Rats

Have you heard scuttling under the floorboards? Can you see signs of a potential rodent nesting site? And have you ever wondered what makes a mutant rat so “super”?

Find out everything you need to know about rats in the UK, including how and why we control them, using our complete guide.

Whether you’re thinking about doing some DIY pest control or you’re looking to enlist the help of a professional pest management company, this guide is for you.

If you think you’ve spotted signs of a rat infestation, you’re in the right place.

It's difficult to know how many rats there are in the UK, with estimates putting the number anywhere between 10.5 million and 120 million.

In the past, harsh winters were a natural method of culling those numbers. Milder winters in recent years are thought to have helped rat populations thrive, which is where professional pest control comes in.

The dangers: why we control rats

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.

Black rats have also been most notably blamed for the Black Death plague that swept through Europe in the 14th and 17th Centuries, although a study in 2015 suggests that they may not actually be responsible for the pandemic.

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.

Rats around businesses

Property owners have a legal obligation under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 to keep premises rodent free, or, if rodents pose a threat to health or property, to report infestations to the local authority.

And if a company or organisation has a highly publicised rat problem, then it will heavily impact its reputation.

Poor reviews of businesses or products are easily viewed and shared online.

A rat spotted running through a restaurant can mean the end of the road for that establishment, while no-one wants to share a hotel swimming pool with a bathing rodent.

And aside from the reputational costs, there are also fines for businesses found to have a pest problem. These usually come at a significant expense and repeat offenders are in danger of facing legal action.

Environmental Health Officers can issue enforcement notices to business owners who don’t have adequate pest management procedures in place. 

Rats around the home

It goes without saying that rat infestations can have a devastating impact on personal wellbeing.

Aside from the health risks, the sound of them scuttling around the home, the evidence of their presence and the damage they can cause do little to help householders sleep easy.

Musophobia or murophobia is a fear of mice or rats, one of the most common specific phobias

Types of rat in the UK

There are two species of rat in Britain, the most common of which is Rattus Norvegicus, otherwise known as the Brown Rat or Common Rat

The other is Rattus Rattus, commonly referred to as the Black Rat or Ship Rat, which is now rarely found in the UK. 

Home for the brown rat is somewhere that provides food, water and shelter.

In homes, they will live in roof spaces, wall cavities or under floorboards.

In gardens, they will burrow into grassy banks or under sheds. Rat holes beside solid structures are sure signs of a nest.

Brown rats are also often found living in sewer systems.

Black rats are rare in Britain but occasionally found in shipping ports. They are also incredibly agile and so may be found nesting in roof spaces or attics.

The tell-tale signs that rats are about

1. One of the most common signs that rats have paid a visit is their faeces, which are dark and pellet-shaped, and look like large grains of rice. These tend to be clustered in certain areas, as rats often use the same spot to do their business and can leave up to 40 droppings in one night. It must be all that fibre!
2. Another clue can be gnawing marks on electrical cables, woodwork, plastic, brick and lead pipes, as well as torn bags of foodstuff and materials
3. In dusty, unused areas of a building, rats often leave footprints or tail marks
4. Rats can also leave a more unusual calling card; a greasy residue professionals call ‘smear marks’. Smear marks occur from their coats rubbing on the walls as they make their way along these trails to their nest or in search of food
5. You may also be able to hear the rats scratching, gnawing and scuttling around. Brown rats are prone to grinding their teeth and chattering when stressed, both very distinctive sounds. But correct identification is key, as these sounds can also be attributed to a squirrel infestation.

Rats can only see up to a distance of around 1 metre, so use tried and tested routes along walls to find their way

Why are rats more common in autumn?

In late summer/early autumn harvests are taking place and crops are ripened. Temperatures are warm and rodents have plenty of vegetation in which to hide from potential predators.

But as temperatures begin to drop and food becomes scarce, rats will begin looking for shelter and scraps in more urban locations.

And as autumn and winter push on, rats start to head indoors.

Although usually nocturnal, the need to survive often means they will be spotted during daylight hours in these months, as they become more bold in their search for food and somewhere warm to hide from the chill.

Getting rid of rats

Professional pest control

For any rat infestation, we would always recommend contacting a professional pest management company

They are trained in rat control and will have access to a range of professional use rodenticides and tools, which are not available to the public.

Knowing how much, where, and when to deploy products is where professionals are able to take control of situations efficiently. There’s also a growing issue with resistance, due to incorrect choice of rodenticide or widespread use by members of the public.

Professional pest controllers will take an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to tackling your infestation.

A pest professional will have access to monitoring equipment, which they will use to confirm entry points into your property, the size of the infestation and to track the rat to its harbourage (nest).

They can then recommend a proofing strategy and decide on the best course of action in terms of control; this could be traps, rodenticides or a combination of both.

You should always expect to receive a full, written report from a professional pest technician.

Finding a pest controller to get rid of rats

Use a trained professional pest controller call us on 01269 844503 / 07772 289648 or email us on [email protected]