Edinburgh Rat Catchers (EH1): Although it's not really a common occurrence nowadays in Edinburgh, people can still have troubles with rats once in a while. Seeing a rat in your house or garden isn't a pleasant experience, and is enough to give some home owners the shivers. Lone rats don't really cause very much of an issue, but of course rats breed quickly and may start to cause problems when they grow in numbers.
There are actually 2 species of rat which you might encounter in Edinburgh, black rats and common (brown) rats. It is rather improbable that you will ever come across black rats, and if you have seen a rat fairly recently chances are it will have been the more common brown rat (Rattus Norvegicus). Black rats (or ship rats) were at one time common and were blamed for the Great Plague during the 17th Century, they're rather rare now, though when they are seen they're excellent climbers, have an acute sense of hearing, and can give birth to between twenty and one hundred offspring each year.
The black rat at 5-7" long, is not as large as the brown, which attains a length of nearly 9 inches and weighs in at around half a kilo. To prevent their teeth from getting too long, common brown rats must keep on chewing stuff, which explains why they're the cause of such a lot of damage. They particularly choose to gnaw at timber.
Rats can cause various kinds of problems in homes and businesses around Edinburgh and they transmit disease, leave behind droppings, gnaw their way through wires, insulation, pipes and woodwork, and are generally problematic. Property owners must always report rat sightings to their local authority. Or click HERE to report incidences of rats and other pest problems on the .gov website.
You'll occasionally notice the existence of rats not by actually seeing them, but by their announcing their activity by other means. It could be that you may come upon a rat's nest hidden away, you could encounter rat holes chewed in floorboards or skirting boards, you may hear scratching coming from a floor, wall or loft or you could notice droppings in cupboards or on floors.
In order to have this situation tackled properly you should get a specialist. You could either get in touch with your local authorities or call in a professional Edinburgh rat catcher or pest controller for yourself. In centuries past, rat catchers were precisely that, but today they are termed pest controllers and will not only be capable of helping with getting rid of rats but also cockroaches, wasps, mice, moles, ants and much more.
Rat Traps Edinburgh
Whether you are planning to tackle the rat dilemma yourself or if you are bringing in the experts, one way to deal with rats is to use rat traps. Rat traps may be built to exterminate a rat or to humanely imprison rats for later release. Those who don't like to think of creatures of any sort harmed, will surely prefer the capture type. Rat traps are available in all sizes and styles and include: electronic rat traps, spring loaded bait traps, enclosed poison traps and cage traps.
Rat Poison
One of the ways to remedy a rat issue is to lay down poison. This is generally accomplished by carefully positioning a poisoned bait, that is subsequently swallowed by a rat causing its death within a few days. A significant accumulation of rats can be exterminated with this method so long as the poisoned bait is placed effectively. The substances which are used in making rat poisons include: brodifacoum, bromadioline or difenacoum. Rat poison doesn't only kill rats, pets and birds can also be affected, so care must always be taken in its use. Rat poison brands made in the UK include the likes of: Pest Expert, Roshield, Rentokil, Propest, Elixir Gardens and RatKil. (Tags: Rat Poison Edinburgh, Rat Poisons Edinburgh)Kinds of Rat
You'll only ever run into two species of rat in Edinburgh, Scotland and throughout the UK. The Black Rat (Rattus Rattus) and the Brown Rat (Rattus Norvegicus).
The Brown Rat
The brown rat (sewer rat, Norwegian Rat (Rattus Norvegicus), street rat or common rat) is the most commonly seen rat in Great Britain and across Europe (also North America). This grey or brown coloured rat grows to lengths of 4" - 9" (plus the tail) and weighs in at 140 to 500 grams. While at one time thought to have originated in Norway, this rat is now understood to have come from China/Central Asia. Brown rats have good hearing but bad eyesight, they dig a lot and climb well, they're omnivores but have a preference for grain cereals, the females will give birth to five litters of up to 14 young a year.
The Black Rat (Rattus Rattus)
Originating in India the black rat, ship rat or roof rat is also not native to Great Britain or Europe. Almost certainly traveling in spice shipments in the times of the Romans, the black rat consequently spread throughout Europe. At one time prevalent in the UK, this rat disappeared as the brown rat became dominant. Growing to lengths of five to seven inches, this rat weighs only 75-230 grammes. Black rats are notorious for spreading various diseases, most notably listeria, Weil's disease, rat bite fever, trichinosis, typhus, salmonella, toxoplasmosis, bubonic plague and tularemia.
Have You Got Rats?
