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Rats are well known to be responsible for the transmission of many disease, damage property and contaminate food and even animal feeds with their bad feeding habits. If they are able to gain entry into your home or business area, their nesting behaviors can compromise the structure of your premise and can introduce other unwelcome parasites like fleas, lice and ticks.

Other examples of Commercial Problems:

  • Industrial & Manufacturing Plants – Damage raw materials causing delays
  • Hotels – Damage reputation from unhygienic perception of clients
  • Restaurants - Business closure from the failure to comply with food safety legislation

More so, Rats quickly breed and has the potential to develop into a serious issue if left unmanaged. Acting upon the first sign of the suspected threat can help drastically reduce the length of time needed to effectively control an infestation

Call Rentokil today for advice and to schedule a rat inspection of your home or business or contact us now.

How To Identify Signs of Rats

As nocturnal creatures, rats are most active between dusk and dawn and usually hide from humans during the day. It is often easier to spot signs of a problem, rather than the actual pest.

Rat Droppings ↓ - Brown Rat droppings are dark brown in a tapered, spindle shape - like a grain of rice.

Scratching Noises ↓ - Black rats are agile climbers and often found in lofts to you might hear scratching noises at night.

Footprints (running tracks) ↓ - Rats leave foot and tail marks in dusty, less-used areas of buildings.

Rub Marks ↓ - Grease and dirt on their bodies leaves smudges on surfaces.

Damage - Rats have teeth that grow continuously. They need to gnaw on wood and plastic to keep them trim.

Nests ↓ - Rats will shred available materials such as loft insulation, cardboard and other soft items to make nests.

Burrows ↓ - Brown rats are well known for digging and excavating extensive burrow systems for shelter, food storage and nesting.

Rat Droppings

Usually found in concentrated areas as rats produce up to 40 droppings per night. Brown rat droppings are dark brown in a tapered, spindle shape about 9–14mm long. They can resemble a large grain of rice.

Scratching Noises

Think you might have rats in your roof? Black rats (also known as the roof rat) are agile climbers and can easily gain access into loft spaces and upper floors of buildings. Hearing scratching noises at night from above may suggest their presence. Brown rats on the other hand, are less adept climbers. You may hear them scurrying under decking, sheds and floorboards. They are more likely to be identified by a grinding noise they make with their teeth known as bruxing.

Footprints (running tracks)

Rats leave foot and tail marks in dusty, less-used areas of buildings. Shining a strong flashlight at a low angle should reveal tracks clearly. To establish if an infestation is active, sprinkle fine flour or talc along a small stretch of floor near the footprints and check for fresh tracks the next day.

Rub Marks

Rats use established routes along skirting boards and walls due to their poor eyesight. Grease and dirt on their bodies leave smudges and dark marks on both objects and surfaces they repeatedly brush against. These marks may indicate rodent activity, but as smears may remain for a long period of time, they are not a good gauge of an active infestation.

Nests

Rats build nests in warm, hidden places using shredded material such as newspaper and fabrics. Nests will often contain young rats and are usually located close to a food source. Check behind and under appliances, such as fridges and freezers in or near your kitchen.

Burrows

Brown rats are well known for digging and excavating extensive burrow systems for shelter, food storage and nesting. Look for burrows in compost heaps, under decking or garden sheds, or in garages.

Have You Spotted Rat Droppings?

If you think you have rats, it is important to act quickly to control the level of infestation and reduce the health risks posed by this rodent.

At Rentokil, our qualified local technicians are backed by global knowledge and innovation and are able to provide the most effective rat control services best suited to your problem.

We can also advise you on how to deter rats in the first place to avoid an infestation in your home or business.

Call Rentokil today on (02) 8333 5888 or 1800 10 397 3787 (Toll Free), if you are worried about a rat problem. Alternatively you can drop us a message online.

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