Brown Rat

To book a pest control treatment

Contact Us 

01225 396007

Office hours are between

8.30am to 5.00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,

9.30pm to 5.00pm Wednesday and 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday

For general enquiries you may also email Council_Connect@bathnes.gov.uk

How much does it cost to treat?

For further advice on price click on Residential Properties or Businesses.

What you can expect from a visit

Following a sight survey of the area, the pest control officer will be looking for signs to confirm the existence of the pest. This could be evidence of droppings or damage to food. The officer will be looking for clues as to what may be attracting the pest and where they are coming from. They will be looking for clues such as holes, feeding the birds, compost, management of waste etc.

The officer will want to talk to the customer to find out as much information as possible about the household, such as whether they have pets or children. This information is used in deciding the best course of treatment. If baits are to be used; the position of bait is discussed so that the risk to non-target species is minimal.

After the survey, if treatment is not necessary, advice will be given to the customer. Finally, an information sheet is given. This contains information regarding what poison has been used, safety precautions to take, contact details and details of the next appointment if this has been made.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I know I have a rat problem?

2. How do I get rid of them?

3. Can I treat the problem myself?

4. Do rats spread disease?

5. How can I prevent an infestation?

6. Can you treat rats that are indoors and outdoors?

7. How do you treat for rats?

8. How many visits will I receive to treat the problem?

9. What bait do you use?

10. How do you put bait down, is it safe?

11. How long does the bait take to work?

12. Do I have to treat the rats?

13. I have a trapped rat, what do I do with it?

14. Bait has been placed in the compost, can I still use it?

15. Do you remove the dead rats after treatment?

16. The rats are coming from my neighbour’s property, what can you do?

17. I have noticed a strong smell like cabbage following a rat treatment, what could this be?

Answers

A1. If you have noticed any of the following signs, then you may have a rat infestation:

  • Sightings of live or dead rats
  • Runs - rats follow the same routes when travelling and therefore leave trails
  • Holes in the compost heap, deck or shed about 50 to 80mm (2-3 inches)
  • Presence of burrows or nests, or rat droppings 
  • Gnaw marks on any food or non-food material
  • Unusual stale odours indoors
  • Footprints or tail swipes in muddy areas or dusty surfaces

A2. If you have rats, you must stop providing a food source for them. Stop feeding the birds while you have an infestation, sweep up any remains of bedding or food that may fall on the floor from under rabbit hutches etc. We would recommend the use of a professional pest control operator but you are  able to try and treat yourself buying products from garden centres and hardware stores.Please follow their instructions carefully.

A3. We would recommend the use of a professional pest control operator but you are also able to treat yourself. You can buy products from garden centres and hardware stores. However, we would advise carefully reading the instructions before using, so as not to poison any non-target species. If you use traps, you must ensure that you monitor them and then you will need to dispose of the rat yourself.

A4. Yes, rat’s urine and droppings can spread disease. You should disinfect any cupboards or areas where the rats may have been. A pest Control Officer can advise you further when you have a visit.

A5. There are a number of steps to help prevent further infestations

  • Do not feed wild birds or other animals to excess - the food will attract unwanted pests
  • Keep your home in good condition so that rats cannot gain access easily
  • Remove potential nesting sites by keeping outdoor areas clean and tidy
  • Store food and household waste in sealed containers/bins, away from where rats could get access

A6. Yes, we can treat rats that are inside or outdoors

A7. We generally use bait to treat a rat problem .The amount, type and equipment used will depend on the assessment of the problem when the officer arrives.

A8. The price you pay is for up to 3 visits within a 6 week period. The 6 week period starts from the date of your first visit. The number of visits you will receive is at the discretion of the pest control officer. If there is still a problem after 6 weeks, you may require further treatment which will be chargeable. This may be the case in particularly bad infestations or when there has been a re-infestation.

A9. The Pest Control officer will decide on the best treatment including use of rodenticide, depending on each individual case. Common poisons used are Neosorexa, Rodex wax block, Deadline rat block, Rodex whole wheat or Roban whole wheat.

A10. The Pest control officer is able to offer improved safety, using tamper-resistant bait boxes to prevent the accidental poisoning of other creatures, along with individual risk assessments for each job and the use of quality products.

A11. It takes about 10 days to work. Rats are cautious creatures and may take it and store it, only eating it as a last resort. It is essential that you remove any potential food source e.g. feeding the birds, bedding, food from under rabbit hatches etc.

We advise a second visit 2 weeks later, unless the Pest Control Officer has stated otherwise.

A12. If you don’t then the problem will only get worse. Everyone has a responsibility to treat rats on their property as they spread disease and cause damage.

A13. If you have set the trap yourself then you are responsible for getting rid of it. You are not allowed to release it into the wild again and must  dispose of it yourself. We do not use traps ourselves. However, if you want us to treat the problem we are happy to do this but there will be a charge.

A14. No, the poison will have contaminated it.

A15. If as part of the treatment visit, the Pest Control Officer is able to safely reach the deceased rats then he will remove them. You may also remove the dead rats by either burying in the garden or double bagging them and putting them in the usual household waste.

A16. If you think that there is a significant problem in the vicinity that may be causing rats to enter your property, then you should contact the Environmental Protection Team on 01225 477551 who can investigate. For further information on advice,please click on Vermin on land other than your own.

The Pest Control Service are unable to treat for a rat problem on a neighbour’s property, without their permission. if permission is granted then there will be separate charge for treating at each separate property.

A17. Sometimes rats may die under floorboards or in inaccessible places. We would not remove floorboards to reach the dead rat. If you are unable to reach the rat yourself, the best thing to do would be to use air freshener until the rat has decomposed. The smell is not a health hazard. This may take between 2-4 weeks depending on climate conditions.

Your rating: 

Your rating: None Average: 3.1 (34 votes)
To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.