Rattus Norvegicus or Brown Rat is the most predominent in the UK. It usually lives in
burrows in the soil, but can be found in sewer systems, compost heaps, refuse areas, animal housing, in fact anywhere there is a food source and harborage.
It is estimated that in some of our major cities, you will never be more than about 10' away from a rat. Rats can breed at an
alarming rate, under laboratory conditions a breeding pair of rats were responsible for 2000 offspring in 12 months. 100 rats can produce 1 tonne of droppings a year, and a single rat can produce 5 litres of urine.
Rats can carry a number of diseases that can be passed on to humans via their urine, the commonest being Cryptosporidiosis, but the most well known one is Leptospirosis or Weil's Disease. They are also capable of inflicting serious damage to buildings and food stuffs. To wear down their incisor teeth that grow throughout their life rats gnaw continuously. Woodwork, metal pipes and electric wiring are the favourite targets. This can lead to fire or flooding.
Control
Good housekeeping is 80% of any control measure. If they do not have any harbourage or food source they will not hang around. Also any access points to buildings should be proofed. Where rats have taken up residence, these can be controled by either trapping or poisons
. However it should be noted that rats are neophobic which means they are shy of new objects, and it could take weeks for a rat to gain enough confidence to approach a trap.
It is strongly recomended that any treatments using poisons should be carried out by a trained professional who will ensure that all baits are laid safely and that non target species such as children and pets are not at risk from any measures taken. They will also be able to give sound advice on housekeeping and proofing.
When looking for a pest control company, firstly ensure that they are members of either the UKPCO or BPCA, Members of these organisations have a standard they must work to. It is also advisable to find an independent company that is local to you. Some of the larger national companies can be more expensive.
