Discovering a rat infestation in your home can be scary. Rats are very efficient in damaging your belongings and spreading deadly diseases fast. Nowadays, rat problems are on the rise. Today, in this blog, we will discuss why rats are growing and how to stop rats entering your home.
Reasons Why the Rat Population is Growing Every Day?
- Winter is becoming milder: The cold winter season is the enemy of rats. Rats get killed when the winter is harsh. It becomes difficult for them to find food. But winters are much milder in the UK now. This helps the rats to survive and grow their population in large numbers all year. Thus, you will see that rat infestation is increasing every day. Rats become more active in finding food and reproduce heavily.
- Increase in waste of food: Due to the lifestyle change, nowadays, rats find it very easy to get food. There are plenty of overflowing compost heaps, exposed rubbish bins, and thrown-away takeaways. If there are bin strikes, then it leaves rubbish bins exposed for days. When it comes to food, rats are not choosy at all. They will eat just about anything easy to find. That is how the rat problem in Hillingdon is growing.
- Development of urbanization: Due to growing urbanization, rats find it very easy to hide. More new homes provide them with more opportunities to get food. Expansion of sewers and all underground systems also acts as an excellent shelter for rats. Kindly read our blog post on effective rodent control methods for more details.
- Old buildings: When a building gets old, so do its foundation and drainage systems. There can be small cracks, pipes all broken, and some unsealed entry points. Any experienced rat removal company will tell you that these are excellent opportunities for rats to enter your premises.
- Poison resistance: Common rat poisons found in the market are becoming ineffective against rats. They are growing resistant to it. This also helps in growing the rat population. Here, you need a professional rat control service.
Signs of Rat Infestation in Your Home
- Droppings: When you find dark brown colour, large grains of rice objects near food sources and walls, it can be rat droppings. These droppings can also look like a very dark colour and a small size, too. A quick adaptation of effective rat control methods is strongly advisable if you find such droppings to prevent any diseases.
- Scratching noises: You will find rats to be very active during nighttime. Sounds are like gnawing, scratching from your walls, under floorboards, etc. This one is very common among all the signs of a rat infestation.
- Sightings: When you see a live or dead rat, that pretty much proves that you have a rat infestation nearby.
- Burrows: If you find small holes or tunnels in your garden area, that can be another sign of a rat infestation. We suggest you read our already-posted blog on 5 clear signs of mice infestation.
- Smear marks: Because rats have greasy fur, you will find dark, greasy smudges when they travel.
- Nests: When you locate a nest made of paper, fabric, or insulation, you may have a rat infestation. If you find such nests, it is best to contact an expert who provides same day rat control service.
- Gnaw marks: Now this one is a pretty common sign to find on plastic, electrical cables, food boxes, wooden furniture, etc.
How To Stop A Rat Infestation?
- Sealing all possible entry points: When you seal all possible entry points, you can prevent an infestation of rats from growing. You can use wire mesh, concrete to seal around pipes where they enter your walls or foundation. You can check any broken roof tiles and fix them. You can place brush strips at the bottom of your outside door. You should cover all your windows and vents with mesh. This is the best way to opt for when you are looking for how to get rid of rats.
- Food items: You should only use air-tight containers to seal all your food items. This should include pet food as well. If there are any food crumbs or spillage, clean them immediately. Make sure that all your rubbish bins have tight-fitting lids. You should always turn your compost heap to maintain its moisture. You should never add cooked items to your compost heap. One of the best rat prevention tips is if possible them use a rodent-proof compost bin.
- Maintain your garden: You should maintain a clutter-free garden by removing piles of bricks, garden waste, etc. You must regularly trim the garden trees and bushes. A professional rat exterminator can provide more helpful tips in this regard.
- Water sources: If you have any leaky pipes or taps, fix them immediately. You should make sure that there is no standing dirty water on your property. You will gain more insight if you check out our well-written blog on the signs of bad mice infestation in your home.
Why Do You Need A Professional Pest Control Company?
Professional pest control service: Rats are notorious for spreading various diseases like Hantavirus, Salmonella, E. coli, etc. There are a lot of choices when it comes to finding on-counter rat control DIY, like glue traps and humane traps. But their long-term effectiveness is always doubtful. The best part of hiring a reputable Pest Control Hillingdon company is that they find the root cause of the infestation first. That way, they create the perfect plan for successful rat control and prevent any future infestations too. They make sure to use safe products that are not harmful to pets or children. Many companies even provide a 24 hour rat control for your benefit. The cost of such professional pest control depends on the severity of the infestation and how many visits are required.
If you think that rats will go away on their own, that is never going to happen. Waiting will only make the infestation much worse. It is always better to become aware of how to stop rats entering your home, and call a professional as soon as you find a rat infestation.