Okehampton Rat Catchers (EX20): Finding a rat in your garden or home could be rather a frightening experience to go through even though it isn't such a frequent occurrence in Okehampton in recent times, it is certainly something that does happen. Rats breed rather quickly and will likely cause issues, particularly when their numbers get out of hand. Just one sighting of a solitary rat won't be much of an issue, but if you are noticing them regularly it's best to take action.
If you spot rats in Okehampton, the chances are that they're going to be common brown rats, even though there are in fact 2 kinds of rats currently found in the UK; brown (or common rats) and black (or ship rats). As you could be aware black rats were the cause of the Great Plague (17th C) at which time they were very widespread. Black rats are quite rare now and in fact neither type is a native of Great Britain, both of them hailing from from Asia.
The largest of the 2 rat species is the common brown at around 9 inches, whilst the black only grows to between 5 and 7 inches. Much of the damage attributable to brown rats is because to keep their incisor teeth from getting too long, they have to continually gnaw things. Their gnawing is often targeting stuff made of timber.
Rats cause lots of issues in businesses and homes throughout Okehampton and they leave droppings, gnaw through woodwork, insulation, wires and pipes, spread diseases, and are generally problematic. The local council must be informed whenever rats are causing problems. You could also report problems with rats on the .gov web page HERE.
It isn't always by appearance alone that you'll become aware of the presence of rats, their behaviour is often quite enough to give warning. It's possible you may notice droppings in cupboards or on floor surfaces, you could observe distinctive rat holes gnawed in floorboards or skirtings, you might uncover a rat's nest in some out of sight location or you could hear noises coming from a loft, floor or wall.
If you don't wish to wait around for the local council to solve this rat infestation it's also possible to call a local Okehampton pest controller or rat catcher who'll be experienced in the world of pest removal. In the old days, rat catchers used to be precisely that, however currently they are called pest control experts and won't only be willing to help you sort out rat problems but also moles, mice, wasps, ants, cockroaches and many more.
Ultrasonic Pest Control
Using high-frequency sound waves to repel and deter pests, including mice, rats, insects, and other critters, is what ultrasonic pest control is all about. Emitting sound waves above the human hearing range, but within the audible range of pests, is how the technology works. The sound waves generate an unpleasant and confusing atmosphere for pests, which complicates their navigation and communication with one another.
The efficacy of ultrasonic pest control products is debatable, despite their affordability and ease of use. There are conflicting results from studies on the efficacy of these devices, with some showing they can repel certain pests while others showing no effect. Additionally, the effectiveness of ultrasonic pest control can vary depending on the species of pest, the size of the area being treated, and other environmental factors. When selecting a pest control strategy, it is essential to explore all options and seek expert guidance before making a decision.
Rat Poisons
What some may consider a horrible means by which to get rid of rat infestations is by poisoning. A rat will die just a few days after consuming a poisoned bait, normally wheat. A sizable gathering of rats can be killed with this process providing the poison bait is positioned accurately. Noxious substances which are used in making rat poisons include: difenacoum, bromadioline or brodifacoum. Rat poison does not just kill rats, dogs and cats could also be affected, so extreme care must be taken. Well known brands of rat poison in Great Britain include: RatKil, Pest Expert, Roshield, Rentokil, Propest and Elixir Gardens. (Tags: Rat Poison Okehampton, Rat Poisons Okehampton)
Types of Rat
You'll only ever come across two kinds of rat in Okehampton and anywhere in the UK. The Black Rat (Rattus Rattus) and the Brown Rat (Rattus Norvegicus).
The Brown Rat
The most common rat found in the United Kingdom, and also Europe and North America, is the brown rat (common rat, sewer rat, street rat or Norwegian Rat (Rattus Norvegicus)). The colour of this rat varies between grey and brown, it normally grows to about 4 to 9 inches (with a similar length tail) and has a weight range of between 140g and 500g. Now thought to have originated in Central Asia, the brown rat was once presumed to have spread from Norway (hence the name Rattus Norvegicus). Brown rats are omniverous (consume any foodstuffs) though their favourite is grains and cereals, they've got excellent hearing but poor eyesight, the females attain sexual maturity in just 5 weeks and often give birth to five litters per annum (with as many as 14 pups in each litter), they climb effectively and dig a lot.
The Black Rat (Ship Rat)
Also not native to the UK, the black rat, roof rat or ship rat initially came to Europe from Southeast Asia (India). Most likely traveling in spice shipments in Roman times, the black rat then spread through Continental Europe. The black rat was once common in the United Kingdom however was basically ousted by the brown rat and now is pretty uncommon. This rat reaches lengths of five to seven inches and usually weighs 75g to 230g. Black rats are renowned for spreading a number of diseases, particularly bubonic plague, listeria, tularemia, typhus, rat bite fever, Weil's disease, toxoplasmosis, trichinosis and salmonella.
What Attracts Mice and Rats?
