When the nights get colder, rats look for warmth and food. A Carlton semi with a warm kitchen and a quiet airing cupboard is an attractive option.
Rats live outdoors for much of the year, in burrows beside fences, under sheds and along drains. As autumn arrives and food outside becomes scarcer, they look for dry, warm places with something to eat. Buildings offer both. The change is gradual, so the first sign is often a scratching sound in the cavity wall or under the kitchen floor that was not there in summer.
Carlton has inter-war and post-war semi-detached housing, and many properties have extensions, conservatories and sheds added over the decades. Each addition brings junctions, pipe runs and gaps. A rat can squeeze through a hole of about the size of a two pence piece, and it will gnaw to widen it. Damaged drains are a particular route, as rats swim and climb through broken pipes.
Rat droppings are larger than mouse droppings, about the size of a grain of rice, and are often found along walls and in sheds. You may notice gnawed packaging, greasy marks on walls, burrows beside the house, or hear noises in the walls and loft at night. Rats can carry disease and chew through cables and pipes, so they are better dealt with promptly.
Shed and garage clear-outs in autumn are worth doing too. Stored cardboard, bags of compost and stacked timber are classic nesting sites, and rats will happily live in a garage and use it as a base before moving into the house.
If you hear gnawing at night, note where it seems to come from. Telling the engineer which wall, room or floor void it came from speeds up the search for the way in.
Store bird food and pet food in metal bins and avoid scattering seed on the ground. Keep compost lidded and clear fallen fruit. Check the garden for burrows, particularly along fences and under decking. Seal gaps with metal mesh or hard-setting materials and have drains checked if rats appear to be coming from below.
Because rats are suspicious of new objects, trapping and baiting must be planned. The time it takes depends on the size of the population and how easy it is to block access.
We will find how they are getting in and deal with the problem, with free advice to help stop a repeat. We can come at a time that suits you. Call 0115 937 5117.
Yes. Falling temperatures and less food outdoors push rats to seek shelter and food in buildings. Sealing gaps before the weather turns is one of the most useful preventative jobs.
Rat droppings are larger, about the size of a grain of rice, and rats gnaw bigger holes and leave bigger tracks. Mouse droppings are small and pointed. A professional can confirm which you have.
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. Prices are fixed and there is no call-out charge.
