Westminster Rat Catchers (SW1): Finding rats in your home or garden can be rather a shocking thing to go through and whilst it is not so common an occurrence in Westminster these days, it's certainly not unheard of. Rats breed fairly quickly and are likely to cause issues, especially when they are present in numbers. A single incidence of a lone rat probably won't be much of a concern, however if you happen to be noticing them regularly you ought to get some specialist advice.
There are 2 kinds of rat which you might run into in Westminster, black rats and common (brown) rats. It's fairly improbable that you will ever come across black rats, and if you have encountered a rat recently it's likely to have been one of the more commonplace brown rats (Rattus Norvegicus). Black rats (or ship rats) were at one time common and were the cause of the Great Plague during the 17th Century, they're quite rare nowadays, though where they do exist they are exceptional climbers, have an acute sense of hearing, and can produce between 20 and 100 baby rats in just one year.

The black rat at 5 to 7" long, is smaller than the brown rat, which reaches lengths of nearly 9 inches and weighs around 500g. Brown rats may cause problems as they've got to continuously gnaw at stuff to prevent their teeth from growing too long. Rats especially choose to gnaw at timber.
Rats may cause numerous issues in businesses and homes throughout Westminster and they leave droppings, spread diseases, gnaw through wires, insulation, pipes and woodwork, and are basically troublesome. Property holders need to report rat sightings to their relevant local authorities. Also you can report a rat problem on the .gov web page HERE.

It isn't always by appearance alone that you'll be alerted to the presence of rats, their actions are sometimes enough to give warning. Perhaps you could hear noises coming from a wall, floor or loft, you may come across rat holes chewed in skirtings or floorboards, you could notice droppings in cupboards or on floor surfaces or you could stumble upon a rat's nest in some hidden location.
In order to have this issue tackled effectively you have to call in a professional. You could either speak to your local authorities or get hold of an expert Westminster rat catcher or pest controller yourself. Way back in the past, rat catchers used to be simply that, but presently they're typically known as pest control experts and will not only be capable of helping you tackle rat problems but also moles, mice, cockroaches, ants, wasps and much more.
Rat Burrows
Something which rats love to do is burrow and dig, and the place that they most like to dig is near to solid structures and objects like garages, paths, terraces and garden sheds. They create substantial networks of burrows that provide them with nesting, shelter and food storage. A certain indication of a rat burrow is usually a smooth sided hole by the side of a solid surface, where the motion of hairy creatures have polished the burrow entrance. If you spot holes but aren't certain if they're made by rats, they'll generally be 2" to 4" across. A good way to find out if rats currently using the burrow is to chuck a bit of rubbish into the burrow and find out if it's been cleared away the following day.
Types of Rat
There are only 2 types of rat that you may run into in Westminster or any place else in the UK for that matter. The Black Rat and the Brown Rat.
The Brown Rat (Rattus Norvegicus)
The most widespread rat found in Great Britain, and in fact the remainder of Europe and North America, is the brown rat (street rat, sewer rat, Norwegian Rat (Rattus Norvegicus) or common rat). The colour of this rodent of the family Muridae varies between grey and brown, it typically grows to about 4" - 9" (plus an equivalent length tail) and has a weight range of between 140 and 500g. Now understood to have originally come from Central Asia, the brown rat was at one time believed to have come from Norway (hence its name). Brown rats have excellent hearing but poor eyesight, they dig extensively and climb well, they are omnivores but have a preference for cereal grains, the females can produce five litters of up to 14 young each year.
The Black Rat
The black rat, (Rattus Rattus), ship rat or roof rat is also not a native of the United Kingdom, originating from India and Southeast Asia. It's thought to have spread to Europe in Roman times, quite likely hidden in cargoes of spice. Once prevalent in Great Britain, the black rat largely disappeared when the brown rat took over. This rat gets to a length of 5-7 inches and weighs about 75-230 grammes. Well known for passing on salmonella, Weil's disease, bubonic plague, toxoplasmosis, trichinosis, tularemia, typhus, rat bite fever and listeria, black rats are prolific spreaders of disease and pathogens.
What Attracts Rats and Mice?
Irrespective of their outwardly cute look, with their pointy faces, twitching whiskers and fur covered bodies, mice and rats can be dangerous and aren't creatures that you want to be living in your home or garden in Westminster. Mice and rats can cause damage to your home by chewing through wood, plastic, electric wires and plasterboard, and are often responsible for fires and other issues. Over 30 different kinds of disease are spread by rats and mice including salmonella, Weil's disease, bubonic plague, toxoplasmosis, trichinosis, tularemia, typhus, rat bite fever and listeria. So, listed below are just some of the things that are going to attract rats and mice to your garden or home:
- CLUTTER - General jumble and clutter in an attic, storage shed or cellar will be particularly attractive to mice and rats, especially if there's a food source nearby.
- PET WASTE/COMPOST - Incredibly piles of compost and even pet waste can attract rats and mice - there are likely to be a few tasty morsels hidden in there!
- WATER - Busy little rodents need to drink, subsequently sources of water such as birdbaths, leaky pipes, pet bowls and seeping sprinkler systems are a big temptation for these unwelcome pests.
- FOOD - Food that is left lying around or discarded is one of the primary attractions for mice and rats.
- TRASH/RUBBISH - An accumulation of junk and garden rubbish stacked up on your property (especially in the garden) will obviously attract rats and mice.
- ENTRY POINTS AND HOLES - Rats and mice can squeeze through the smallest of holes and cracks, so be on the lookout for spaces around doorways, pipework, vents and crawl spaces.
Rat Prevention Westminster
The most effective way of avoiding problems with mice and rats is to discourage them to start with. So, even if you don't actually have a problem with rats, rat prevention has to be extremely high on your list of priorities. Amongst the primary reasons for rat infestations is domestic trash in gardens. You will just attract rats if you give them both the place and materials to build a nest. When there is also loads of food on offer your rats imagine they are in heaven, so be aware that traditional bird seed feeders attract rats, especially when they are vulnerable to spilling over, and household food waste should not be easily accessible.
Rat Sightings - Reporting
This is a bit more information on a topic that we discussed previously. It is always advised to report it to the local authority Environmental Health Department if you notice rats in a neighbours garden, in your own garden or in a public area. Some your local council will offer a free service for rat problems but payment is typically needed for most other pests like cockroaches, bed bugs and wasps. Also, it is actually possible to report rats using the Government (.gov) webpage which you'll find HERE. You are obviously able to schedule a local rat catcher to come and sort out the issue by going HERE.

