Rodents

Environmental Services provides a pest control service to domestic premises for the treatment of rat and mice problems. View charges for removal of rodents

Fact File :		Fact File :
Rats There are 2 main types of rats in Britain, the Common (alias Brown or Norway) Rat (Rattus Norvegicus) and the Ship (alias Black) Rat (Rattus Rattus). The ship rat was once the dominant species in this country, but is now rare and mainly confined to port areas. In Britain it lives only indoors. The common rat is found in both rural and urban areas and lives indoors and outdoors. It can also live within the sewage system. Adult rats measure 20-27 cm long (minus tail) and weigh approximately 100-500g. They are usually brown in colour with a lighter belly but black and other colour variations are possible. Common rats live for approximately 1 year, are sexually mature at 3-4 months, and a female rat can have several litters, with 6-12 young in each litter, within this time. Where do Rats live? Rats can be found anywhere that offers shelter, food and water. They are very agile, can climb and are great burrowers. Common places to find rats are in compost heaps, under sheds, in and under other buildings, in heavy undergrowth, cavity walls and loft spaces. They can also pop up from drains and sewers. They eat almost anything and will dine at dustbin areas, bird tables, on animal feed, at the roadside on dropped rubbish, compost heaps, fallen fruit, etc. The list is endless! They will drink from puddles, ponds, streams, bird baths and animal troughs/bowls, etc. They are mainly active at night but it is not unusual to see them during the day looking for food and water. Why keep Rats under control? The reason rats are considered a public health pest is chiefly because they consume and contaminate vast quantities of food, worldwide, intended for human consumption. Rats can carry diseases such as Leptospirosis (Weils Disease), Salmonella and Typhus which can all be fatal to man and can also be passed to animals and birds, etc. Rats can also cause damage by gnawing wood, metal and chewing through electricity cables. Their digging can cause subsidence. Prevention & Control Remove food and water sources. Place all household rubbish in bins with tight fitting lids, clear up fallen fruits from the garden, avoid putting food scraps on compost heaps, use rat proof bird tables, keep outside pets houses clean and remove any excess food left by them. Keep gardens clear of overgrown areas and avoid accumulations of rubbish, wood and rubble, etc. Check buildings for access holes and fix any broken airbricks, gaps round pipes, broken windows, etc. Treatment Contact our pest control section if you suspect you may have a problem and we can advise you on the best course of action. A visit by our pest control officer can be arranged. He will carry out a survey and may suggest that poison be laid. If poison bait is used you will be advised on the type and action to take in case of accidental poisoning. Employees of the Council will take all possible precautions in the placing of poison baits, however, the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that family and domestic animals are safeguarded rests with the householder. Revisits will be made until the problem is cleared.		Mice There are several types of mice in Britain, the House mouse being the most likely to infest your home. House mice measure 7-9 cm (minus tail) and weigh approx. 25 g or less. These nocturnal creatures are brown/grey in colour with a lighter belly, are finely built with large ears and eyes and have long, thin tails. They generally only live for a few months but can survive for up to 2 years. They are mature at 6-8 weeks, and a female mouse can have 5-8 litters per year with 4-8 young in each. Where do Mice live? They are found mostly indoors but will spend more time outside when the weather is good. Areas favoured by mice tend to be food storage and preparation areas such as kitchens and pantries. Airing cupboards, subfloor areas, enclosed pipes in bathrooms and loft spaces are also favoured places. Outside they will inhabit sheds, stables, pet hutches, feed rooms, bird tables and anywhere else they can find a food source. Water is not so important to mice as they gain most of their moisture from their food. Why keep Mice under control? They can consume and contaminate our food and can gnaw through wood, plastics, wires and other materials causing damage. House mice can also spread disease and are incontinent so can leave droppings and urine wherever they go. Prevention & Control Remove food sources Avoid leaving excess food out for the birds, putting food scraps on the compost heap and keep pet hutches and aviaries clean. Put all household rubbish in dustbins with tight fitting lids. Avoid accumulations of rubbish, overgrown areas of garden and piles of wood and other materials. Check access areas such as holes around pipes, broken airbricks/vents, gaps under doors, broken windows, etc. Treatment Contact our pest control section if you suspect you may have a problem and we can advise you on the best course of action. A visit by our pest control officer can be arranged. He will carry out a survey and may suggest that poison be laid. If poison bait is used you will be advised on the type and action to take in case of accidental poisoning. Employees of the Council will take all possible precautions in the placing of poison baits, however, the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that family and domestic animals are safeguarded rests with the householder. Revisits will be made until the problem is cleared.

For further information please contact:

Environmental Health - Pest Control
Surrey Heath House
Knoll Road, Camberley
Surrey GU15 3HD

Tel: 01276 707125
environmental.health@surreyheath.gov.uk