How to Get Rid of Rats? (and Prevent Re-Infestation)

 

Are you tired of observing rats in your home or office building, gnawing on edibles and pipes, and spreading several diseases?

You may have taken various steps to eradicate the infestation yourself, or, you may be looking for an appropriate measure to get rid of rats and prevent re-infestation. Therefore, in this blog, we will discuss just that.

Before we dive in, let’s understand why is rat infestation a bothersome situation in the UK.

 

A recent statistic shows us that Britain contains more than 3.5 million urban rats.

 

This stat is distressing because rats have a lifespan of 2-3 years. But, they can breed after three months of their birth and can have six offsprings of roughly 12 pups. Put, through a rat’s lifespan, a single pair of a breeding rat can produce 6,000 babies.

Therefore, if you have a rat infestation in Yorkshire, do not wait for pests to worsen the situation and call for rat eradication today: 0114 3491098.

If you want to learn more about how to get rid of rats and protect your family, then read on.

6 Ways to Get Rid of Rats

 

Spillage, loosely closed container of food and clutter is inviting for a rat. These creepy crawlers reside in a place that has a distance of roughly 122 meters from a food source. Therefore, the following ways will help you keep rodents at bay.

1. De-clutter spaces that contain extra stock or wood, such as attics.
2. Keep your garden clean — trim tall grass and get rid of junk, and keep the outdoor grilling station area clean.
3. Seal the holes and block entry points. The pests frequently enter through gaps in pipes or nest in decking cracks.
4. They will munch almost everything; hence, make sure you take steps to keep any food out of their reach. Ensure no food is left on the countertops to avoid attracting the pest.
5. Keep food trash far away from home and keep the lid of the container tightly closed. Additionally, use a steel bin instead of plastic ones since rodents will nevertheless gnaw on it.
6. An average adult male rat consumes up to 60ml water every day. Hence, empty and turn over any water container to avoid attracting the creepy crawlers. Additionally, watch out for paddling pools outside your home.

Now that you know how to keep pests at bay, let’s learn why you should never poison them, how to get rid of rats, how long does eradication take and more.

 

Equipped with incredible survival skills and high intelligence, rats often survive a range of difficult environmental conditions and even all-out human efforts to kill them.

What Are The Best DIY Methods of Removal?

 

I found this advice at countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/interiors/a28853571/how-get-rid-rats/ and thought I would add the details. In our experience, these do little to deter the rodents from entering your property, very much like the electronic sound deterrents, however, it may be worth a try at the very start of a single rat searching for a new nest.

“If you’re looking for ways to remove the rodents yourself easily, there are some simple, cost-effective ways you can try. These include”

• Create a ‘bait station’ to trap the rat (without harming it) and then release it safely away from your home. You can use foods such as dried fruits, nuts or even bacon to attract them.
• Use a traditional rat trap. These can get purchased in local hardware stores.
• Place peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, pepper and cloves around the home to keep them away.
• Sprinkle crushed pepper, or spray a pepper spray, near openings and holes.

 

 

Why Should You Never Use Poison for Rats?

 

Rat poisons are lethal and can be harmful to your pets; hence they must be used efficiently. Poisoning rats put your pets and kids at threat of getting in contact with the toxins. Trapping a mouse and letting them loose far away is a recommended option.

Another primary reason to not use rats poison is that the nest could be in a place unexplored by you, so when they die, it’s hard to find the corpse. Not only this but the body of a rat produces an unbearable odour that will make the situation worse.

Therefore, it’s best to leave the matter into the expert’s hands.

How Long Does it Take to Get Rid of Rats?

 

The time it takes to remove rodents depends on the level of infestation. A straightforward case will get rodents removed in 3-6weeks. A property with a severe infestation problem may take up to 3 months.

The essential steps are:

• To seal all the entry point.
• To remove the source of food and water.
• Carry out pest-proofing on the building
• Eradicate the infestation in your home or office.

On the surface level, these tasks seem effortless. However, there are further nuances involved that we take to ensure complete eradication of pests and prevent re-infestation.

In situations where the infestation goes out of hands, rodents figure out more than one entry point and create a troublesome job for homeowners.

 

 

Call in the Rat Catcher

 

When you book an appointment with our rat exterminator, we will pay attention to the first visit where we identify the runs and paths the vermin use and seal all entry points of the rodents. These include nest sites underneath garden deckings, gaps around pipes and more. Then, we set bait in places where the crawlers could be hiding.

After 5-7 days, we follow up and ensure to take bait boxes of the trapped crawlers out of your home and prevent re-infestation.

This process (including the follow up) may take up to a week on average. Afterwards, if the infestation worsens, we make additional visits to treat the problem.

Therefore, time taken for rat eradication process depends on the intensity of infestation.

At Apex Pest Control, we have experience treating all sorts of a rat infestation — from eradicating a large population of notorious pests to taking measure to prevent re-infestation.

Call a Rat Exterminator Today!

 

As you have seen how rats are a pain to get rid of, we suggest you do not take the matter into your own hands, instead, let a professional help you.

Call us today to get rid of a rat infestation in your home or office building: 0114 3491098.