Bishop's Waltham Rat Catchers (SO32): Though it isn't really a frequent problem in Bishop's Waltham nowadays, homeowners can still have issues with rats occasionally. Spotting rats in your garden or inside your property is not a pleasant thing to experience, and could be enough to cause some home owners the shakes. Lone rats are not likely to cause that much of an issue, but naturally rats reproduce rapidly and can cause problems when their numbers rise.
There are actually two types of rat that you might spot in Bishop's Waltham, black rats and common (brown) rats. Its relatively unlikely that you'll ever see black rats, and if you have encountered a rat fairly recently it is likely to have been one of the more common brown rats (Rattus Norvegicus). Black rats (or ship rats) were at one time common and were blamed for the Great Plague, they are fairly scarce nowadays, however where they do occur they've got an acute sense of hearing, are excellent climbers, and the females can give birth to between 20 and 100 offspring in a single year.

The black rat at 5 to 7" long, is smaller than the brown, which attains a length of up to about 9 inches and weighs about half a kilogram. Most of the destruction caused by brown rats is because to keep their incisor teeth from growing too much, they must continuously chew on stuff. Their gnawing is often targeting items made from wood.
Rats transmit disease, leave behind droppings, gnaw through woodwork, wires, insulation and pipes, and are generally problematic in homes and business premises throughout Bishop's Waltham. Sightings of rats need to be reported to the local council. In addition you can report rat problems on the .gov website online HERE.

You won't actually have to witness rats to confirm that they're there, because there are numerous signs that could betray their activity. It could be that you could notice droppings in cupboards or on the floor, you could hear scratching coming from a wall, loft or floor, you might observe holes chewed in skirtings or floorboards or you may uncover a rat's nest hidden away.
To solve this problem there are specific approaches you could consider. You could put poison or traps down yourself, you could contact the local Bishop's Waltham authority or council or you can bring in a rat catcher. In the old days, rat catchers used to be precisely that, but presently they are termed pest controllers and will not solely be willing to help you manage rat problems but also moles, cockroaches, mice, wasps, ants and much more. (Tags: Ratcatchers Bishop's Waltham, Pest Control Bishop's Waltham )
Reporting Rats
Here's a little more detail on a subject that we talked about earlier in this article. The Environmental Health is the place to report it if you witness rats in your own garden, in a neighbours garden or in a public place. Certain local authorities provide a cost-free service for sorting out rats but payment is usually required for many other pest infestations such as wasps, cockroaches and bed bugs. You can go to the Government (.gov) webpage HERE to report rat sightings. You are obviously able to schedule your own rat catcher to pop in and handle the situation by going HERE.
Rat Bites
Although not that common in Bishop's Waltham, bites from rats do occur on the odd occasion, and in some instances they can be serious. If you happen to stumble upon a rat in a confined area, it could attack and bite you if it feels threatened or cornered, therefore leave it a clear exit route and try to avoid it at all costs.
These kinds of bites sometimes occur where rats are being kept as pets, and you're likely to be looking for trouble if you stick your hand into a rat's cage, regardless how tame it seems. While they aren't always serious, rat bites can turn nasty or even life threatening if they develop into "rat bite fever", subsequently they should be avoided where possible. If it is left untreated "rat bite fever" (RBF) can lead to death, and has has a 10% mortality rate.
Symptoms of Rat Bite Fever (RBF) - A number of symptoms can be suffered by somebody with "rat bite fever" including things like:
- Joint Pain or Swelling
- Muscle Pain
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Rash
- Redness or Swelling
- Fever
If are bitten by a rat you should immediately wash the wound with warm water, apply an antibiotic ointment, and cover with a clean bandage or gauze. You must head for your nearest A&E department and get it looked at, even if you don't think that it is too critical, or at the minimum make an appointment to see your GP or doctor. Getting a tetanus shot is also recommended, in particular if it's more than 5 years since you've had one.
Have You Got Rats?
There are several ways that you can tell if you've got rats. If you have some suspicions that there might be rats in your home or business you can listen for constant scratching noises coming from walls and lofts, in particular during the night, keep your eyes peeled for droppings (faeces), they're dark brown and look just like large grains of rice, search for signs of tail trails or footprints in dusty areas or on loose soil, watch for rub marks on walls and skirting boards where greasy fur has left marks, be on the lookout for burrows or holes next to solid objects, pay attention to gnawing in cables, wires and wood, particularly in lofts.
Mouse Problems Bishop's Waltham
Although not quite so shocking as finding rats scuttling around garden or house, mice can be equally as much of an issue. While much smaller, mice will still breed quickly, gnaw at stuff, leave droppings and contaminate foodstuffs. Much the same strategies are typically employed to resolve mouse infestations in Bishop's Waltham, this means trapping and poisoning are preferred. Regardless of whether you have an issue with rats or mice, head over to BARK to seek out an expert Bishop's Waltham pest controller for assistance.
What Attracts Rats?
With their twitching whiskers, pointy faces and fur covered bodies, some people may find rats and mice to be cute, however they're not the kind of animals that you want in your house or garden in Bishop's Waltham, and can actually be more dangerous than you may think. Mice and rats are known to cause fires and other issues around the home by chewing through plastic, skirting boards, insulation materials and electric cables. Spreading conditions like Weil's disease, trichinosis, bubonic plague, listeria, toxoplasmosis, salmonella, rat bite fever, typhus and tularemia, rats and mice can cause over thirty different sorts of disease. Among the things around your home and property that will be attractive to rats and mice are:
- CLUTTER - General clutter and jumble in basement, loft or gardenshed will be especially attractive to mice and rats, especially if there's a source of food nearby.
- COMPOST/PET WASTE - Surprisingly compost heaps and even pet waste can attract mice and rats - there will be plenty of tasty morsels hidden in there!
- FOOD - Food that's left lying around or discarded is perhaps the main attraction for mice and rats.
- TRASH - Accumulations of junk and garden rubbish stacked up on your property (particularly in the garden) will obviously attract rodents.
- ENTRY POINTS AND HOLES - Mice and rats can crawl through the smallest of holes, so watch out for spaces around crawl spaces, entrances, air vents and piping.
- WATER - Busy rats and mice have to drink, so water sources such as birdbaths, pet water bowls, seeping sprinkler systems and leaky pipes are a big enticement for these unwanted pests.
Kinds of Rat
You'll only ever come across 2 types of rat in Bishop's Waltham and throughout the United Kingdom. These are the Brown Rat and the Black Rat.
The Brown Rat
The most widespread rat seen in Britain, and in fact the most of Europe and North America, is the brown rat (Norwegian Rat (Rattus Norvegicus), common rat, street rat or sewer rat). The brown rat (it can sometimes be grey in colour) is generally four to nine inches long (not including the tail) and weighs about 140 to 500g. It usually lives wherever human beings are living. This rodent was given its name Rattus Norvegicus (Norway Rat) since it was deemed to have arrived in Britain by boat from Norway. It's nowadays considered to have originated in Central Asia/China. Brown rats climb effectively and dig extensive burrows, they have bad eyesight but excellent hearing, the female rats can produce up to five litters each year, they'll consume more or less any foodstuffs (omnivores) but have a preference for cereals and grains.
The Black Rat (Ship Rat)
Originating from India the black rat, ship rat or roof rat is also not a native of Great Britain or Europe. Thought to have been spread at the time of the Roman Empire, this rat most likely reached Europe and Britain hidden in shipments of spice. At one time widespread in the British Isles, the black rat essentially disappeared as the brown rat took over. Reaching lengths of 5" to 7", this rat weighs in at only 75g to 230g. Black rats have a reputation for spreading numerous diseases, most notably Weil's disease, trichinosis, bubonic plague, listeria, toxoplasmosis, salmonella, rat bite fever, typhus and tularemia.
General Pest Control in Bishop's Waltham
It is imperative to have general pest control in place to maintain a pest-free environment and safeguard health and property. The process involves preventing and managing pests that are commonly encountered, such as rats, spiders, ants, cockroaches and flies. Helpful pest control measures include frequent inspections, maintaining cleanliness, correct waste management, sealing entry points, and utilising traps or insecticides when required. Sustainable and eco-friendly approaches take priority in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, aiming to reduce chemical usage. The implementation of extensive pest control techniques empowers individuals in Bishop's Waltham to establish a living or working environment that is safer and healthier for themselves and those around them. These strategies ensure pest-free surroundings in the long term by not only addressing existing pest issues but also serving as a proactive defense against future infestations. (24091 - General Pest Control Bishop's Waltham)
In Conclusion
Having a rat problem in Bishop's Waltham is a situation that most of us dread, and when this happens to you, the temptation might be to try to resolve it yourself. By looking around hardware stores, shops and supermarkets in and around Bishop's Waltham, it is easy to acquire rat traps, rat poisons and other similar merchandise.

