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21st December 2017
04:48pm GMT

In order to keep at bay this spurt in the number of cockroaches, a sound pest prevention programme has been suggested in particular for various reputable businesses, such as bars, restaurants and shops. Meanwhile, in the case of rodents, a combination of cold weather and a scarcity of food will likely draw them into Irish homes.
There are a couple of simple steps that can be taken to prevent cockroaches from infesting your property or premises:
“Christmas is a time of warmth [in] abundance and this is true for both your family and pests. With cold weather and lots of leftover food, there are plenty of ways that pests can ruin Christmas for you and your loved ones. Ensure that leftover Christmas food is stored properly in the fridge, so you don’t attract rodents. Leaving leftover food out in the open is an invitation to hungry mice and rats."
Although tips such as the above can make a difference, it’s almost inevitable that some rodents may find their way inside a building and with that in mind, Rentokil says that it’s best to initiate pest control measures at the earliest stage possible. Rentokil has created a webpage called ‘What is the Difference Between a Rat and a Mouse’ to help home and business owners identify which pest is invading their property and an interactive map, named ‘The Rise of The Rats’, to visualise this rapid reproduction rate. A female brown rat, for example, typically births six litters a year consisting of 12 rat pups, although 5-10 pups is more common. Rats reach sexual maturity after four to five weeks, meaning that a population can swell from two rats to around 1,250 in one year, with the potential to grow exponentially. Known for their fierce survival instincts, brown rats prefer to build their burrows in urban sewers and the dwellings of humans, eating one-fifth of foodstuffs planted every year, but contaminating far more.