Rat Control Liverpool
The most common type of rat is the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus). Sometimes people will call the brown rat by other names, such as a street rat or sewer rat. It is recognisable by its blunt snout, coarse hair, and small ears. Its tail will be roughly around the same length as the rest of its body with a pale underside. This rodent can be brown or dark grey in colour, with a body size of up to 25cm. It is the dominant rat in Europe.
According to the British Pest Control Association (BCPA), Liverpool and the North West was one of the top three regions exceeding the national ratio of rat call-outs per 1000 people for the year 2015 – 2016. This has barely changed since 2010, showing that rat control in Liverpool and other locations in the region is necessary to prevent dangerous infestations which could pose a threat to both personal and public health. For rat removal in Liverpool, get in touch for a quote today.
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Understanding rats
Brown rats are omnivorous and will eat almost anything. However, they prefer foods that are rich in starch or protein, such as cereals. They are very good at swimming and digging, so there isn’t much that will stop them foraging for food or burrowing to build a nest. These vermin can chew through many materials to access shelter or food. Rats are common household pests and can often be found nesting in attics, inside the walls, or in sewers and drains.
If you have bird feeders in your garden or leave bowls of pet food on your kitchen floor, this can attract rats. Any open bins or plastic rubbish bags which they can chew through are also a risk. The same goes for open water containers. Composting, food spillages, and loose materials they can use for nesting might attract rats. Brown rats are capable of breeding very quickly, producing up to 5 litters in a year. Each litter could consist of 7-14 new rats.
Rat Infestation Health Risks
Rats are known historically for spreading the plague (Yersinia pestis). Up to 30% of British rats carry a fatal bacterial infection known as Weil’s Disease (or Leptospirosis). The strain of bacteria which causes it, Leptospira, is spread through rat urine. They also carry a deadly roundworm (Viola sercurus), not to mention lice (Phthiraptera) and salmonella. An infestation increases the chances of people in your household contracting these harmful diseases.
It is therefore imperative that you call Premier Pest Control to determine the extent of the infestation and execute the most effective rat control procedures. Depending on the severity of the situation, this could be exclusion or extermination. Aside from the risks to health, having rats in the house reflects poorly on your hygiene. They leave droppings, contaminate human food stores, and cause damage by gnawing on wood, wiring, or plumbing.
Rat Control Methods
The first rat control method which Premier Pest Control will use is exclusion. We will identify any harbourages, defective drains and sewers, and other possible access points. Rats can fit through holes as small as 2 inches in diameter, so finding and blocking these entry points is vital. Premier Pest Control will install proofing to doors and building materials. This works as a rat deterrent to keep rats out and prevent future infestations.
Premier Pest Control will then remove potential food sources and lay rat bait to draw them out. We can set live traps and break back traps around your property to ensure extermination. We will apply contact dust to harbourages and ducting only when it is safe to do so. Premier Pest Control can employ further methods of rodent repellent to ensure that the smell of the rats does not continue to attract more of them to infest your house.
Rat Control Guidelines
