Recently, when sat aboard my boat tied up in a town centre marina, I watched evening revellers enjoying their drinks on the boardwalk blissfully unaware of rats crawling inches below their feet. As people sat sipping gin in the fading evening light, brown rats were scampering along the edge of the dock just inches from their feet. The rats were out of sight and out of mind for the drinkers but my vantage point on the water revealed just how close these animals can be to us. There will be many other places where you’ll be indadvertedly cozying up with rattus norvegicus. Factories, rivers, canals, farms and of course the city streets are all favourite rat habitats. In urban areas rats are gifted an abundant food supply in the form of our litter and sewage and they thrive on that generosity. On farms rats can be a major pest; eating, destroying and contaminating grain, seed and produce. Some statistics even claim that rats chomp their way through as much as one fifth of the world’s food supply!

Rat droppings even get into food. But don’t worry, in the US at least, legal limits are set on the amount of rat poo permissible in foodstuffs! Some cultures turn the tables on the rat and bite back. Barbecued rats are on the menu in countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. As the saying goes (sort of); if you can’t beat them, eat them!

I’ve had the displeasure of rats in my home although, I hasten to add, not on a dinner plate! During refurbishments to a bathroom our builder failed to properly block up a gap where the drain pipe exits the wall. A couple of rats soon exploited the hole, which only needs to be as big as their skull to allow them to squeeze in. Following their noses in search of all the food they could no doubt smell inside our home, the pair got into our house and under the bathroom floor. One subsequently found its way into our kitchen, probably through the wall cavity and began rummaging noisily for food. This proved to be a foolish move as my partner, enraged by the sight of a rat in our kitchen, soon cornered and killed it with a swift blow to its head with a broom! Its partner must have heard the commotion and died of fright for it never emerged from under the bathroom – that is not until we were forced to disconnect the plumbing, move the bath and lift up the floor to rid ourselves of the very smelly rotting rat carcass. The moral of this story is to make sure you don’t leave routes for rats to enter your home as the consequences of an infestation could be very ugly.

We called in a rat catcher who came with that most traditional of rat catching tools – a Jack Russell hound! This little mutt soon tracked the rats back to a large and well established nest under the garden shed. Acting upon the intel garnered from his faithful hound, the rat catcher man laid poison and the rats were never seen again.

Rats don’t just eat what we think of as food. They can chew their way through all manner of things, many of them expensive to replace or even dangerous. Rats chomping electrical cabling could cause fires or even electrical shock when the insulation is bitten away. Rats can munch through wood and it is said that they can even work their way through copper and aluminium. Estimates put global damage to property by rats at a staggering $19 billion, illustrating just how serious a problem this prodigious little rodent has become. Although rats keep themselves very clean, they are implicated in the carrying and spread of disease – most famously they were hosts to the fleas that spread the Black Death, bubonic plague

Controlling rat numbers is difficult. They breed extremely prolifically, one pair can multiply into 200 individuals within a year and they will think nothing of indulging in incest to help keep numbers up. Their propensity to breed would mean nothing though without a food supply as baby rats can only grow up and breed their own families if they’ve got plenty to eat. Rats are opportunists and we can’t blame them for being so prolific when it is us that constantly gifts them such great opportunities to survive and thrive.

As well as ensuring rats can’t get into your house you should take steps outside to discourage them. Don’t leave open bins or unprotected bin bags around. Keep your drains clean, have them rodded regularly to stop any rat attracting waste building up inside them. If you suspect you have a rat problem seek professional advice quickly otherwise you’ll be giving them a chance to reproduce rapidly and even damage your property.

Written by Glenn Le Santo,  social media guru and  live event reporter.

The Rats Are Never Far Away is a post from: deBugged - The Rentokil Blog

Unseasonably warm winters mean insects that go dormant for the winter stay active. It means insects will breed earlier than usual, supported by accelerated life cycles; also due to warmer temperatures. Ticks, for example, are likely to start the phone ringing sooner than anyone would want due to their resiliency and a biology that supports activity in months most of us relax our tick prevention efforts. (Remember, treat your pets and your home year round for year round protection.) While we cannot control what mother nature does as she drops two-feet of snow in October, or  as you walk the dog in shorts January 14th (it was 68 degrees), you can protect your home and family from pests year round and be prepared for the unexpected twists and turns the weather is going to throw at you.

Mild winters also mean more rodent activity. Rodents that moved into structures in the fall for warmth, while happy with their new surroundings, could mean that rodent populations increase instead of decreasing as they should in colder months. More importantly, populations can quickly surge in the spring bringing ticks, fleas and other parasites that rodents carry along for the ride. Not a good scenario for pets or humans alike.

