How to get rid of rodents

Rodent droppings or bite marks on wood or plastic are sure signs of rats and mice. For many businesses, rodents are dangerous pests that can cause food contamination, spread deadly diseases such as Leptospirosis, and cause property damage by chewing electrical wires and causing fires.

Furthermore, the presence of rodents can jeopardise business reputations and cause significant financial losses through product recalls, forced shutdowns and operational disruption.

 Once it is known to the public that your premise may be infested with rodents, you can be sure public backlash and business avoidance will follow. Therefore, proper rodent pest control can help to avoid these disasters and ensure business operations are running smoothly.

Additionally, learning how to prevent them can help to reduce the risk of re-infestations and avoid unwanted negative publicity.

Rat control solutions

A successful rodent management programme requires a combination of stringent planning and effective, proven solutions. Rodent control from Rentokil includes thorough, regular site visits during which the infestation levels are evaluated to provide the optimum rodent control programme for your business.

Benefits of Rentokil rodent control solutions

• Experts: qualified local pest experts with access to support from our global network and technical expertise
• Tailored: custom solutions to cater to all types of needs and protect all types of environments
• Safe and Effective: proven services and solutions to deal with rodents safely and effectively without affecting your health
• Peace of Mind: stringent SHE standards by Rentokil ensure that our services bring zero disruptions to your business

Where to check for rodents inside a building

• Lofts and attic spaces: look for shredded loft insulation, chewed items, and rodent droppings in corners and inside items like cardboard boxes.
• Kitchens & laundries: look behind appliances like cookers, washing machines, dishwashers, and tumble dryers. Check any gaps where pipes or cables enter your property from outside.
• Out-of-sight: and possibly out-of-mind locations, such as crawlspaces, suspended ceilings, and even cavity walls can be squeezed into by young rodents.

Where to check for rodents outside your property

Where should you start checking for the signs of rats and mice, their nests, and the damage they cause? Rodents are agile climbers, who can jump, gnaw, and burrow, so realistically you should check your property from top to bottom, inside and out. Here are some common places you might find evidence of a rodent infestation:

• Decking: check the edges of decked areas for signs of damage from gnawing and burrowing.
• Sheds: look for rat holes (entrances to burrows) around the edges of sheds and outbuildings.
• Garages: check for gaps around door frames or holes gnawed at the bottom of wooden doors. If you have an integral garage check around the internal door as well, and any vents that could give entry into other internal areas.
• Compost bins: compost heaps attract rodents because they are warm and contain food. Check the lid and base of composters for holes and gnaw marks.
• Vegetation: look for rodent holes among tree and shrub roots, in overgrown vegetation, or nearby wasteland.
• Drains: check if drain covers are damaged or if there are holes next to the drain covers.

What happens if a rodent Infestation is left unchecked?

Known for their fierce survival instincts and preference for urban sewers and human dwellings, the damage that rats and mice cause should not be taken lightly. Besides damaging foodstuffs, a rodent infestation could cause food poisoning and fatal leptospirosis.

In city centres, some experts say there are as many rodents as there are humans, while more conservative estimates put the ratio closer to one rodent for every four humans.