Wroughton Rat Catchers (SN4): Although it is not such a common problem nowadays in Wroughton, home owners do still have issues with rats every now and then. Seeing rats in your garden or inside your property is not a nice thing to experience, and could be enough to give some home owners nightmares. Lone rats should not cause much of an issue, but of course rats tend to reproduce rapidly and will cause issues when they grow in numbers.
If you do see rats in Wroughton, the probabilities are that they'll be brown rats (Rattus Norvegicus), though there are actually 2 breeds of rats presently living in the United Kingdom; brown (or common rats) and black (or ship rats). As you might be aware ship rats were responsible for the Great Plague of the 17th Century at which time they were very common. Black rats are relatively scarce nowadays but in fact neither species is a native of the United Kingdom, both of them originally from from Asia.
The largest and heaviest of the 2 rats is the common brown rat at approximately nine inches, while the black rat only measures 5-7" long. Brown rats often cause problems as they need to constantly gnaw at stuff to stop their teeth from growing too much. Rats especially prefer to gnaw on timber.
Rat infestations will cause all kinds of problems for business owners and householders in Wroughton, they will leave droppings, spread diseases, gnaw their way through insulation, woodwork, wires and pipes, and get up to all sorts of mischief. Sightings of rats should be reported to the local authorities. Or otherwise click HERE to report pest and rat problems on the .gov website online.
You may not need to actually witness rats to know of their existence, because there are a few telltale signs that can warn you of their presence. Perhaps you could observe holes chewed in floorboards or skirting boards, you could hear scratching noises coming from a wall, loft or floor, you might discover droppings on floor surfaces or in cupboards or you could stumble upon a rat's nest in some out of sight location.
If you do not wish to wait around for the local council to solve your rat problem you could always contact a local Wroughton rat catcher or pest controller who'll be knowledgeable in the art of pest removal. These days rat catchers usually come under the umbrella category of pest management, and pest elimination companies don't only remove rats but in addition bedbugs, wasps, moles, fleas, cockroaches, mice and many other kinds of household and garden pests. (Tags: Pest Control Wroughton, Rat Catcher Wroughton )
Reporting Rats and Pests
We outlined this earlier, so now let's go into it a bit more. If you spot rats in a public place, in a neighbours garden or in your own garden it is a great idea to inform the local authority Environmental Health Department. In the case of rats this might occasionally be a cost-free service, even though you will frequently be charged for some other pest infestations like wasps, bed bugs and cockroaches. You can go to the Government (.gov) website HERE to report rat sightings. You're obviously able to arrange your local rat catcher to come and tackle the issue by going HERE.
Rat Bite Wounds
Although, in Wroughton, rat bites are not all that common, they certainly do happen every once in a while, and the implications can be serious in some situations. If you happen to stumble upon a rat in a confined space, it could bite you if it feels threatened or cornered, so leave it a clear exit route and try to avoid it.
These kinds of bites sometimes occur where rats are kept as pets (which is happening quite frequently these days), and you're likely asking for trouble if you stick your hand in a rat's cage, no matter how tame it seems. Rat bites are not always serious, but should be avoided wherever possible, and they can turn nasty or even life threatening if they develop into "rat bite fever". If it's left without treatment "rat bite fever" can result in death in 10% of cases.
Signs of Rat Bite Fever - "Rat bite fever" (streptobacillary RBF) can have various signs and symptoms, including:
- Vomiting
- Joint Pain
- Headaches
- Rashes
- Fever
- Swelling or Redness
- Muscle Pain
You should promptly wash the affected area with warm water, if you get bitten by a rat, and administer an antibiotic cream to the bite area, and cover it with a clean bandage or gauze. Even if the wound does not seem to be that major, you need to book an emergency appointment with your GP or head straight to the nearest A&E. If it's five years or more since you had your last vaccination for tetanus, you must get one of those done as well, since rat bites can become a cause of infection.
Mole Problems
Wroughton rat catchers are also sometimes brought in to help remedy another problem, ie moles. Responsible for completely different issues to rats, moles are certainly not quite as disliked. It is outside in your garden where you're likely to have problems with moles, and lawns specifically are at risk. Neatly trimmed lawns spoiled by ugly mounds of recently dug dirt are a sure sign of moles. Trapping is far and away the most favourable and humane way to get rid of moles. (Tags: Molecatchers Wroughton, Mole Trapping Wroughton)
Rat Poisons
One somewhat unpleasant way to sort out a rat problem is to use poison. Grains of wheat are coated using a poisoned compound and left for rats to eat, it then takes them a few days to perish. A considerable accumulation of rats can soon be killed by this procedure so long as the poison bait is placed accurately. One or more of three main substances which are used in rat poison are: bromadioline, difenacoum or brodifacoum. Rat poison does not just kill rats, cats and dogs are also at risk, consequently care must always be taken in using it. Well known brands of rat poison made in the UK include the likes of: RatKil, Elixir Gardens, Pest Expert, Propest, Roshield and Rentokil. (Tags: Rat Poison Wroughton, Rat Poisons Wroughton)
Species of Rat
You are only likely to come across two types of rat in Wroughton, Wiltshire and throughout the British Isles. The Black Rat and the Brown Rat.
