Pest Control Southampton

Southampton Rat Catchers and Pest Experts

Southampton Rat Catchers (SO14): Though it's not all that common nowadays, spotting a rat in your garden or even inside your home in Southampton isn't a good thing to go through. Just one sighting of a rat might not be that much of an issue, nevertheless, if you observe rats more frequently or notice more than one rat you could potentially be heading for trouble since they breed so quickly.

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If you do happen to discover rats in Southampton, the probabilities are that they'll be common brown rats, although there are in fact two species of rat currently found in the UK; black (ship) rats and brown (common) rats. As you may perhaps know ship rats were responsible for the spread of the Great Plague of the 17th Century at which time they were pretty common. Black rats are quite rare nowadays but in fact neither breed is native to the United Kingdom, both of them arriving from Asia.

Rat Catchers Southampton SO14

The brown rat is bigger than the black rat (Rattus Rattus) and can weigh nearly 500g, with a length of around 9 inches. To wear down their continuously growing incisor teetn, common brown rats have to keep gnawing at things, which is why they cause so much damage. They especially like to gnaw on timber.

An infestation of rats can cause all kinds of problems for home owners and businesses in and around Southampton, they will gnaw their way through pipes, woodwork, insulation and wires, leave behind droppings, transmit disease, and build nests. Property holders must always report incidences of rats to their local authority. Or even click HERE to report pest problems and rat sightings on the .gov dedicated webpage.

Pest Control Southampton Hampshire

You won't always need to see rats to know of that they are there, because there are various telltale signs that could alert you to their presence. Its possible you might hear noises coming from a loft, floor or wall, you may spot rat holes chewed into floorboards or skirtings, you may uncover a rat's nest hidden away somewhere or you may start seeing droppings on the floor or in cupboards.

To tackle this situation there are specific approaches that you could consider. You could put traps or poison down yourself, you can find a pest removal specialist or you can get hold of the local Southampton environmental health. In the past, rat catchers used to be exactly that, but at present they're typically referred to as pest control experts and won't solely be happy to help you manage rat problems but also moles, wasps, ants, mice, cockroaches and much more. (Tags: Pest Control Southampton, Ratcatchers Southampton )

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Rat Bites

While, in the British Isles, rat bites are not all that common, they do occur every once in a while, and the effects can be serious in some circumstances. When cornered or scared, rats can attack and bite humans, so if you come across one in a confined environment, it is wise to leave the creature a clear exit route so that it can escape.

Some incidences of rat bites happen when rats are kept as pets (really?), and shoving your hand inside a rat's cage could be chancing it. Even though they aren't always dangerous, rat bites can become infected or be fatal if they turn into "rat bite fever", consequently they must be avoided if possible. "Rat bite fever" (RBF), if it is left untreated, can cause death, and has has a 10% mortality rate.

Signs of Rat Bite Fever (RBF) - The signs and symptoms of "rat bite fever" (streptobacillary RBF) include:

  • Redness or Swelling
  • Headache
  • Rashes
  • Muscle Pain
  • Vomiting
  • Joint Pain
  • Fever

You should promptly wash the affected area with warm water, if you get bitten by a rat, and put on an antibiotic cream to the bite area, and cover it with a clean, sterile gauze or bandage. You should book an appointment to see your doctor, or go to the closest A&E, even if you think it isn't that severe. If you haven't received a tetanus shot in the last five years or so, you should also get one of these.

Rat Traps Southampton

Rat Traps

Whether you are intending to handle the rat infestation by yourself or if you are calling in professionals, one of the ways to achieve this is with rat traps. These days there are various different types of rat traps on the market, supplying you with a selection of capture options. Should you be averse to the harming of animals, maybe the capture style trap will be the appropriate solution. Rat traps can be found in all styles and sizes and include the likes of: enclosed poison traps, electronic rat traps, cage traps and spring loaded bait traps.

