Rat Information

Property damage

The problems associated with rats are not just limited to public health. They also have a knack for causing structural damage.


Rats have to gnaw in order to keep their teeth in shape, and they’re not shy about what they gnaw on.


Common ‘gnaw-spots’ include the sheathing around electrical cables, which present a significant fire risk, and pipes, which is likely to result in leaks, both water and gas

Cinderblock, wood, glass, metal, bone - rats’ teeth will take on pretty much any challenge, which is why they can cause untold damage to both homes, businesses and the occasional finger.


Flooding from gnawed pipes and electrical fires from chewed wires may be associated with rat infestations.

Pathogens and disease

Rats communicate and mark their territory by urinating everywhere they go, representing a significant public health risk.


They can carry many nasty diseases, which can spread to humans, normally through rats’ urine or body coming into contact with food preparation areas.


These include:


Leptospirosis (often referred to as Weil's disease)

Salmonella

Listeria

Toxoplasma gondii

Hantavirus.

The Gold medal

When it comes to breeding, rats get a gold medal. If environmental conditions are preferable, a female rat can reproduce every six weeks with litters consisting of 6-8 offspring.

Each part of the cycle takes 21 days on average.

When a female rat is impregnated, the gestation period lasts for around 21 days.

Rats are mammals and so they give birth to live young called pups. It then takes 21 days to wean those pups.

During this time the female rat will also go through what is known as postpartum estrus, which occurs 10 to 24 hours following the birth.

This means that a rat can become pregnant very quickly after giving birth, which is one of the reasons that a rat infestation can grow quickly out of control.

Newborns can become sexually mature after only 5 weeks, at which point they can spawn their own broods. This means that a pair of brown rats could potentially produce as many as 200 babies and 2,000 descendants in just one year, maybe more.

Due to predation and other challenges, wild rats live for around a year on average.

In contrast, pet rats have a longer lifespan; without the threat from natural predators, and with a constant supply of food and care, domesticated rats often live between two to three years.

Treating a rat bite

It is not common to be bitten by a rat, however when a rat is cornered they will often spring at the threat, biting to defend themselves.


If you have been bitten by a rat, immediately wash the wound as thoroughly as possible; rat bites can be deep, but it’s important to do this even if the skin hasn’t been broken.


Once the area is cleaned, treat it with antiseptic cream and

seek medical advice.

We are a commercial service provider, therefore we produce content with informational purposes only. 
This site does not offer medical advice.
Back Drain survey
How to keep Rats & mice out of your home 

“ Where pest control is concerned, prevention is always better than cure.”
No one wants to share their home with vermin, especially during winter when they can get up to all sorts of mischief, so how do you stop them getting in?
There’s nothing worse than just getting into bed, snuggling down and then hearing the insistent patter of tiny, scratchy feet racing around in the ceiling above you.
However, that those scratchy feet might belong to rats, rather than their less portly cousins, mice.

Rodents are a common problem in households during the winter months, as they are attracted by the abundance of food, warmth and shelter on offer.

Given the choice, they will go for carbohydrate and sugar-rich foods that deliver the most energy, but they are gluttons, so will eat almost anything. With this being the case, storing food appropriately is the first step in keeping them at bay.
So, now’s the time to put a stop to vermin making your home their home too.
Top tips for vermin-proofing your home

  • Keep foods in sealed containers
  • Make sure outdoor bins have secure lids
  • Keep hiding places to a minimum (no clutter!)
  • Clear up pet food and bird feed when not in use
  • Compost bin should be fastened tightly, or food waste kept to a minimum
  • Get a cat – although, if it’s well fed it won’t need to supplement its diet with live vermin…
  • Fit bristle or brush strips to the bottoms of exterior doors
  • Fill holes in exterior walls, roofing cavities and eaves
  • Disgustingly, rats have been caught swimming up drains, round u-bends and into toilets – so put the lid down!
  • Fix metal grates to drains, air bricks and vents to keep them covered
  • Seal any holes around pipe work with wire wool or professional sealant
  • Mice and rodents are under constant threat from predators and so will only feel safe if they have somewhere to hide. Where possible, objects should be moved away from the walls, so that you can easily check what’s behind them
  • Cut back bushes, trees, overhanging branches and grass to limit nesting and shelter possibilities for mice
  • Signs you have vermin – meaning it may be time to bring in Barming Pest Control Services
Aside from scratching, scurrying sounds in the ceiling and under floorboards.

We advise looking out for:
Droppings (dark in colour and the size and shape of grains of rice)
Footprints (to assess whether tracks are fresh, sprinkle the area with flour, if overnight the flour has been disturbed, it could very well be rats)
Rub marks (rats have poor eyesight, so bump up against walls and skirting boards for navigational purposes, you’ll be able to spot the grime they leave behind)
Strong smell of urine
Mice build nests in small, cosy cavities, check behind fridges and under floorboards for piles of soft shredded materials
“If you have a problem with rodents then it’s important to catch it early and consult 
Barming Pest Control Services to deal with the infestation before the population size grows.


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info@barmingpestcontrol.co.uk

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Pest Control in and around Maidstone
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