Rats want to be somewhere warm when the cold weather arrives as much as humans do.
Householders and businesses in Ireland have been warned to be vigilant in proofing their premises from rodents as the country is gripped by freezing temperatures brought on by Storm Emma and the Beast from the East.
Rentokil, a pest control provider, have reiterated the need to take steps to proof premises from the presence of rodents with
no sign of the freezing weather lifting in the immediate future.
Dr Colm Moore, Area Technical Manager at Rentokil, said: “During winter months, rodents like to base themselves somewhere warm, quiet and close to a source of food. If you can prevent rats you will also reduce the damage and health risks they cause.
“They can be very persistent and if rats gain access into your home or business they can spread disease, cause damage and contaminate food. One pair of rats shed more than 1 million body hairs each year and a single rat can leave up to 25,000 droppings.
“If you have already spotted signs of rats, such as droppings, prevention may already be too late. We would advise you to act quickly to get rid of them and prevent a large infestation.”
Rentokil urged householders to follow a few simple tips to avoid attracting rodents onto their premises.
- Keep foodstuffs in metal or glass containers with tight fitting lids.
- Tidy inside the house and around the garden - less clutter means less places to hide.
- Put outdoor rubbish bags in metal bins with securely fitted lids to stop them feeding from contents.
- Clean up pet food and bird seed debris, and store pet food in robust containers with fitted lids - preferably above ground level.
- Keep gardens free from debris - If you have a compost heap don’t include organic food waste, as this will attract them.
