Rats and mice are very well adapted to living in close proximity to humans, and can live up to 2 years in an environment supported by people. They’ll harbour in wall cavities, roof voids and subfloors of houses, and you’ll hear the scrabbling of their tiny feet just as you’re drifting off to sleep at night!
Ensuring these areas are properly secured is a great start in helping to prevent them from burrowing their way into our homes. But how to get rid of rats when they’re already there?
What to look for
The first thing that needs to be done is an inspection of the property. All areas inside and out will need to be thoroughly checked for signs of rodent activity. For successful rodent control, the inspection cannot be understated.
The main thing we look for is rodent droppings. This will give us a good idea of where they may be harbouring. The roof rat, Norway rat and the common house mouse all have different droppings. Identifying the droppings will give us an idea of what species of rodent we are dealing with.
Another thing to look for is burrows under concrete or gnawing of skirting boards inside a home. These can both be signs of rodent activity and should be picked up during the initial inspection.
Burrows in the ground are a sign of harbouring, and baits should be placed close to the entry points.
How Long Does It Take To Get Rid Of Rodents
The time to get rid of a rat or mice infestation can vary depending on how many rodents we’re dealing with. Another factor is how long has the problem been left before a professional has been called in.
The longer a problem is left the larger the number of rodents there will be to get rid of. Getting a treatment started early, as soon as you realise there’s a problem, is the best way to help bring it under control.
The baits used today will generally kill rats and mice in 3-5 days; this will depend on how much is consumed. The total time frame can be between 3-5 weeks to bring a problem under control.
Rodent Control – Feeding Habits
Rats and mice have different feeding habits; rats tend to feed in large amounts whereas mice feed in smaller quantities.
Both rats and mice will also hoard their food and store it for a later time. This is another factor that can make rodent control efforts harder.
For a treatment to be successful all other available foods need to be removed from the areas of concern. If other food sources are still available there’s a good chance that the rodents will either ignore the baits or simply store them. So don’t leave your pet food out overnight!
If the baits are stored there is also a chance that they will never be consumed. All of these factors need to be taken into consideration when planning how to get rid of rats or mice
Conclusion
The very best and easiest way to control rodents of any kind is to engage the services of a professional pest control company.
Your local pest expert will be able to give you the best advice on how to get rid of rodents. Using a professional company will also mean that you are covered with a guarantee.
Even when a professional pest controller carries out a rodent control service it will still take some time to bring it under control.
Sometimes when dealing with these smart little pests it can be a bit of trial and error. All rat and mice jobs are different, but listening to your pest expert is the safest and easiest way to eliminate them.
Of course, rats and mice are not only found in homes. They also frequent industrial warehouses and other commercial premises.
If you suspect you may have a rodent problem, give us a call right now to book in for an inspection.
