Nearly all domestic properties will be visited by mice and rats at some time or another. If they are dealt with quickly there should not be a serious problem. However, if they become a lasting presence in a property, they are a danger to health and to the house, so it's important to act quickly.
Rats are much bigger than mice, and so are their droppings, so it is easy to know which is which. Mice droppings are about 1/4 inch (6mm) long, smaller than a grain of rice, and rat droppings are about three times the size, 3/4 inch (19mm) long. The droppings are dark brown in colour and will be seen on floors and work surfaces, as well as in cupboards.
Rodents will make their presence known in various ways other than their droppings. Chewed food packets, and shredded cardboard boxes are a sure sign, as are gnawed wooden furniture and plumbing. Mice and rats like to make their nests in spaces under floors, in outbuildings, and within hollow walls. When the house is quiet, you can hear them moving around. Even their chewing can be audible at times.
Avoid attracting rats and mice by eliminating sources of food wherever possible. Kitchen waste should be confined to a metal bin with a lid, and compost kept away from the house and managed properly to ensure decomposition. Food put down for pets should not be left around after feeding.
Mice and rats can spread disease, as a result of a bite, by contact with their droppings, or via ticks and fleas. Food should not be prepared on surfaces they have walked on unless it has been thoroughly disinfected, and any food they may have touched should be thrown away.
A few rodents will quickly become many if they start breeding in your house. The harm to your property could be serious if they gnaw through electric wires and insulation. Their teeth are strong enough to damage wallboards and ceilings.
Although rodents may be deterred by hygiene measures, and ultra-sonic repellers can have an initial positive effect, to end an infestation the rats and mice must be killed. Traps are the most effective way to get rid of rodents. Bait spring-loaded traps with dried fruit, peanut butter mixed with oats, or cheese. Make sure the bait is securely attached to the trigger, and set the trap across the path of the rodents, with the bait side next to the wall.
Take care when throwing away dead mice and rats. Handle them only with gloves, and seal them in two plastic bags. The corpses can be buried in a hole over half a metre deep, or it may be permissible to put them in with domestic rubbish. Clean traps with a weak bleach solution.
It is far from unusual to encounter problems with rats and mice, but tried and trusted methods exist to deal with them, and you should not be discouraged. If you find that you are unable to eliminate the infestation by trapping, you can call your local authority, or a specialist pest control company.
Rats are much bigger than mice, and so are their droppings, so it is easy to know which is which. Mice droppings are about 1/4 inch (6mm) long, smaller than a grain of rice, and rat droppings are about three times the size, 3/4 inch (19mm) long. The droppings are dark brown in colour and will be seen on floors and work surfaces, as well as in cupboards.
Rodents will make their presence known in various ways other than their droppings. Chewed food packets, and shredded cardboard boxes are a sure sign, as are gnawed wooden furniture and plumbing. Mice and rats like to make their nests in spaces under floors, in outbuildings, and within hollow walls. When the house is quiet, you can hear them moving around. Even their chewing can be audible at times.
Avoid attracting rats and mice by eliminating sources of food wherever possible. Kitchen waste should be confined to a metal bin with a lid, and compost kept away from the house and managed properly to ensure decomposition. Food put down for pets should not be left around after feeding.
Mice and rats can spread disease, as a result of a bite, by contact with their droppings, or via ticks and fleas. Food should not be prepared on surfaces they have walked on unless it has been thoroughly disinfected, and any food they may have touched should be thrown away.
A few rodents will quickly become many if they start breeding in your house. The harm to your property could be serious if they gnaw through electric wires and insulation. Their teeth are strong enough to damage wallboards and ceilings.
Although rodents may be deterred by hygiene measures, and ultra-sonic repellers can have an initial positive effect, to end an infestation the rats and mice must be killed. Traps are the most effective way to get rid of rodents. Bait spring-loaded traps with dried fruit, peanut butter mixed with oats, or cheese. Make sure the bait is securely attached to the trigger, and set the trap across the path of the rodents, with the bait side next to the wall.
Take care when throwing away dead mice and rats. Handle them only with gloves, and seal them in two plastic bags. The corpses can be buried in a hole over half a metre deep, or it may be permissible to put them in with domestic rubbish. Clean traps with a weak bleach solution.
It is far from unusual to encounter problems with rats and mice, but tried and trusted methods exist to deal with them, and you should not be discouraged. If you find that you are unable to eliminate the infestation by trapping, you can call your local authority, or a specialist pest control company.
About the Author:
We offer friendly and effective pest control Lewisham. www.envirosafepestcontrol.co.uk will make sure we get rid of your unwanted visitors, and help you stop them coming back again.
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