Rats are among the most common types of pests that infests the majority of homes in the UK. These vermin mature quickly and within two to three months, they are ready to mate and produce offspring which average seven to eight litters in a year. It is worthy to note that rats are quite wary of new environments and so when they move into your home, they may take up to five days so that they can settle. Thus, they normally prefer enclosed spaces and they navigate by using their formidable senses, touch and smell. You will find them in crevices and ducts such as pipes on the wall where they breed and hide. They are also at home in places such as the garage, loft, and so on.

Feeding and harbourage of rats indoors

Rats will invade any home as long as they find a regular supply of food, water, and appropriate harbourage. The foods that may attract these pests are the leftovers from feeding birds, or those that linger in the dustbins. Similarly, if you rear pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs, be aware that rats will find their way into your home sooner than you think. As for harbourage, rats will shelter beneath garden sheds, under decking, and even inside your home. Although rats are nocturnal, you can still find them moving about in daylight.

Conventionally people have used baits, including poisoned food, and traps to eliminate rats, and this practice is still quite widespread. These ways of controlling invasion of rats work in the short term, but in the long term, more reliable solutions have to be implemented. Also, note that rats are neophobic which means that they will take a few days before they start nibbling on the food that has been laced with poison. If you cannot eliminate the rats on your own, then you can also solicit pest control agencies to help you. They will first assess the situation and come up with ways of dealing with the problem. Even so, their best efforts do not guarantee you a lifetime of a pest free home. This means that, depending on your locality, you will hire them time and again, thus, spend money for services which are not effective against pest menace.

Assessing damage and making necessary structural adjustments