So if you’re noticing the odd fly or ants sporadically throughout the winter, or if the mouse activity you suspected suddenly ceases to make itself known, brace yourself. Spring’s true measure of pest activity now begins with winter’s puzzling display of climatic oddities.

How Mild Winters Affect Pests is a post from: deBugged - The Rentokil Blog

You confidently declare, “I am the master of my domain.” And then it happens. What you thought was one ant is now hundreds if not thousands. The mouse you caught must’ve been part of larger party as mouse droppings continue to show up; sometimes in new areas. It’s decision time. “Do I go toe to toe with the unknown? Is there more I can do, or am I in over my head?”

Let’s break this down by option and see what the differences and some of the similarities are.

Do It Yourself Pest Control

• Will require a significant investment of your time, effort and expense to resolve your pest issue. Specialized treatments like for termites, carpenter ants, moderate to severe rodent infestations and wasps carry inherent risks and challenges not easily accomplished by a novice.
• You’re using chemicals. Reading the label is a good start, but you must also take into consideration where you’re applying, how much and whether or not appropriate safeguards have been put in place to protect yourself, your family and your pets. Remember, safety first.
• Know your target pest, a bit of it’s biology and how best to treat for control. If you miss this crucial step, your pest problem could worsen. The internet, while overloaded with information, is still your best bet for sourcing helpful information.
• Consider your tolerance for pests. If it’s high, you’re likely a good DIY candidate (depending on the pest). If it’s low and you live in a pest prone area, you may need reinforcements.

Professional Pest Control

• Will require an investment of your time and expense. You are however hiring a professional trained and hopefully licensed and insured as a pesticide applicator, and most importantly trained in the safe use of chemicals.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a method of first identifying the pest, gathering information about the infestation and then using mechanical means, environmental means and lastly, using chemicals that are highly effective but minimally invasive. These integrated methods all combine to reduce the use of chemicals and still provide a high degree of control.
• Trained in chemical usage (should hold a State approved applicators license) insect biology and control methods. You wouldn’t hire an electrician to do your landscaping, right?
• A professional can look at your home or business and help devise a plan for keeping your environment pest free. There is reactive pest control, ie., something happens and you call for help, and there is proactive pest control: regular pest inspections and treatments, like a Year Round Protection Plan, to keep mother nature from invading your interior spaces.

According to the National Pest Control Association, Americans spend over $3 billion dollars a year on professional pest control services alone. Over $400 million on do-it-yourself applications and equipment and an additional $520 million to keep our cats and dogs free of fleas and ticks. There is no denying that no one (I didn’t take a survey so this is an assumption, not barring the odd YouTube video that likely contradicts said assumption) wants to share their home or workspace with pests.

So the question remains, do-it-yourself, or call the folks at Ehrlich? I would love to hear your thoughts.

DIY vs. Hiring a Professional is a post from: deBugged - The Rentokil Blog

So why, you might ponder, is numeracy so important in the animal kingdom? It helps animals solve problems and communicate. Science Alert uses a great example of the Cowbird which chooses to eschew all type of childcare. The Cowbird prefers to dump their eggs into the nest of another bird which contains three eggs. The unwitting surrogate bird then has to bring up the Cowbird chicks too. Crows identify individuals by the number of caw sounds in their vocalisations.

The BBC broadcast Test Your Pet in 2004 to discover which was Britain’s cleverest type of pet. Over 25,000 pets and their owners undertook six pet IQ tests. The title of Britain’s Cleverest Individual Pet went to Baggio, the Cockateil from Bristol. Baggio watches his owner, tailor Jack Territo, sewing suits. So Baggio has learnt to copy Jack by using his beak, tongue and claws. He can pick up a needle and thread it through material. Impressive stuff. Based on average scores for each group of pets, dogs ranked first, followed by horses, parrots, cats and rats.

Rats are clever animals and its always not easy to get rid of rats. They are quick on their feet and cunning but more worrying they understand cause and effect, which demonstrates a deeper intelligence. It concerns me to think that a rat may be cleverer than me.

The social hierarchy of ants is impressive but are they numerical. The 2011 study Numerical competence in animals, with an insight from ants by Russian scientists Zhanna Reznikova & Boris Ryabko indicates that ants can add and subtract small numbers and use these operations for optimising their messages.

If you ask any of our bird control technicians if they think pigeons are clever, they will tell you that pigeons can be really clever, and very determined, but in other ways they have a lot to learn. Not unlike a seven year child I guess.

