Rats

Britain has two kinds of rats:

• the brown rat (or common/sewer rat) which can grow up to 50cm, has brown fur on its back and grey underneath; its tail is shorter than its head and body.
• the black rat (or ship rat) which is far less common and not known to exist in this area, is smaller and more lightly built; it may have black or brown fur, has large almost hairless ears and has a tail which is longer than the head and body, giving it greater agility.

Where can they be found

Brown rats can be found anywhere that offers shelter and food - including sewers.  They are efficient burrowers and favour compost heaps, earth banks, and under sheds and hedges where they dig shallow burrows and form nests with dry grass, leaves or even paper and insulation material.  In houses they will nest in wall cavities, roof spaces and beneath floor boards.

Black rats will normally be found indoors in port areas, but may be transported inland with cargo.  Being agile climbers and jumpers they will often nest in roof spaces and upper floors.

Rats are active mainly at night but may be seen in search of food and water during the day.

Life cycle

The life expectancy of a rat is around one year during which time a female will breed up to six times.  The average size of a litter is between six and eleven.  Breeding occurs throughout the year but especially in the spring and autumn.

Health hazards

Rats are capable of spreading many diseases from their filthy surroundings in sewers or discarded rubbish and can transmit food borne illness, such as salmonella, listeria. e. coli, and other diseases such as weil's disease (leptospirosis), typhus, rat bite fever, and the parasitic worm trichinosis.  They are probable carriers of foot and mouth disease.

Economic loss

Rats like mice, need to gnaw to keep their constantly growing teeth worn down.  They damage woodwork, plastic and metal and have been known to strip the insulation from electrical cables, leading to house fires.

Rats will hoard food for future consumption and many cases of missing food from kitchen cupboards have been found to be the work of rats. Rats leave regular "runs" to and from feeding areas.

Sites of activity

Kitchen cabinets, food storage areas, wall and floor voids, roof space, garage, basements, under garden sheds, compost heaps, earth banks, and around broken drains.

What to look for

Droppings/black smear (grease) marks around holes and along runs, gnawing of surfaces and materials and  noise/activity at night.

Methods of control

Repair any cracks or gaps in building structure, eliminate food and water, repair drainage defects and remove nesting sites.

Further advice or treatment

If you have any questions about this information or would like a professional treatment, please contact us