The Brown Rat
In Wroughton, the remainder of Great Britain and Europe the most common type of rat is the brown rat (street rat, Norwegian Rat (Rattus Norvegicus), sewer rat or common rat), this is the kind you will sometimes discover in your home or garden. This brown or grey coloured rodent reaches lengths of 4" - 9" (plus the tail) and weight about 140 to 500g. It was given its name Rattus Norvegicus (Norway Rat) since it was presumed to have arrived in the British Isles by ship from Norway. It's nowadays thought to have originated in China or Central Asia. Brown rats burrow extensively and climb effectively, they have an acute sense of hearing but bad eyesight, the female rats can produce up to 5 litters a year, they consume just about anything (omnivorous) but have a preference for cereals and grains.
The Black Rat (Rattus Rattus)
The black rat, (Rattus Rattus) roof rat or ship rat is also not a native of the UK, originating from India and Southeast Asia. Thought to have spread when the Roman Empire still existed, this rat quite likely reached Europe and Great Britain in cargoes of spices. Once commonplace in Great Britain, this rat disappeared when the brown rat became dominant. Weighing only 75g to 230g, the black rat grows to a length of 5-7 inches. Known to pass on typhus, Weil's disease, bubonic plague, tularemia, trichinosis, toxoplasmosis, listeria, rat bite fever and salmonella, black rats are prolific spreaders of pathogens and disease.
Rat Traps
Whether you're likely to take care of the rat situation yourself or if you're bringing in professional rat catchers, one way to accomplish this is to use rat traps. You can get many different kinds of rat trap these days, some which actually kill the rat and some that imprison the rat for later release. If you're averse to hurting animals, maybe the capture trap are your best answer. Available kinds of rat traps include the likes of: electronic rat traps, enclosed poison traps, cage traps and spring loaded bait traps.
What Attracts Rats?
While some people in Wroughton may think they are quite cute with their pointy faces, furry bodies and twitching whiskers, rats and mice aren't creatures that you want to be living in your house or garden, and they can even be dangerous to have around. Mice and rats have been known to cause fires and other problems in homes and business premises in Wroughton by chewing through plasterboard, floorboards, electrical wiring and plastic. Spreading things like typhus, Weil's disease, bubonic plague, tularemia, trichinosis, toxoplasmosis, listeria, rat bite fever and salmonella, mice and rats can cause more than thirty kinds of disease. So, here are just a few of the things that will attract mice and rats to your garden or home:
- PET WASTE/COMPOST - Surprisingly heaps of compost and even pet waste can attract rodents - they'll find some tasty morsels hiding in there!
- CLUTTER - General clutter and jumble in an attic, shed or cellar will be particularly attractive to rodents, especially if there is a food source nearby.
- RUBBISH/TRASH - An accumulation of junk and garden rubbish heaped up on your property (especially in the garden) will obviously attract rodents.
- FOOD - Food left discarded or lying around is perhaps the main attraction for mice and rats.
- HOLES AND ENTRY POINTS - Mice and rats can squeeze through the tiniest of holes and cracks, so watch out for gaps around vents, doors, crawl spaces and piping.
- WATER - Mice and rats have to drink, which means that water sources such as pet water bowls, leaking pipes, birdbaths and dripping sprinkler systems are a big attraction for these pests.
In Conclusion
When you have a rat problem in Wroughton you could possibly try to take care of it on your own - and of course many folks in Wroughton do just that. By looking around hardware stores, supermarkets and shops in and around Wroughton, it's not at all hard to acquire rat poisons, rat traps and other similar solutions.
Hiring a professional Wroughton rat exterminator would however be a better idea, unless you know exactly what you're up to, as the correct approach is not always the obvious one.
The novice's use of rat toxins will likely do more harm than good, since you need to be extremely cautious with them if pets and children are around. You'd be far better off enlisting the help of a professional when you are in need of rat control in Wroughton.
Pest Control Services Wroughton
Wroughton rat catchers can normally help with the control of pests, dead bird removal, pest control, spray & fogging treatments, rat infestations Wroughton, household pest control, dead animal removal, rat poison, rat pest control, residential pest control in Wroughton, wasp nest removal, rat baits, rat trapping, rat deterrents Wroughton, pest netting, bird pest control Wroughton, bed bug control Wroughton, garden pest control Wroughton, wildlife management in Wroughton, anti-bird spike installation in Wroughton, rodent control in Wroughton, the removal of contaminated loft insulation, pest extermination Wroughton, carpet moth pest control Wroughton, cockroach pest conrtol Wroughton, squirrel pest control, commercial rat control Wroughton, the installation of pheromone stations (for moth entrapment), mouse control Wroughton and other pest control in Wroughton, Wiltshire. These are just a few of the tasks that are carried out by people specialising in pest control. Wroughton contractors will be happy to inform you of their full range of services.
Pest Control Near Wroughton
Also find: Overtown rat catchers, North Wroughton rat catchers, Toothill rat catchers, Uffcott rat catchers, Broad Hinton rat catchers, East Wichel rat catchers, Freshbrook rat catchers, Liddington rat catchers, Burderop rat catchers, Chiseldon rat catchers, Elcombe rat catchers, Dorcan rat catchers, Broome Manor rat catchers, Broad Town rat catchers, Hodson rat catchers and more.
Other Pests in Wroughton: Also expert help with rabbits in Wroughton, wasps in Wroughton, carpet beetles in Wroughton, pigeons in Wroughton, moles in Wroughton, cockroaches in Wroughton, ants in Wroughton, silverfish in Wroughton, hornets in Wroughton, clothes moths in Wroughton, mice in Wroughton, bedbugs in Wroughton, fleas in Wroughton, bees in Wroughton Wiltshire.
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