had an infestation in the first place. The following measures should be implemented.
- Do not feed wild birds.
- Always dispose of any spilled or leftover food from feeding pets.
- Always dispose of any animal droppings; do not put them on a compost heap.
- Rat proof animal hutches and runs.
- Store animal food in rat proof containers.
- Keep rubbish bins securely closed.
- Do not put food on your compost heap.
- Keep a check on your compost heap to ensure it’s not providing a home for rats.
- Remove vegetation growing on or near to the house.
Proofing for rats and mice
Our technicians understand the behaviour of rats and mice and are trained to inspect a property to identify external access points which they will proof. Sometimes there is more than one entry point so many different areas will need to be proofed. They may also proof air bricks and other places which may not have been used to access the property but could be used in the future.
Rats and mice may travel some distance undetected through cavity walls, soffits and loft spaces before reaching an area where they are seen, heard or evidence of their presence is found such as droppings, smells or damage. In a property within a row of terraced houses they may be entering several properties away from where they are actually appearing or the route may be subterranean. Ideally the whole of the building as well as drains and utility pipes, cables and conduits should be inspected for breaches and fixed. Sometimes there is more than one entry point and only by proofing many different areas will a solution be reached.
Mice can get through a 1cm gap. Older style in-built air brick vents allow mice to squeeze through the gaps while the newer plastic ones (see picture) can be gnawed through by rats.
We fit stainless steel mesh air brick covers
to prevent mice entering the property.
If blocking external access points isn’t possible technicians will proof individual rooms from the inside. They will look for holes and gaps around pipes and cables in kitchens, lofts and bathrooms which have the most utilities as these are areas in a property that rats and mice will have the easiest access to once they’ve entered the structure of the building. Boxed off areas which house pipes are normal in modern bathrooms and kitchens but builders often leave holes and gaps around pipes inside these which unfortunately allow access by rodents.
If the technician suspects the access point is subterranean they will recommend a camera survey of your drains to identify breaches and, if necessary, fit a sewer one way return valve. For more information see www.pestuk.com/pest/rat-problems-sewers/
Proofing for squirrels and glis glis
Squirrels and glis glis are territorial so proofing can’t be done until the current infestation is eliminated as any surviving squirrels or glis glis can cause further damage by trying to access the area where they’ve been living and breeding.
To effectively protect a property from further infestations proofing must be carried out externally by blocking any holes and points of access to prevent other squirrels or glis glis from moving into the vacant territory. Our technicians are trained to identify and deal with access point used by squirrels or glis glis.