Ilkley Rat Catchers (LS29): Though it is not such a common occurrence nowadays in Ilkley, folks still have trouble with rats from time to time. Seeing rats in your garden or inside your home isn't a great thing to experience, and could be sufficient to give some property owners nightmares. Individual rats are not likely to create that much of an issue, although rats tend to reproduce quickly and will cause problems as soon as they grow in numbers.
Whilst neither of the 2 breeds of rat at present seen in the British Isles originate from these islands, they have definitely thrived since they got here. The brown rat is especially widespread whilst the ship (black) rat just isn't so much so nowadays. Both types escaped from Asia and arrived in the British Isles aboard ships.

The black rat at 5-7 inches, is a bit smaller than the brown rat, which attains a length of nearly 9 inches and weighs around 500g. Brown rats cause destruction as they've got to continuously gnaw at stuff to prevent their teeth from growing too long. Rats particularly choose to gnaw on wood.
Rat infestations cause a number of problems for home owners and businesses throughout Ilkley, they leave droppings, transmit disease, gnaw through pipes, wires, woodwork and insulation, and get up to all sorts of mischief. Property owners should report incidences of rats to their local authority. Or alternatively post a report to record pest and rat problems on the .gov website HERE, that will be forwarded to the relevant local authority.

You do not have to physically see rats to confirm their existence, due to the fact that there are a few signs that could alert you to their activity. It could be that you may come across distinctive rat holes gnawed into floorboards or skirting boards, you might hear scratching noises coming from a loft, floor or wall, you could start seeing droppings in cupboards or on the floor or you may come upon a rat's nest hidden away.
If you don't want to wait around for the local authorities to take care of this problem you might decide to get in touch with local Ilkley pest controller or rat catcher who'll be skilled in the business of pest removal. These days rat catchers generally come under the umbrella category of pest control, and pest control experts do not only control rats but also cockroaches, mice, moles, wasps, bedbugs, fleas and all sorts of garden and domestic pests.
Rat Prevention
The easiest way to stop problems with rats is to discourage them from the beginning. Subsequently, rat prevention must be something to consider even when you don't have problems with rats presently. Domestic rubbish littered around the garden is amongst the main reasons for rat and rodent infestations. You will do little else but attract rats and mice if you supply them with both the location and materials to build a nest. Also, avoid supplying easy foodstuffs by leaving domestic food waste laying around and putting out bird feeders with grain that will simply attract them.Rat Traps
Rat traps are among the more effective ways to deal with a rat situation, regardless of whether you're handling it by yourself or calling the experts in. These days there are many different kinds of rat trap to choose from, supplying you with a range of capture choices. If you are averse to the harming of animals, maybe the capture traps would be your optimum solution. Rat traps are offered in all sizes and shapes and include the likes of: electronic rat traps, cage traps, enclosed poison traps and spring loaded bait traps.Types of Rat
There are two types of rat which you might run into in Ilkley or anywhere else in the British Isles for that matter. The Black Rat (Rattus Rattus) and the Brown Rat (Rattus Norvegicus).
The Brown Rat (Rattus Norvegicus)
In Ilkley, the remainder of Britain and Continental Europe the most common species of rat is the brown rat (common rat, sewer rat, Norwegian Rat (Rattus Norvegicus) or street rat), this is what you are most likely to spot in your garden or property. The colouring of this rodent of the family Muridae ranges between grey and brown, it usually grows to approximately 4" to 9" (with a similar length of tail) and has a weight of between 140 and 500 grammes. Now understood to have originated in Central Asia, the brown rat was once deemed to have spread from Norway (hence the name Norway Rat). Brown rats dig extensive burrows and climb effectively, they have poor eyesight but good hearing, the female rats can produce up to five litters a year, they will feed on practically any foodstuffs (omnivores) but have a preference for cereals and grains.
The Black Rat (Rattus Rattus)
Also not a native species of Great Britain, the black rat, ship rat or roof rat initially came to Europe from India. Possibly traveling in shipments of spices at the height of the Roman Empire, the black rat then spread through Continental Europe. The black rat was once prevalent in Great Britain but was typically driven out by the more dominant brown rat and now is quite scarce. Reaching lengths of five to seven inches, this rat weighs in at around 75-230g. Black rats are known to spread a number of diseases, most notably salmonella, trichinosis, typhus, Weil's disease, bubonic plague, listeria, rat bite fever, tularemia and toxoplasmosis.
Signs of Rat Infestations
There are a number of ways by which you can tell if you've got rats. If you've got an idea that there might be rats in your business or home you should look out for tunnels or burrows close to solid surfaces, listen for scratching noises emanating from attics and walls, especially at nighttime, check for gnaw marks in cables, wires and wood, particularly in attics, hunt for signs of tail trails or footprints on loose soil or in dusty areas, watch for rub marks where their greasy fur leaves marks on skirtings and walls, keep your eyes open for droppings (faeces), they look just like large grains of rice and are darkish brown.Rat Burrows
The one thing that all rats like to do is dig and burrow, and the area that they primarily love to dig is beside solid objects or structures like paths, patios, shed bases and garage foundations. Perfect for shelter, food storage and nesting places, rat burrows are dug into extensive systems that may even cause damage if allowed to continue. A certain indication of a rat burrow is usually a smooth sided hole by the side of a solid structure, where the comings and goings of hairy creatures have rubbed and polished the burrow entrance. The entrance holes to rat burrows are normally about 2" to 4" across. Throw some debris into the burrow and check the following day to find out whether it's been cleared. This would show if rats are still present.Rat Sightings - Reporting
I'll go into it a bit more here, although this topic was discussed earlier in this article. Should you discover rats in your own garden, in a neighbours garden or in a public space its best to report it to the local environmental health. Some councils provide a cost-free service for clearing rats but payment is generally needed for many other infestations for instance cockroaches, bed bugs and wasps. Also, it is actually possible to report sightings of rats using the Government (.gov) webpage which you'll find HERE. Click HERE to book your own rat catcher and get the issue sorted without delay.
Problems With Mice
Although not as traumatic as uncovering rats in your garden or house, mice could be equally as much of a concern. Similar to rats, mice breed quickly, leave droppings, gnaw at things, contaminate food and are basically a nuisance. The techniques for mouse problems in Ilkley are largely the same as those used with rats ie poisoning and trapping. When you've got an infestation of mice, Ilkley rat catchers should be willing to help fix this problem. Pay a visit to BARK and find a pest controller close to you.
Not surprisingly rats are not just found in Ilkley itself, you may also find them in Silsden, Riddlesden, Addingham, High Eldwick, Menston, Esscroft, Bolton Abbey, Otley, Norwood, East Morton, Denton, Hazlewood, Burley Woodhead, Beamsley, Askwith, Burley-in-Wharfedale and other places in West Yorkshire and close by.