Mole Problems

While not such a commonplace problem nowadays moles are also often handled by rat catchers. Moles cause problems in another way to to rats and aren't hated quite so much. Lawns and gardens are the biggest things at risk when you have a mole problem. Beautifully mowed lawns laden with ugly heaps of recently dug soil are sure signs of activity by moles. Moles are often captured in traps and re-released someplace else, if you prefer the most humane solution. (Tags: Mole Trapping Southampton, Mole Catchers Southampton)

Checking for Rats

When you've got suspicions you may have rats in your business or home, there are several ways in which you are able to find out. You could be on the lookout for holes or burrows adjacent to solid surfaces, keep your eyes open for faeces (droppings), they're dark brown and look similar to large grains of rice, watch for rub marks on walls and skirting boards where greasy fur has left marks, hunt for signs of footprints or tail trails on loose soil or in dusty areas, pay attention to gnawing in wires, wood and cables, especially in lofts, listen for constant scratching noises coming from walls and roofs, particularly during the night.

What Attracts Mice and Rats?

With their twitchy whiskers, furry bodies and pointy faces, some folk might find rats and mice to be rather cute, however they're certainly not the type of animals that you want in your house or garden in Southampton, and can be more dangerous than you might think. By chewing through insulation materials, electrical cables, wood and plastic, rats and mice can cause accidents and in particular electrical fires. Between them mice and rats can spread more than thirty kinds of diseases including things like toxoplasmosis, salmonella, tularemia, listeria, bubonic plague, rat bite fever, Weil's disease, trichinosis and typhus. So, the principal things that attract rats and mice into your home or garden are:

  • RUBBISH/TRASH - Accumulations of trash and garden rubbish heaped up on your property (particularly in the garden) will obviously attract rodents.
  • WATER - Constantly active rats and mice need to drink, therefore sources of water such as leaky pipes, pet water bowls, dripping sprinkler systems and birdbaths are a big enticement for these unwanted pests.
  • CLUTTER - General clutter and jumble in an outbuilding, cellar or loft will be especially attractive to rats and mice, especially if there's a food source close by.
  • FOOD - Food that is left lying around or discarded is perhaps the main attraction for rats and mice.
  • HOLES AND ENTRY POINTS - Rats and mice can crawl through the smallest of cracks and holes, so keep an eye out for gaps around air vents, doors, crawl spaces and plumbing.
  • PET WASTE/COMPOST - Remarkably compost heaps and even pet waste can be attractive to rats and mice - there are likely to be plenty of tasty morsels hidden in there!

Kinds of Rat

There are only 2 species of rat which you could encounter in Southampton or any place else in the UK for that matter. They're the Brown Rat and the Black Rat.

The Brown Rat

The brown rat (Norwegian Rat (Rattus Norvegicus), sewer rat, street rat or common rat) is the most commonly seen rat in the United Kingdom and across Continental Europe (also North America). The colour of this rodent varies between grey and brown, it usually grows to approximately 4 to 9 inches (with a similar length tail) with a weight range of between 140 and 500 grammes. Now thought to have originally come from Central Asia, this rat was at one time assumed to have arrived from Norway (hence its name). Brown rats are omniverous (eat any foodstuffs) although their favourite foods are grains and cereals, they've got excellent hearing but bad eyesight, the females attain sexual maturity in just 5 weeks and can have five litters per annum (with as many as 14 in each litter), they dig extensively and climb brilliantly.

The Black Rat (Rattus Rattus)

The black rat, roof rat or ship rat (Rattus Rattus) is also not a native of Great Britain, originally coming from Southeast Asia (most likely India). Almost certainly traveling in spice shipments at the time of the Roman Empire, the black rat subsequently spread through Continental Europe. Fairly uncommon nowadays in Britain, this rat was for the most part driven out by the more dominant brown rat. Weighing just 75 to 230 grams, the black rat grows to lengths of approximately five to seven inches. Black rats are notorious for spreading a number of diseases, especially toxoplasmosis, salmonella, tularemia, listeria, bubonic plague, rat bite fever, Weil's disease, trichinosis and typhus.