How Clever Are Pests? is a post from: deBugged - The Rentokil Blog

From big fat rats, harlequin invasions, to flying ants and monster sized queen wasps hiding in the folds of my curtains I’ve had my fair share of pests invading my house in 2011. To round off the year I thought I would take a peek at the most visited blog posts of 2011.

1. Cartoon Rodents

Our top post of 2011 explored how rats and mice make great animated characters. From the happiness and joy of Mickey Mouse to the dark villainy of Megavolt, rodents make popular comic fodder. This blog explores the role mice and rats play in animation. Check out our list of rodents that have stood the test of time and still keep us laughing today. Who is your favourite cartoon rodent?

2. Giant Spider’s are Taking Over

In Texas 2007 giant communal spiders began to cast their web over swathes of Lake Tawokoni State Park. The park looked like something from a horror movie. Ever wondered how bad your house would look if you didn’t spring clean? Check out the pictures of a water treatment plant in Maryland which was covered in webbing so dense it pulled a bracket off the wall.

3. Spring Clean To Vanish Pests

This blog was written to support a #springclean twitter party. We responded to dozens of queries about how to get rid of the pests hiding in your cracks and crevices and offered advice on how to get rid of annoying household pests like fleas, moths and carpet beetles.

4. Plants which Repel Mosquitoes

If a mosquito can detect a human from 20-35 metres, they can also detect a number of plants they hate like lavender, citronella, basil and catnip. During the day mosquitoes like to rest on low lying plants like weeds because of the high humidity levels between the earth and the plant. By keeping your garden free of weeds and standing water you can help keep your garden free of mosquitoes. Planting in some of the plants mosquitoes hate can’t hurt either!

5. Bed Bugs Can’t Resist The Heat

In New York City, bedbugs now are 250 times more resistant to standard pesticides than bedbugs in Florida, researchers at the University of Massachusetts reported. This is due to changes in a gene controlling the resilience of the nerve cells targeted by the insecticide. The bad news for bed bugs is that pesticides are not necessary to eliminate the irritating blood suckers. Last year Rentokil developed an environmentally friendly product called Entotherm which not even the most armoured of bed bugs could desist. The heat treatment eliminates all insects, including bed bugs, cockroaches or textile pests as well as moulds and pathogens without the need for large quantities of insecticides.

6. Rabbits And Other Superstitions

From a sailor’s terror of fleeing rats to lucky  ladybugs and money spiders, the animal and bug kingdom is rich in superstition and folklore. There’s an old saying that stepping on ants brings rain. When ants are agitated there will be bad weather. Ants building a nest near the door to your house is a clear sign of financial security in the future (apparently).

7. Ants In My Cavity Wall

Ants to me are a real nuisance pest… mainly because of the sheer number of them. You never just see one lonely ant on its own, do you?  There is usually a whole army of them (did you know there is actually an ant called Army Ant?). Although the most common species of ant, the Black Ant, is not thought to carry diseases, it still concerns me to find them in my home, you just never know where they have been before.

8. War and the Trenches

World War I conditions were horrific and death was never far away. If the soldiers managed to survive enemy shelling and the sneaky sniper’s bullet they could just as easily be defeated by an illness such as Trench Foot or Wiel’s Disease. Fleas, lice and rodents were rife and would plague the men with disease.

9. Protecting The Water Vole

Laura Drake from The Mammal Society kindly wrote this blog for us.  One of the most endangered species is the water vole which is often confused for a rat. Laura outlines the reasons why we should all know the difference between a water vole and a rat, and the impact the invasive American Mink has had on the water vole.

10. Shooting Insects For Science

This blog was written almost two years ago but due to its huge popularity remains one of our most popular blogs ever. We interviewed David Spears, specialist cinematographer and science photographer at Clouds Hill Imaging, a company which supplies incredible microscopic film and photography for a range of clients including the BBC and Channel 4.

So many thanks, Happy New Year, and if you want to write a guest blog or have a pest control issue please do let me know…

Top 10 Blogs of 2011 is a post from: deBugged - The Rentokil Blog

Luckily for homo sapiens, having fun Friday or Saturday night may one day mean not having to pay the price the day after. But what about the dreaded hangover and other effects of overindulging? More good news from the scientific community with regards to alcohol consumption.

The January 4th Journal of Neuroscience reports that researchers dosed rats with an ancient herbal remedy called dihydromyricetin, or DHM, from an extract of the seed of the Asian tree, Hovenia dulcis. Records touting the herbal remedy as an effective means of reversing or eliminating alcohols effects date back to the year 659.

