Rats are a common problem in the UK. Once they get into a home or a
commercial building they can breed into large numbers.
Not only are they a
nuisance, they also have the potential to spread disease and infection to both
humans and pets. There are several recommended methods of dealing with
rats.
• The first step
is deterrence. If you live in a rat-prone zone like in the big cities make sure
that there are no small spaces that rats can crawl through and get in your home.
The same goes for the countryside especially if your home is near a barn.
• Rat poison is
a good option except it presents 2 problems. The first is that the rat may crawl
into a small space and die which means you have to deal with the smell. The
other is that you endanger other animals that may eat dead rats such as owls and
dogs.
• You can use
electromagnetic devices that produce very low current that drives rats away.
These can be very effective but they should not be used in homes that have bats
otherwise you will have to deal with dead bats.
• Traps are also
an excellent way of dealing with rats. They should be set in places where the
rats run around and away from children and pets. Don’t bait them for a few days
– the rats have to get familiar with them. After two or three days bait them
with peanut butter. Wear gloves – if they get the human scent they get
cautious.
• You can also
use glue traps but you have to be ready to drive the rats more than 2 Km to set
them free if you cannot bear to watch them struggle until they die from
exhaustion. This is a very effective method if you have big nests.
• If the idea of
killing rats is more than you can take you can make humane traps for them. There
is information online about how to make one. The best are made out of metal.
Again, once you trap them you have to take them out in the wild where they
cannot come back.
• The use of
guns to kill rats is not illegal in the UK so long as you have a certificate of
ownership for the gun. If you decide to go with this method be ready to clean up
the mess.
Now you know the best ways of dealing with rats; don’t allow them to
multiply.
If you need advice about rats and mice or would like
assistance removing them from your home, call Avon Pest Control on 01926
632 929 or click here to request a quote.
Labels: avon pest control, pest control, pest control stratford upon avon, rat pest control