How much do we know about Rats and Mice?
As we all know the winter will soon be here and the Rats and Mice will soon be homing in for some warm lodgings and some tasty food. As a registered and qualified Pest Controller, I think some of us who probably didn't know much about these Pests should get to know more about them.
Well the true name for Rats and Mice are (Rattus Norvegicus and Rattus Rattus for the rats & Mus Domesticus for the house mouse. Rattus Norvegicus is the Common rat, Brown rat and Sewer rat. These are the ones you will see the most and are the largest. Rattus Rattus is the Ship rat and the Black rat, these you will see little of and are Smaller.
Rattus Norvegicus is a Burrower and lives under buildings, in refuse heaps, in holes and in sewers. Rattus Rattus is seldom a burrower and lives above ground, in buildings, especially food stores. The common rat will burrow up to 70cm and can jump to that height too.
Mice can get through holes of 5mm and Rats 8mm so proofing is always a must! In the rat world they are always in three groups, these are the Alphas, the Betas and the Omegas. They do not have pack leaders, the Alphas are always the ones closest to the food area as are their holes, they are the hunters for food and the fighters too. The Betas are the middle ones who live nearby but feed as and when they get the chance, but like to keep out of the way of the Alphas. Then we have the Omegas, well they are the lowest of all, they have to live on less and what the other rats may not want, they also live further away and will be eaten by the Alphas should their food become short, this is why we sometimes see rats in the day time as they are trying to compete against the Alphas for food and most rats are Nocturnal. Rats need free water to live plus the food, so keep these from them and they may go, but as for mice, well they only need 15% moisture and that can come from the food they eat.
Did we know that a rats Jaw bites 5 times per second and has a 25lb per sq in of pressure when it bites. Did we all know how the Bubonic Plague got here? Well it was the Ship rat, they carried the tropical rat flea here. Both rats carry diseases e.g. Weils Disease, Rat bite fever, Trichinosis (Spread by roundworm - rat to pig to human). And these diseases can be deadly if not treated quickly by your GP or hospital. Once the rats & mice have found their new home in your garden, sheds, buildings etc they are very hard to get rid of unless they are dealt with very quickly, this process can take up to and beyond 4 weeks to bring to a reasonable level or be eradicated.
Once they have found their nest, their progeny is approx 6-11 per litter and they litter 4-6 times per year and they are sexually mature in 8-12 weeks, so that's a lot of young rats in a small area & more to deal with, so it is important to get on top ASAP! Dealing with rats can be a very long process and that is why professional pest controllers sort the problem quickly, this can be expensive, that's why we train to the highest standards. To control rats & mice you need to know how they feed, how they live, when they feed, what they feed on.
We all know people get poisons from a friends/neighbours, someone they may work with or whoever, they may even get them to put the poisons out for them, but this is not the way to do things. Even if you haven't put the poison down you are still at risk of fumes, but would you know what the active ingredient is? What would it will do if eaten of inhaled? How can a doctor treat people if you can't tell him what is in it if you don't have the right safety data sheet? These are problems that are happening and will arise, but do you know if the poisons you have brought or the ones your friend has put down for you really work? Most of all, are they legal to use? How old are these poisons?. These are facts you should know! If you have a problem call the professional and let us take control and deal with the pests and vermin for you. Most pest controllers should have certificates or be registered, if in doubt try one of these numbers, they may be able to help you. Call DATAS (01354 659061), or NPTA.BPCA (in back of Yellow Pages) can sometimes help.
It's best to be safe and let the people trained do the work professionally.
I am also finding out that people are, or can be, embarrassed that they have rats or mice in their gardens or building, as they may think that others around them think they have dirty gardens or don't care. This should not be the case, rats can be dangerous and carry diseases, there is nothing to be embarrassed about, we all have rats around our gardens etc, it's just some of us don't see them! Some people think it's nice to see them, but let's think about other people, they may not like them and will feel for the safety of their children, pets and themselves. If you like them, why not get one as a pet, and let's control the wild ones! Rats and Mice also damage buildings and other property, they cause fires and destroy other items.
Pest control services are no longer from the local authorities and everyone has to pay for it, some larger companies charge more than the smaller one man companies and you may have to wait a few days or longer, so please don't expect to get pests dealt with free of charge as you will get a nasty shock.
I am local and I am only a phone call away. I will give advice free and will visit you to locate the problem. I can deal with most pests & vermin that we are allowed to within the law. You may have seen a rat or mouse in your garden but it could be living in your neighbour's property, but is always best to be safe. We are all responsible by law to treat for pests under The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 and if you fail you may get a letter and a visit from the Environmental Health Department who can put a enforcement order for you to treat them. If you fail, they will do it for you and you will receive a large bill for it, so please don't get caught that way. LETS GET IT RIGHT FIRST TIME!