Getting rid of rats in your home or business, while still one of the topics you will commonly find here, you would be hard pressed to find a more intriguing news story than one about rats drinking beer.  A lot of beer. It really just begs the question, “how much beer can a rat drink?” By the way, I’m not embarrassed to admit these rats could easily drink me under the table. The rats in this study performed by the University of California Los Angeles, drank the human equivalent of 15 to 20 beers in under two hours. Yeah. And they weren’t even playing a drinking game with friends. I’m curious if they will be testing with wine anytime soon…

During the study the rats were separated into two groups. Those getting lots of beer and no DHM dosage, and those getting lots of beer that was dosed with DHM. The rats who enjoyed several “cold ones” without DHM passed out and could not get their bearings for an hour and were unable to flip-over off their backs.

The rats that had alcohol dosed with DHM fared better, but still showed signs of inebriation. Dosed rats recovered more quickly (although they still struggled to flip off their backs), regained their composure in 15 minutes and also showed no signs of alcohol addiction after several weeks of imbibing. The DHM dosage also notably eased rat hangover symptoms including seizures and anxiety. A researcher at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City found that rats drinking the untreated beer gradually consumed more beer. However, and this is the studies clear cut winner, the rats drinking beer dosed with the herbal remedy showed reduced consumption further supporting the researchers theory that DHM might also prevent alcohol addiction.

Beer Drinking Rats Support Science is a post from: deBugged - The Rentokil Blog

Nadia Lee was given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order, applied for by Westminster Council, to prevent her from feeding birds in her local area for the next three years. For the past two decades it was reported that Ms Lee had been filling a pram laden with tubs of grain to feed pigeons.

The problem with overfeeding birds or leaving out grain overnight is that when the pigeons return to their nests in the evening, rodents creep out and feast on the rest of the bird seed. Once rats and mice discover a regular food source they know they are onto a good thing and are understandably reluctant to leave.

Feeding birds throughout winter can help birds to survive when food may be scarce but make sure you use a rodent proof bird feeder or ensure that the grain is off the ground and inaccessible to rodents. Bear in mind that brown rats can jump vertically more than 77cm and 120cm horizontally and mice can scale any rough surface.

Leaving out too much bird food in an exposed place can cause the seed to go moldy, which may make birds ill. Also make sure you store bird food in a sealed container. The Indian Meal Moth commonly enters homes via bird seed. If you are unsure of how often and what to feed wild birds the RSPB offers some great advice here.

When feeding birds in a public place it’s important to take note of by-laws. My local park has requested that the ducks are no longer fed with bread, only grain. In 2003 a by-law was passed which made it an offense to feed the birds at Trafalgar Square and hawking was introduced to deter pigeons. At the sight of a hawk the terrified pigeons scatter across London to avoid becoming lunch, keeping the square free of diseases such as Ornithosis and Salmonella. Before feeding the birds this winter be sure to observe the law or it could cost you far more than tuppence a bag.

Feed The Birds Without Getting An Asbo is a post from: deBugged - The Rentokil Blog

Rats can live in burrows up to three meters deep but when the first frost sets in and food becomes scarce they can be forced to leave their home and seek an alternative nesting site. If you have rats nesting nearby and there is an entry point to your home or premises, there is a real threat from a rodent invasion. If you ever wondered how far a rat can travel, or how much food they need to eat, check out these interesting rat facts.

10 Rat Facts

• If a rat is trapped and released it can move up to four miles from the release point.
• A rat burrow can be three meters deep but is rarely more than 0.5 meters deep.
• Brown rats show a tendency to be negative geotaxis which means they prefer to move downwards as opposed to upwards.
• Black rats are superior climbers and can climb any slightly roughed surface up or down.
• Brown rats can jump vertically more than 77cm and 120cm horizontally.
• At one time 11-31% of all female rats are pregnant.
• Patterns of movement become so engrained in rats that when they get used to moving around an obstacle, if the obstacle is removed they will continue to move around it. Thus the correct siting of trap means they do not have to be baited but it is imperative they are placed directly on the run.
• Female rats can distinguish the sex of their offspring by smell.
• Rodents can live and breed in cold stores and have been known to nest in the fat layer of carcasses.
• Rats eat up to 10% of their body weight a day and cannot live without access to water.

10 Facts You Didn’t Know About Rats is a post from: deBugged - The Rentokil Blog

Dick Whittington is a classic rags to riches tale which follows the journey of a penniless boy who leaves his home for London in search of streets paved with gold. Whittington takes along a cat who comes in handy for getting rid of rats in the low-budget inns he stays in along the way.

