Birtley Rat Catchers (DH3): Though it is not really a common problem nowadays in Birtley, folks do have trouble with rats every once in awhile. Spotting a rat in your garden or inside your home isn't a good experience, and will be sufficient to cause some homeowners nightmares. Individual rats don't really cause very much of an issue, although rats tend to reproduce rapidly and may start to cause problems as they grow in numbers.
If you do discover rats in Birtley, the likelihood is that they are going to be brown rats, though there are actually two breeds of rat at present found in the UK; brown (or common rats) and black (or ship rats). As you may perhaps know ship rats were the cause of the Great Plague (17th C) at which time they were pretty common. Black rats are relatively scarce nowadays but in fact neither variety is a native of the British Isles, both of them originally from from Asia.

The black rat (Rattus Rattus) at 5-7 inches long, is smaller than the brown variety, which attains lengths of nearly 9 inches and weighs about 500g. Brown rats can cause problems as they've got to constantly gnaw on stuff to stop their teeth from getting too long. Their attention is oftentimes focused on objects made from wood.
Rats may cause a variety of issues in homes and businesses in Birtley and they gnaw their way through woodwork, wires, insulation and pipes, spread disease, leave droppings, and generally cause a nuisance. The local authorities should be notified when there are any frequent sightings of rats. In addition you can report rat sightings on the .gov website HERE.

You won't always have to observe rats to confirm that they are there, due to the fact that there are several revealing signs that will warn you of their activity. It could be that you may encounter holes chewed into skirting boards or floorboards, you could detect droppings on the floor or in cupboards, you may come across a rat's nest in some hidden location or you could hear noises coming from a floor, wall or loft.
To resolve this issue there are two or three strategies you could consider. You could lay out traps or poison yourself, you could look for a pest removal specialist or you could speak to your local Birtley environmental health department. Nowadays rat catchers usually fall into the category of pest control, and pest elimination experts don't only control rats but also moles, cockroaches, wasps, bedbugs, fleas, mice and a variety of other garden and domestic pests.
Molecatchers in Birtley
Rat catchers in Birtley are also occasionally contacted to help with another similar type of pest, ie moles. Moles can cause trouble in another way to to rats and are not quite so hated. It's out in the garden where you're likely to have troubles with moles, and lawns specifically are at risk. The sight of earth mounds in the middle of a nicely trimmed lawn are clear proof of this activity. Capturing with traps is certainly the most humane and favourable technique to remove moles.
Diseases Spread by Rats
Rats are known to spread a variety of diseases to humans, primarily through contact with their faeces, saliva and urine. Humans can be infected with diseases such as leptospirosis, hantavirus, rat-bite fever and salmonellosis through contact with rats.
The potential outcome of hantavirus is a severe respiratory illness that can prove fatal. Fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps are all symptomatic of the bacterial infection salmonellosis. Through a rat scratch or bite, the bacterial infection rat-bite fever can cause fever, vomiting and rashes. Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection, can cause flu-like symptoms and potentially result in the failure of the kidneys and liver.
Preventing and controlling rat infestations is a crucial step in reducing the risk of disease transmission.
What Attracts Rats and Mice?
Although some people in Birtley might think they're cute with their twitchy whiskers, pointy faces and fur covered bodies, rats and mice are definitely not animals that you want to be living in your house or garden, and can even be dangerous. By gnawing through electrical cables, plasterboard, floorboards and plastic, rats and mice can cause accidents and in particular electrical fires. Between the two mice and rats can spread more than thirty sorts of diseases including conditions like tularemia, bubonic plague, trichinosis, toxoplasmosis, listeria, typhus, rat bite fever, salmonella and Weil's disease. So, listed here are just a few of the things that will attract mice and rats to your garden and home:
- WATER - Active mice and rats have to drink like any other living creature, so sources of water such as pet water bowls, seeping sprinkler systems, leaky pipes and birdbaths are a big attraction for these pests.
- PET WASTE/COMPOST - Remarkably pet waste and even heaps of compost can be attractive to rodents - there are likely to be plenty of tasty titbits hidden in there!
- TRASH - Accumulations of garbage and garden waste heaped up on your property (especially in the garden) will certainly attract rodents.
- FOOD - Food that's left lying around or discarded is one of the primary attractions for mice and rats.
- ENTRY POINTS AND HOLES - Rats and mice can crawl through the smallest of holes and cracks, so keep an eye out for spaces around plumbing, air vents, crawl spaces and doorways.
- CLUTTER - General clutter and jumble in an outbuilding, basement or loft space will be especially attractive to rats and mice, especially if there is a food source close by.
Rat Bites
Although bites from rats are not that commonplace in the UK, they certainly do happen every now and then and they can be dangerous in some situations. Rats can bite humans when they feel cornered or pressured, therefore in a confined space it's advisable to keep out of their way, and leave them a clear exit route.
These sorts of bites have been known to occur when rats are kept as pets, and you're probably chancing it somewhat if you stick your hand inside a rat's cage, no matter how tame it seems. Rat bites aren't necessarily dangerous, but should be avoided where possible, and they can turn nasty or even life threatening if they develop into "rat bite fever" (caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis). If it's left untreated "rat bite fever" (RBF) has a 10% mortality rate.
Symptoms of Rat Bite Fever - "Rat bite fever" can have various symptoms and signs, including:
- Redness or Swelling
- A Rash
- Joint Pain or Swelling
- Muscle Pain
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Headaches
If you're unlucky enough to receive a rat bite, wash the wound, apply some antibiotic ointment, and bandage the affected area. You should head for your nearest A&E and get it looked at, even if you don't think that it is too serious, or at the very least arrange an appointment with your doctor or GP. If you've not been vaccinated against tetanus in the last five years, you should also ask for of these too.
Mouse Problems Birtley
Although not so upsetting as uncovering rats scuttling around garden or house, mice may be just as much of a problem. Just like rats, mice contaminate foodstuffs, gnaw at stuff, breed rapidly, leave droppings and are basically a nuisance. The resolution to mouse problems in Birtley are pretty much the same as those used for rats ie setting traps and poisoning. If you've got an infestation of mice, Birtley rat catchers will be very happy to help clear up this issue. Pay a visit to BARK and track down a pest controller in your area.
Reporting Rats
We talked about this earlier, so here let's go into a little more detail. It is always a good idea to report it to the Environmental Health if you witness rats in your own garden, in a neighbours garden or in a public place. Occasionally local councils offer a free service for rat problems but payment is normally required for most infestations such as cockroaches, bed bugs and wasps. Rat sightings may also be reported using the .gov webpage HERE. To have the issue taken care of swiftly book a rat catcher HERE.
Rat Traps

