Rat extermination is very important. An infestation of rats can result in considerable damage such as gnawing through packaged goods and structures or even electrical wiring. Contamination of food and the spread of disease by rodents should be of considerable concern to everyone. You will commonly read about businesses being closed down by an Environmental Health Officer when evidence of pests are found. Some diseases are potentially fatal such as Weil’s disease and salmonellosis (food poisoning).

Rat control in London and the rest of the UK is primarily for the brown rat or sewer rat. These rodents are omnivores. The adult weighs up to 700 grams and has a total length, including the tail, of around 400mm. A brown rat can squeeze through a gap of only 25mm and often enters buildings via broken drains, hence the name sewer rat. This large rodent may also enter via damaged walls, subterranean conduits, broken vents or holes around pipes.

Brown rats are only pregnant for three weeks and can have six to ten babies in a litter resulting in a rat infestation building up very quickly. The gestation period for both rats and mice is only three weeks and the female is able to conceive again immediately. It is therefore very important to employ a professional rat control company such as Beaver Pest Control London.

The brown rat is wary of any changes to the environment, called neophobia. Successful rat treatments can therefore be difficult because the rodents may not eat the rat poison or enter a rat trap. Beaver Pest Control London offer set prices for private house rat control and a free survey for business properties.