Reporting Rat Sightings

This is more detail on a topic that we highlighted further up the page. Should you spot rats in a neighbours garden, in a public place or in your own garden it is smart to report it to the Environmental Health. Some councils will sort out issues with rats cost-free, however if you've got other infestations such as cockroaches, wasps and bed bugs they will normally charge. Also, it is actually possible to report rat sightings on the .gov webpage which you can find HERE. You can obviously schedule your own rat catcher to come over and tackle the issue by clicking HERE.

In Conclusion

Home and business owners with rat problems in Southampton are often tempted to have a crack at solving it themselves. So, if this happens to you, what ought you to do? Rat traps, rat poisons and similar products are available in hardware stores, supermarkets and shops in the Southampton area, so the things you need can easily be bought.

Rat Exterminator Southampton UK (02380)

Nonetheless, unless you know exactly what you are doing, it is possibly much better to use an experienced rat exterminator, who will have remedied such problems hundreds of times before, and will know exactly what the preferred solution is.

Generally the amateur use of rat poisons isn't actually that successful, and could even make matters worse - do you really want to risk harming your children and pets? If you have any doubts, speak to the professionals for rat control in Southampton. (Tags: Rat Exterminators Southampton, Rat Removal Southampton, Rat Control Southampton)

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Pest Control Near Southampton

Also find: Butlocks Heath rat catchers, Bitterne Village rat catchers, Nursling rat catchers, Hillyfields rat catchers, Chartwell Green rat catchers, Eling rat catchers, Hightown rat catchers, Freemantle rat catchers, Swaythling rat catchers, Shirley rat catchers, North Stoneham rat catchers, Sholing rat catchers, Ocean Village rat catchers, West End rat catchers, Bitterne Park rat catchers, Rownhams rat catchers, Midanbury rat catchers, Chapel rat catchers, Weston rat catchers, Millbrook rat catchers and more. There are people who do pest control in pretty much all of these areas. Ensuring effective and efficient rat issue resolution, these versatile professionals bring a wealth of expertise and knowledge. These pest control experts are equipped with the resources and skills required to swiftly deal with any situation, be it a large infestation or a solitary rat. By going here, local residents can obtain pest control estimates. Got an issue with rats? Get a quote for pest control today!

Pest Control Services Southampton

Southampton rat catchers can normally help you with rat infestations, bed bug control Southampton, preventive pest control Southampton, bird proofing services, dead bird removal, rat extermination, residential pest control Southampton, garden pest control Southampton, the removal of contaminated loft insulation Southampton, bird pest control Southampton, rat proofing Southampton, rat pest control Southampton, bird nest removal in Southampton, pest extermination in Southampton, rat prevention in Southampton, electronic pest control Southampton, anti-bird spike installation in Southampton, pest netting Southampton, ants pest control, mole catching Southampton, pest control Southampton, rat deterrents, ultrasonic pest control Southampton, rat poison, mouse pest control Southampton, thermal imaging surveys for pest indentification, powder treatments Southampton, wasp pest control Southampton, squirrel pest control, household pest control Southampton, cockroach pest conrtol in Southampton and other pest control in Southampton, Hampshire. These are just some of the duties that are carried out by people specialising in pest control. Southampton companies will let you know their entire range of pest control services.

Southampton Rat Control Services

Find a Rat Catcher in Southampton Here
Pest Control Quotes Southampton Hampshire (02380)
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Other Pests in Southampton: Also seek assistance with rabbits in Southampton, mice in Southampton, bees in Southampton, carpet beetles in Southampton, clothes moths in Southampton, ants in Southampton, pigeons in Southampton, fleas in Southampton, wasps in Southampton, bedbugs in Southampton, moles in Southampton, silverfish in Southampton, cockroaches in Southampton, hornets in Southampton Hampshire.

Pest Control Jobs Southampton: Browse pest control jobs near Southampton by going here: Southampton Pest Control Jobs

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Rat catchers in SO14 area, phone code 02380.

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(This pest control Southampton page was compiled on 11-03-2024)