The first cold snap sends rats looking for a warm, dry place to feed. Stockhill's gardens, sheds and outbuildings give them an easy first step towards the house.
Through the warmer months, rats find food and shelter outdoors, in hedges, compost heaps, under sheds and in drains. As temperatures drop and the harvest food runs out, they need more reliable shelter. A house provides warmth, steady food and quiet spaces, so noises in the walls often begin in the autumn.
Rats can also bring up a large family in a short time. A pair can produce several litters in a year, so a small signs problem in October can become a bigger one by the new year.
Stockhill is an area in north-west Nottingham of mixed older and post-war housing. Many of these houses have gardens, sheds and garages, and the gap between a shed and the back wall is a typical staging post for rats. Older properties may have worn drains and ageing airbricks, while post-war houses often have cavity walls, gaps round services and wooden outbuildings.
Bird feeders, chicken feed and pet food left outside are some of the biggest draws in a garden, and you may not notice how much falls to the ground. Rats will eat bird seed, fruit under trees and food in unsecured bins.
Remove easy food sources: tidy fallen seed under feeders, keep bins closed and store pet food indoors. Clear piles of wood and clutter next to fences and walls, because these give cover. Check gaps round pipes, vents and under outbuilding doors.
Avoid putting out shop-bought bait where children, pets or wildlife could reach it. A poorly placed product can cause more harm than good, and it is easy for a rat to carry it somewhere unexpected.
A technician will find how the rats are getting in, place treatment safely, and advise on proofing and garden changes. We include a free pest prevention survey with treatment. How long it takes depends on the number of rats and how easily they can reach food and shelter.
Autumn is also when people begin storing garden furniture, tools and cushions in sheds and garages. Check these spaces before filling them. A pile of boxes in an unused corner makes an ideal nest, and rats like to chew paper, fabric and foam for bedding. Lift and look underneath once a month.
Sealing the garden shed floor edge and the gap under the door with metal sheet or mesh stops many rats at the first step.
Call 0115 937 5117 and we will arrange a visit at a time that suits you.
Yes, it is worth acting. Rats in the garden often move indoors when the weather turns. Reducing food and cover now makes the house less attractive.
They can be. Seed falling to the ground attracts rats. Use a tray to catch spillage, feed in small amounts and clear up under the feeder regularly, especially in autumn.
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.
