Autumn – It’s not just humans that come inside

*This is a collaborative post

It may have been a very strange and stressful Summer in terms of Covid-19 but it has also been a pretty good one weather-wise. Some parts of the UK are still seeing some lovely sunshine, but Autumn is well on its way. The evenings and mornings are getting pretty chilly. As the weather changes so to dot the habits of some pest animals we would rather not have to deal with.

A Change on Season is the Reason

You can find a list of the pests who become more active in Autumn at https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/pest-control/, but we are going to focus on just two of them; rats and mice.

Rat and mice populations are very high during the Summer, as there is lots of food about, no issues with snow or frost, and these rodents can quite happily nest in outdoor places. However, as much of the natural food like fruit disappears our four-legged foes will start to seek shelter and other food sources. Mark Stanford, owner of Empire Pest Control in London, says:

“It’s not just wild fruit that runs out, tourist areas have less waste lying around too. Rats and mice will soon start to look for food and nests in homes as the season changes, it’s a busy time for us”

Does It Matter?

Well, while rats and mice aren’t likely to attack you, they can cause a number of problems including health ones! Rats can spread a range of diseases, mice less so but they can still cause health issues. Rats can transmit Weil’s disease as well a bacteria infections like Salmonella. But it isn’t just about diseases, rats and mice in your home really is a bad thing. They can not only destroy stored food, they can chew through containers, cupboards, and even walls. A serious infestation can actually cause structural problems in your home too. Rats and mice can also chew through electrical cables creating a fire risk. The bottom line is, you really can’t live with them, in your home.

How Do I Know I Have a Rodent Problem?

There are lots of signs of rat and mice infestation. The first thing to look out for is poo! Rat poo is obviously larger than mice and like a brown cylinder about the size of a large flu capsule. Mice leave a similar shape just lots smaller. You may also notice urine trails on surfaces. A really big “tell” is noticing chewed boxes of cereal or any chewed food containers. In some situations, you may notice footprints, especially in food cupboards with spilled flour or sugar. You can actually hear rodents in your home if you are quite enough, rats make more noise than mice but sitting quietly in the evening may allow you to hear some scampering and scratching in the walls or even ceilings.

What Do I Do?

Call the experts…. that’s it! You can try buying traps, but these have a number of downsides. The first is you have to deal with dead rats and mice. If you have kids that’s not very nice. Poison can be very effective, but it does involve having something toxic around your home. Pets and kids are at risk. Professional pest control companies will have tamper-proof traps and know exactly where to place them. It may cost more but the success rate is so much higher.

Can I Do Anything to Prevent a Problem in the First Place?

Rats and mice are actually pretty clever, and they have a very strong instinct to survive and breed. So, if you have any places for them, they will find them. There are a few things you can do to stop them. It is useful to make sure food is kept secure and bins are kept clean and emptied regularly. Big compost heaps can attract rats as well as having chickens or using bird feeders. If you have any damaged doors or broken vents that are open to the outside, then get them fixed to try and make your home secure. They are looking for a warm place to nest and breed and plenty of food. If you remove access and the food source they will hopefully look elsewhere.

Ultimately, if you think you have an issue, don’t go into meltdown, but be sensible. Call the experts, secure food, and clean surfaces more than usual.