All panto’s have a villain and in Dick Whittington this is the King Rat. Dick Whittington gets shipwrecked in an exotic kingdom which is overrun with rats under the leadership of the King Rat. Luckily Whittington’s loyal cat comes to the rescue and destroys all the rats in the Kingdom. This makes the Sultan very happy and he rewards Dick Whittington with a fortune in gold and his daughter’s hand in marriage (which he politely refuses because he has a girlfriend back home).

The story is likely to have been influenced by the plague of London. In 1348 black rats jumped off a ship, plague infested fleas jumped off the rats and starting biting Londoners. In such a densely packed city the plague spread rapidly. The real Dick Whittington became Lord Mayor of London under the reign of King Richard II in 1397, in the shadows of the plague. Dick Whittington was Mayor again in 1406 and 1419. He became a member of parliament in 1416.

Like all densely populated cities, London still has rat problems but today we are much better equipped to get rid of rats.

Chasing Pantomime Rats is a post from: deBugged - The Rentokil Blog

I have been experiencing some surreal dreams lately about pests, but then I guess that’s what writing about pests all day long does to you. Deep in my subconscious lives a talking mouse and a talking pigeon. Last night I dreamt that I had a very pretty pet mouse living in my Christmas tree. The mouse could talk and was good friends with my cat. They would snuggle up together on the sofa and chat about their day.

Science has proven that all mammals dream to some extent and I often wonder as my cat twitches in her sleep what’s she’s dreaming of. Maybe mice dream of chocolate and nests made from soft down.

The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that dreams were a message from God. Perhaps someone is sending me a message about a talking mouse. From the dictionary at paranormality.com here’s what pests infesting your dreams may mean:

The Meanings of Pests in your Dreams

Moles To dream of moles, indicates secret enemies. To dream of catching a mole, you will overcome any opposition and rise to prominence. To see moles, or such blemishes, on the person, indicates illness and quarrels.

Mosquito To see mosquitoes in your dreams, you will strive in vain to remain impregnable to the sly attacks of secret enemies. Your patience and fortune will both suffer from these designing persons. If you kill mosquitoes, you will eventually overcome obstacles and enjoy fortune and domestic bliss.

Moth To see a moth in a dream, small worries will lash you into hurried contracts, which will prove unsatisfactory. Quarrels of a domestic nature are prognosticated.

Mouse For a woman to dream of a mouse, denotes that she will have an enemy who will annoy her by artfulness and treachery.

Mouse-trap To see a mouse-trap in dreams, signifies your need to be careful of character, as wary persons have designs upon you. To see it full of mice, you will likely fall into the hands of enemies. To set a trap, you will artfully devise means to overcome your opponents.

Mice To dream of mice, foretells domestic troubles and the insincerity of friends. Business affairs will assume a discouraging tone. To kill mice, denotes that you will conquer your enemies. To let them escape you, is significant of doubtful struggles. For a young woman to dream of mice, warns her of secret enemies, and that deception is being practised upon her. If she should see a mouse in her clothing, it is a sign of scandal in which she will figure.

Rat To dream of rats, denotes that you will be deceived, and injured by your neighbors. Quarrels with your companions is also foreboded. To catch rats, means you will scorn the baseness of others, and worthily outstrip your enemies. To kill one, denotes your victory in any contest.

Rat-trap To dream of falling into a rat-trap, denotes that you will be victimized and robbed of some valuable object. To see an empty one, foretells the absence of slander or competition. A broken one, denotes that you will be rid of unpleasant associations. To set one, you will be made aware of the designs of enemies, but the warning will enable you to outwit them.

Spider To dream of a spider, denotes that you will be careful and energetic in your labors, and fortune will be amassed to pleasing proportions. To see one building its web, foretells that you will be happy and secure in your own home. To kill one, signifies quarrels with your wife or sweetheart. If one bites you, you will be the victim of unfaithfulness and will suffer from enemies in your business. If you dream that you see many spiders hanging in their webs around you, foretells most favorable conditions, fortune, good health and friends. To dream of a large spider confronting you, signifies that your elevation to fortune will be swift, unless you are in dangerous contact. To dream that you see a very large spider and a small one coming towards you, denotes that you will be prosperous, and that you will feel for a time that you are immensely successful; but if the large one bites you, enemies will steal away your good fortune. If the little one bites you, you will be harassed with little spites and jealousies. To imagine that you are running from a large spider, denotes you will lose fortune in slighting opportunities. If you kill the spider you will eventually come into fair estate. If it afterwards returns to life and pursues you, you will be oppressed by sickness and wavering fortunes. For a young woman to dream she sees gold spiders crawling around her, foretells that her fortune and prospect for happiness will improve, and new friends will surround her.

Sweet Dreams About Mice is a post from: deBugged - The Rentokil Blog