Rat traps are one of the strategies for dealing with a rat situation, no matter whether you're taking care of it by yourself or bringing the professionals in. You will discover various different kinds of rat traps these days, some which exterminate the rat and some that capture the rat for release later. The capture kind are the right alternative for individuals who detest to think of creatures hurt in any way whatsoever, even pests. The available rat trap types include: spring loaded bait traps, electronic rat traps, cage traps and enclosed poison traps.
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To Summarise
Home and business owners with a rat problem in Birtley are often tempted to have a go at solving it for themselves. So, if this happens to you, what should you do? By looking in supermarkets, hardware stores and shops in the Birtley area, it's easy to buy rat traps, rat poisons and similar products.

Retaining the services of a competent Birtley rat exterminator would however be preferable, unless you know exactly what you're doing, seeing that the correct approach isn't necessarily the most obvious one.
In most cases the amateur use of rat poison is simply not that helpful, and may even cause more problems than it solves - would you really want to risk the possibility of harming your pets and children? You would be much better off enlisting the assistance of an expert when you want rat control in Birtley. (Tags: Rat Exterminators Birtley, Rat Removal Birtley, Rat Control Birtley)
Other Pests in Birtley: Also professional help with mice in Birtley, fleas in Birtley, wasps in Birtley, clothes moths in Birtley, rabbits in Birtley, cockroaches in Birtley, carpet beetles in Birtley, silverfish in Birtley, hornets in Birtley, bedbugs in Birtley, ants in Birtley, bees in Birtley, pigeons in Birtley, moles in Birtley Tyne and Wear.
Pest Control Services Birtley
Birtley rat catchers can generally help with rat prevention Birtley, dead animal removal, rat deterrents, domestic pest control, restaurant pest control Birtley, domestic rat control in Birtley, bird pest control Birtley, anti-bird spike installation, ingress pest solutions, bed bugs pest control Birtley, the removal of contaminated loft insulation, preventive pest control Birtley, garden pest control Birtley, mouse control, cockroach control, squirrel control, commercial rat control Birtley, guano removal, rat removal in Birtley, rat catching, rat extermination Birtley, rat proofing, pest removal, wasp nest removal, ultrasonic pest control Birtley, mouse pest control Birtley, rat poison, pigeon control, pest control, bird nest clearing and other pest control in Birtley, Tyne and Wear. Listed are just some of the duties that are handled by those installing pest control. Birtley specialists will keep you informed about their whole range of services.
Pest Control Near Birtley
Also find: Chester le Street pest control, Harraton pest control, High Flatts pest control, Armstrong pest control, Kibblesworth pest control, Fatfield pest control, Picktree pest control, Rickleton pest control, Eighton Banks pest control, Crowther pest control, Low Urpeth pest control, Lambton pest control, Biddick pest control, Usworth rat catchers and more. All of these areas are covered by local pest control. Birtley home and business owners can get quotes by clicking here.
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