Irrespective of their seemingly cute appearance, with their twitchy whiskers, fur covered bodies and pointy faces, rats and mice can be dangerous and are not creatures that you want to be making a home in your house or garden in Okehampton. Mice and rats are known to cause fires and other problems in homes and business premises in Okehampton by gnawing through electric wires, floorboards, plastic and insulation materials. Spreading the likes of bubonic plague, listeria, tularemia, typhus, rat bite fever, Weil's disease, toxoplasmosis, trichinosis and salmonella, mice and rats can cause more than 30 different kinds of disease. Among the different things that will attract rats and mice to your home or garden are:
- FOOD - Food that's left discarded or lying around is one of the primary attractions for rats and mice.
- WATER - Constantly busy rats and mice have to drink like any other living creature, so sources of water such as pet bowls, dripping sprinkler systems, birdbaths and leaky pipes are a big attraction for these unwelcome pests.
- CLUTTER - General clutter in shed, basement or loft will be especially attractive to rodents, especially if there is a food source nearby.
- HOLES AND ENTRY POINTS - Rats and mice can crawl through the tiniest of holes, so look out for gaps around piping, grills, entrances and crawl spaces.
- COMPOST/PET WASTE - Incredibly compost heaps and even pet waste can be attractive to rats and mice - there are likely to be a few tasty titbits hidden in there!
- RUBBISH - An accumulation of junk and garden rubbish piled up on your property (especially in the garden) will attract rodents.
Rat Traps Okehampton
Whether you are going to deal with the rat situation yourself or if you're employing the professionals, one of the ways to do this is to use rat traps. These days there are many different styles of rat trap on the market, making sure you have a range of capture alternatives. If you are against the harming of animals, maybe the capture traps are your best solution. Rat traps are offered in all sizes and styles and include the likes of: spring loaded bait traps, electronic rat traps, cage traps and enclosed poison traps.
Mouse Problems Okehampton
Whilst not so disconcerting as finding rats in your garden or house, mice may be just as much of a concern. While not so big, mice still leave droppings, contaminate foodstuffs, gnaw at stuff and breed quickly. Also, like with rats, poisoning and setting traps are the preferred strategies to resolving mouse problems in Okehampton. Okehampton rat catchers will also help you get rid of mice infestations, so get in touch with one or visit BARK to get the problem resolved.
Burrowing
Digging and burrowing is something that all rats like to do and its alongside solid objects or structures like garden sheds, patios, paths and garage foundations that they particularly like to dig. Providing shelter, food storage and nesting places, rat burrows are excavated into extensive networks that could even cause damage to structures if they remain unchecked. Watch out for holes with smooth sides, that have been rubbed by the constant ins and outs of these busy pests. Generally about 2" to 4" across, entrances to rat burrows are normally fairly easy to spot. It's possible to find out if rats are present by partially blocking up the entrance to see if they return and clear it.
Reporting Rats and Pests
Here's a little more information on a subject we mentioned earlier. The local authority Environmental Health Department is where you should send a report if you spot rats in a neighbours garden, in your own garden or in a public area. Occasionally your local council will offer a free service for dealing with rats but payment is typically needed for most other infestations for instance bed bugs, wasps and cockroaches. You can check out the Government (.gov) website HERE to report rat sightings. You are obviously able to organize a local rat catcher to come over and tackle the situation by going HERE.
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Bird nest removal - article 132.
To Summarise
Property owners with rat problems in Okehampton are often tempted to have a bash at solving it for themselves. Therefore, if you find yourself in this situation, what should you do? There are a number of products available to help you to achieve this and you'll find rat traps, rat poisons and similar products in supermarkets, shops and hardware stores in and around Okehampton.
A specialist rat exterminator in Okehampton is however the preferred person for the job, because getting rid of rats isn't always as simple as you may think.
In most situations the newcomer's use of rat poison is simply not that beneficial, and may even cause more problems than it solves - would you really want to risk the possibility of doing harm to your children and pets? If you know what's better for you, always use an experienced rat control service in Okehampton for solving your rat problems.
Pest Control Near Okehampton
Also find: Thorndon Cross pest control, Graddon Cross pest control, Stockley Hamlet pest control, Belstone Corner pest control, Sticklepath pest control, Folly Gate pest control, Northlew pest control, Coombe Head pest control, Exbourne pest control, Bridestowe pest control, Sampford Courtenay pest control, Chichacott pest control, Inwardleigh pest control, Sourton rat catchers and more. Most of these locations are catered for by professional pest control. Okehampton business and home owners can get pest control quotations by clicking here.
Other Pests in Okehampton: Also professional help with rabbits in Okehampton, ants in Okehampton, wasps in Okehampton, bees in Okehampton, fleas in Okehampton, moles in Okehampton, cockroaches in Okehampton, bedbugs in Okehampton, mice in Okehampton, hornets in Okehampton, carpet beetles in Okehampton, silverfish in Okehampton, clothes moths in Okehampton, pigeons in Okehampton Devon.
Pest Control Services Okehampton
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