Rats

Rats cause a lot of damage. As the teeth of rodents continue to grow over their lifetime, they need to gnaw on hard substances such as lead and plastic pipes, insulation material and electric wiring. This habit increases the risk of short circuits and fires. In addition to this, they transmit a number of dangerous diseases such as Salmonella, Leptospirosis (Weil's disease), Tuberculosis and even tape worms.

Rats cause a lot of contamination. One single rat equals more than 25000 droppings per year, which contain allergens that can cause acute allergic reactions.

Rats introduce secondary pests. Rats are also known to introduce other pests, such as fleas, mites and ticks into the premise, causing additional damage.

Have a rat problem?

Rats are nocturnal and usually hide from humans. The typical signs of a rat problem in the home are:

• Scratching noises in walls or under the floor as rats scurry around.
• Droppings – rats leave dark, tapered droppings about 10-14mm long.
• Distinctive smell – rats leave an ammonia-like smell that will be particularly strong in enclosed areas such as under cupboards.
• Bite marks – rats have teeth that grow continuously and gnaw on wood and plastic to keep them trim. Rats can even cause fires by chewing through cables.
• Ripped food packaging – rats will tear open food which may leave teeth marks.
• Nests – rats build nests in warm, hidden places using shredded material such as newspaper and fabrics. Nests will often contain young rats.
• Burrows - in gardens, rats will dig burrows especially in compost heaps or under sheds. They will also build nests under garden decking.
• Smears - build-up of dirt and grease from the rat's fur, commonly on walls and surfaces where rats commute.