Having a rat problem in Ilkley is something that everybody dreads, and when this happens to you, the temptation might be to try to solve it on your own. By looking around hardware stores, shops and supermarkets in the Ilkley area, it's relatively simple to acquire rat poisons, rat traps and similar products. A professional rat exterminator in Ilkley is however the best person for the job, since eliminating rats might not be as simple as you might imagine. Due to the dangers to children and pets, the rookie's use of rat poison isn't advised, and it's not always effective in any case. When in doubt, contact the professionals for your rat control in Ilkley. (Tags: Rat Exterminators Ilkley, Rat Control Ilkley, Rat Removal Ilkley)
Ilkley rat catchers can normally help with residential pest control, rat trapping, household pest control, pest control services in Ilkley, restaurant pest control, rat proofing, ultrasonic pest control, rat extermination Ilkley, cockroach control in Ilkley, mouse control Ilkley, ant control Ilkley, rat control, wasp nest removal, rat infestations, pest netting, mole catching, pest control and other pest control in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.
Also find: Riddlesden rat catchers, Bolton Abbey rat catchers, Silsden rat catchers, Burley-in-Wharfedale rat catchers, Burley Woodhead rat catchers, Menston rat catchers, Hazlewood rat catchers, High Eldwick rat catchers, Esscroft rat catchers, Otley rat catchers, Askwith rat catchers, Beamsley rat catchers, Addingham rat catchers, East Morton rat catchers, Denton rat catchers, Norwood rat catchers and more.
Ilkley Rat Control Services
- Ilkley Rodent Control
- Ilkley Rat Deterrent
- Ilkley Mouse Control
- Ilkley Rat Extermination
- Ilkley Domestic Pest Control
- Ilkley Rat Catching
- Ilkley Rat Prevention
- Ilkley Pest Inspections
- Ilkley Rat Inspections
- Ilkley Commercial Pest Control
- Ilkley Mole Catchers
- Ilkley Pest Control
- Ilkley Rat Removal
- Ilkley Rat Trapping
More West Yorkshire rat catchers: Bradford, Wakefield, Pontefract, Baildon, Mirfield, Otley, Keighley, Leeds, Shipley, Brighouse, Rothwell, Heckmondwike, Normanton, Holmfirth, Horsforth, Castleford, Batley, Yeadon, Morley, Garforth, Wetherby, Pudsey, Ossett, Liversedge, Featherstone, Guiseley, Dewsbury, Cleckheaton, Huddersfield, Knottingley, Elland, Halifax, Ilkley, Bingley and Todmorden.
Rat catchers in LS29 area.