Rats are incredibly resourceful creatures and they only need a gap of about 1cm and they can push their way through the tiniest of spaces. They are well known for entering sheds and getting into integral garages and if you have gaps in your brickwork then they can potentially enter direct into your home. There have also been cases where rats have used cat flaps to enter homes and also through the u-bends in toilets which demonstrates just how creative they can be when they are seeking shelter!
And shelter is exactly what motivates them – shelter and food. Rats are looking for somewhere comfortable to live where they can get easy access to food so this is why your home is very inviting to them.
So are there any simple precautions you can take to avoid rat problems?
Well, the simple answer to that is yes, there are certain practical measures for rat control that you can take to stop them from being a problem in your home or garden.
Here are some of the things you can do:
- Remove any food sources
- Make sure your bins are secure and closed
- Only use squirrelproof bird feeders
- Don’t leave pet bowls outside with water in them
- Keep anything they can access in tight sealable containers
- Make sure that any broken air bricks are fixed
- Seal up small gaps around doors and in brickwork
- Repair any roof damage and use wire mesh to seal gaps
- Use tight fitting grates or screens to cover drains
If you have a persistent rat problem then we would always advise calling in professionals such as Pestbusters to eradicate the problem for you. We can also give you plenty of advice about how you can avoid rat infestations in the future. Please get in touch if you need any help.