Calling in a specialist Bishop's Waltham rat exterminator would however be preferable, unless you know precisely what you're up to, as the right strategy isn't always the most obvious one.
In many instances the novice's use of rat poisons is not actually all that helpful, and may even cause more problems than it solves - would you really want to risk harming your pets and children? If you know what's best for you, always bring in an experienced rat control service in Bishop's Waltham for solving your rat problems. (Tags: Rat Exterminator Bishop's Waltham, Rat Removal Bishop's Waltham, Rat Control Bishop's Waltham)
Pest Control Services Bishop's Waltham
Bishop's Waltham rat catchers will likely help you with powder treatments, rat prevention, anti-bird spike installation Bishop's Waltham, rat baits in Bishop's Waltham, the removal of contaminated loft insulation, household pest control Bishop's Waltham, ultrasonic pest control, wildlife management, pest control Bishop's Waltham, guano removal in Bishop's Waltham, rat pest control, mole catching, rat deterrents, garden pest control Bishop's Waltham, rat infestations, ingress pest solutions, environmental pest control Bishop's Waltham, rodent control, rat trapping, wasp pest control Bishop's Waltham, dead animal removal in Bishop's Waltham, emergency 24 hour pest control in Bishop's Waltham, rat removal services, rat proofing, pest control for fleas, bird pest control Bishop's Waltham, rat extermination, rat catching Bishop's Waltham, pest netting, domestic rat control and other pest control in Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire. These are just some of the tasks that are undertaken by people specialising in pest control. Bishop's Waltham companies will be delighted to keep you abreast of their entire range of services.
Other Pests in Bishop's Waltham: Also get help with bedbugs in Bishop's Waltham, ants in Bishop's Waltham, rabbits in Bishop's Waltham, cockroaches in Bishop's Waltham, bees in Bishop's Waltham, mice in Bishop's Waltham, wasps in Bishop's Waltham, silverfish in Bishop's Waltham, pigeons in Bishop's Waltham, carpet beetles in Bishop's Waltham, fleas in Bishop's Waltham, hornets in Bishop's Waltham, moles in Bishop's Waltham, clothes moths in Bishop's Waltham Hampshire.
Pest Control Near Bishop's Waltham
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