Rats

 

In medieval times the black ship rat bought fleas carrying bubonic plague to England. But 200 years on we now have the brown or sewer rat. They do not carry the plague but can spread Leptospirosis, Salmonella food poisoning, Typhus, Trichinosis and Tapeworms.

 

How to spot them

Rats leave little dark brown droppings, about 20mm long. Like the mouse they gnaw on wire, wood and soft metals such as lead and aluminium are no barrier to an active rat.

Habits

The rat generally stays within 50m of its home but can range to 300m. They will move every week or two and may travel several kilometres on these occasions. Rats are active at night and live in sewers that provide a ready supply of food. If they need to, rats will emerge from drains to look for more food. Rats breed just like mice.

Control

If you see any signs of rats in your house or garden, please contact the council as soon as possible. We offer a free survey and eradication service to all residents. We use poisoned bait, wherever possible away from children and pets.

Please clear any food spills thoroughly. Take care that all waste foods are disposed of into your refuse bin and not left lying around in bags or sacks. If you are composting, do not use meat or cooked products.

Bird food is a tasty treat to vermin, so use a rat-proof bird table.