There are a few ways by which you can tell when you have rats. When you've got a notion that there might be rats in your business or property you could be on the lookout for burrows or holes alongside solid objects, pay attention to gnawing in cables, wires and wood, especially in lofts, watch out for rub marks on walls and skirting boards where greasy fur has left marks, try to find signs of tail trails or footprints on loose soil or in dusty areas, listen out for continual scratching noises coming from walls and lofts, especially at night, keep your eyes open for faeces, they are dark brown and look much like large grains of rice.Burrowing
Digging and burrowing is something that all rats really like to do and it is close to solid objects or structures like terraces, shed bases, garage foundations and walkways where they mainly like to dig. Providing food storage, nesting and shelter, rat burrows are excavated into extensive systems which can even cause damage if something isn't done. The entrances to burrows tend to be worn smooth by the endless movement, so keep an eye out for holes with smooth sides near to solid surfaces. If you notice holes but aren't sure if they're rats, they'll usually be two to four inches across. You should check if rats are using it by partially filling up the burrow entrance to find out if they come back and clear it.Reporting Rats
We'll go into it a bit more now, although this topic was outlined earlier in this article. It is always a good idea to inform the local authorities if you see rats in a neighbours garden, in your own garden or in a public area. Most local councils will sort out rats cost-free, however if you have other pests for instance cockroaches, bed bugs and wasps they'll usually charge. Rat sightings may also be reported by visiting the Government (.gov) website HERE. To get the issue sorted swiftly book a rat catcher HERE.
Mouse Problems Edinburgh
Perhaps regarded by many people to be not so traumatic as rats, uncovering mice scuttling around your home can result in just as many problems. Just like rats, mice breed rapidly, contaminate foodstuffs, leave droppings, gnaw at things and are basically a nuisance. Exactly the same methods are typically used to resolve mouse problems in Edinburgh, basically poisoning and setting traps are preferred. Edinburgh rat catchers will also be glad to help you solve mouse infestations, so call one up or visit BARK and get the issue sorted.
What Attracts Rats and Mice?
With their pointy faces, fur covered bodies and twitchy whiskers, some people may find rats and mice to be cute, however they're definitely not the type of creatures that you want in your house or garden in Edinburgh, and can actually be more dangerous than you'd imagine. Mice and rats can cause damage to your home by nibbling through electric wiring, plastic, floorboards and plasterboard, and are regularly to blame for fires and other issues. Spreading conditions like listeria, Weil's disease, rat bite fever, trichinosis, typhus, salmonella, toxoplasmosis, bubonic plague and tularemia, mice and rats can cause more than 30 different types of disease. So, listed here are just a few of the things that will attract rats and mice to your garden and home:
- PET WASTE/COMPOST - Surprisingly heaps of compost and even pet waste can be attractive to rodents - there are plenty of tasty morsels hidden in there!
- RUBBISH/TRASH - Accumulations of junk and garden rubbish stacked up on your property (especially in the garden) will surely attract rats and mice.
- HOLES AND ENTRY POINTS - Mice and rats can squeeze through the tiniest of holes, so look out for gaps around crawl spaces, vents, piping and doors.
- WATER - Mice and rats have to drink like any other creature, so water sources such as pet bowls, dripping sprinkler systems, leaky pipes and birdbaths are a big attraction for these unwanted pests.
- CLUTTER - General clutter and jumble in an outbuilding, basement or loft space will be particularly attractive to rodents, particularly if there is a source of food close by.
- FOOD - Food that's left discarded or lying around is one of the principal attractions for mice and rats.
Homeowners with rat problems in Edinburgh are often tempted to have a crack at resolving it themselves. So, if this happens to you, what ought you to do? By looking around shops, supermarkets and hardware stores in the Edinburgh area, it's relatively simple to buy rat poisons, rat traps and other similar products. Calling in an expert Edinburgh rat exterminator would however be a better idea, unless of course you know precisely what you're doing, seeing that the correct strategy is not always the obvious one. The rookie's use of rat toxins is likely to do more harm than good, seeing that you must be exceptionally careful with them when children and pets are around. You'd be much better off enlisting the help of a specialist whenever you need rat control in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh rat catchers will likely help you with rodent control, rat trapping, wasp nest removal in Edinburgh, pest control in Edinburgh, bird pest control Edinburgh, rat catching, cockroach control, residential pest control in Edinburgh, rat control, commercial pest control, household pest control in Edinburgh, rat deterrents, mole catching, rat infestations, domestic rat control, rat prevention, rat baits Edinburgh and other pest control in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Pest Control Nearby
Also find: Wallyford rat catchers, Currie rat catchers, Ratho rat catchers, Newington rat catchers, South Gyle rat catchers, Trinity rat catchers, Leith rat catchers, Craigentinny rat catchers, Bonnington rat catchers, Danderhall rat catchers, Portobello rat catchers, Corstorphine rat catchers, Loanhead rat catchers, Juniper Green rat catchers and more. These and other locations are served by pest control specialists and similar experts. Their extensive knowledge and expertise enable these professionals to effectively and efficiently deal with your rat problem. Whether it's an extensive infestation or a solitary rat, these pest control professionals possess the necessary skills and tools to promptly address the problem. By going here, local home and property owners can get pest control quotes. So, why not get that rat problem sorted out right away!
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