Key Facts & Significance

Rats are a common pest which can transmit life threatening diseases to man and cause serious structural damage to property. There are two types of rat found in the UK, the Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the slightly smaller and less common Black rat (Rattus rattus).

The Brown rat often grows up to 250mm in length from the tip of its snout to the start of its tail, and has a tail of up to 200mm in length. The Black rat usually has a smaller body, up to 220mm, but has a tail which is actually longer than its head and body, up to 250mm long. Rats can live for up to 18 months and can be sexually mature when 2-3 months of age. Rats breed prolifically and can produce between 6-7 litters per year, each litter containing between 6-10 offspring. Rats are omnivorous and will eat fruit, nuts, grain, vegetables, meat, and carrion, in fact anything that man will eat along with a lot of things which we would not normally eat.

Rats are a common pest which can transmit life threatening diseases to man and cause serious structural damage to property.

Brown rats frequently burrow in the ground and can cause damage to drains and sewers. Black rats will not burrow, are agile and active climbers, and are mostly restricted to port areas. Both types of rat can swim. Rats as mentioned above, can transmit diseases, such as Weil's disease, which is potentially fatal to man, and 15% of house fires are found to be started by rodents gnawing through electricity cables and gas pipes. Water pipes are also at risk and extensive rat burrowing has been known to affect the stability of house foundations.

Signs of a rat infestation are well trodden rat runs along fences, walls, or under sheds and garages; holes about 30mm across or larger, possibly with gnaw marks or smoothed at the edges, especially near drain inspection covers or going under concrete paths; droppings (black, about 10mm long and similar in shape to a long peanut); live or dead rats.

Call 0800 027 2555 or Schedule an Appointment for rapid control of Rat infestations!