Having a problem with rats in Westminster is something that most of us dread, and when you find yourself in this scenario, the temptation might be to try to solve it yourself. By looking in shops, hardware stores and supermarkets in and around Westminster, it is not too difficult to buy rat poisons, rat traps and similar solutions. Even so, unless you're aware of what you are at, it's probably better to seek the services of an expert rat exterminator, who'll have resolved such problems thousands of times previously, and will automatically know what the ideal solution is. Because of the risks to children and pets, the newcomer's use of rat toxins is not really advised, and it isn't always effective in any case. If you've got any doubts, call in the professionals for rat control needs in Westminster. (Tags: Rat Removal Westminster, Rat Exterminator Westminster, Rat Control Westminster)
Greater London Rat Control Enquiries

Current Greater London rat control enquiries: Abraham David from Angel, Greater London needed a rat catcher to get rid of some rats in his loft. Teo Dodds in Kingston Vale needed a rat catcher to solve a rat problem in his garden shed. Faris Westwood was looking for pest control near Addiscombe. Carmen Alexander needed a pest control company to get rid of some rats in her cavity walls in Turnpike Lane, Greater London. Lowri Glynn from Eel Pie Island needed a pest control company to solve a rat problem in her house. Eliot Symonds in Barbican, Greater London needed a pest control specialist to get rid of some rats in his drains. Aliza Chapman in Yiewsley, Greater London needed a pest control specialist to get rid of some rats in her roof space. Maci Rees in Belmont, Greater London asked "are there any decent rat catchers near me?".
Pest Control Near Westminster
Also find: Waterloo rat catchers, Churchill Gardens rat catchers, Pimlico rat catchers, Vauxhall rat catchers, St James's rat catchers, Covent Garden rat catchers, Shepherds Bush rat catchers, Victoria rat catchers, Kensington rat catchers, Mayfair rat catchers, Southwark rat catchers, Whitehall rat catchers, Belgravia rat catchers, Knightsbridge rat catchers and more.
Pest Control Services Westminster
Westminster rat catchers can normally help you with mole catching Westminster, domestic pest control, rat trapping, rat pest control, bird proofing Westminster, rat infestations, fogging & spray treatments, rat poison, household pest control Westminster, pest extermination, ants pest control, rat baits Westminster, squirrel pest control, domestic rat control, commercial rat control Westminster, restaurant pest control Westminster, garden pest control Westminster, wasp pest control Westminster, guano removal, professional control of pests, pigeon control Westminster, pest control Westminster, rat catching Westminster, thermal imaging surveys for locating pests, residential pest control, bird pest control Westminster, ingress pest solutions, the removal of contaminated loft insulation, rat proofing and other pest control in Westminster, Greater London. Listed are just some of the tasks that are performed by those installing pest control. Westminster companies will be happy to tell you about their entire range of pest control services.
Westminster Rat Control Services
- Rat Trapping
- Rat Prevention
- Rat Deterrent
- Rodent Control
- Rat Catchers
- Rat Inspections
- Domestic Pest Control
- Pest Control
- Mole Catchers
- Rat Extermination
- Pest Removal
- Rat Removal
- Pest Inspections
- Rat Catching
Other Pests in Westminster: Also seek assistance with mice in Westminster, clothes moths in Westminster, wasps in Westminster, cockroaches in Westminster, bedbugs in Westminster, bees in Westminster, carpet beetles in Westminster, fleas in Westminster, pigeons in Westminster, silverfish in Westminster, ants in Westminster, rabbits in Westminster, hornets in Westminster, moles in Westminster Greater London.



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Pest Control Jobs Westminster: See pest controller jobs in Westminster by clicking here: Pest Control Jobs Westminster
To find local Westminster information look here
Rat catchers in SW1 area, and dialling code 020.
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