Mouse & Rat Control

One early sign that mice are present in a building is smell: they produce a distinct odour in nest sites that, once experienced, will not be forgotten! Their presence can also usually be detected from their dark-coloured droppings or damage to stored foods, packaging or even woodwork. The droppings will appear almost wherever the mouse travels, as mice are actually incontinent. In fact the average mouse sheds 70 droppings in 24 hours and urinates frequently to mark its territory.

The other give-away sign is of course sound: if mice are present in a house they can often be heard scurrying around at night, or chewing on pipes, cables and woodwork etc.
Its fairly likely that a rat will be seen if they are present in a garden or house. However, signs are:

Droppings “ 10mm spindle shaped, usually round corners
Unusual smells “ a longstanding problem can create a stale smell
Holes “ which appear in the garden, approx. 7-12cm in size with a pile of earth near the entrance.
Rat runs “ a continuous depression in grass or other low vegetation, a smooth pathway may be visible on bare earth.
Gnawing “ often to the bottom of wooden doors and sheds.
Scattering “ of compost being dragged out of bins or heaps.

Mice are an all-too common problem, in houses, lofts and out-buildings. Mice are incontinent, and as they move around they dribble urine and leave droppings. If they come into contact with food there is a risk of food poisoning, such as Salmonella and E. coli. In addition, mice often cause damage to household wiring and insulation. It is very difficult to prevent mice from entering a property, especially if there is easy access to a source of food “ mice are able to squeeze through the smallest gaps (if you can fit a pencil in a hole, a mouse will be able to pass through it!).

Surveys have proven that the rat population in this country has increased by more than 52% in a four-year period, with a larger population than there are humans. It has been reported that at any one time no person in Britain is more than 9 metres away from a rat.

Often seen in places where there has recently been demolition or construction work, where rubbish is lying around, in drains, as well as in rural areas, rats are a growing nuisance. With the abundance of food available, rats are less likely to take poisoned bait.

Rats, like mice, can be a serious risk to health due to the various diseases they carry, including Salmonella, as well as causing structural damage to properties.