What causes rats?

Discovering that rats have infested your home can be disturbing, to say the least. Not only are these rodents dirty and can carry diseases that they can transmit to humans, but they can also cause significant damage to our properties due to their gnawing and burrowing behaviours, as well as their nesting activities. Knowing what causes rats in the first place is the first step in preventing these unwanted guests in your home. Read on to find out what leads to rat infestations in homes.

Food sources

One of the most common causes of rat infestations is the availability of food sources. As opportunistic feeders, they are attracted to properties where they can easily find food. This can range from forgotten crumbs on kitchen worktops to open pet food containers or rubbish bins. To make your home a less appealing place for rats, make sure you store food in airtight containers and make sure pet food is not left out overnight. You should also dispose of rubbish regularly and carry out regular cleaning to remove crumbs and spills. 

Water sources

Just like all living creatures, rats need water to survive. This means that they are attracted to accessible water sources in your home, including leaky pipes, standing water, and clogged drains. To reduce the appeal of your property to rats, it’s important to address any water-related issues as soon as possible. Fix any leaks promptly and eliminate standing water. Ensuring proper drainage and maintenance can prevent water from accumulating in areas of your home or garden. We also recommend cleaning gutters regularly to prevent them from becoming clogged and overflowing. 

Too much clutter 

Rats love to find cosy hiding spots, which means that too much clutter in your home can provide them with the ideal place to nest. Unnecessary items piled up in your attic, basement or garage or untamed vegetation in your garden offer a safe haven for these pests. We strongly advise clearing out the clutter in your home and getting rid of any items you don’t want or need anymore. Keeping your home organised can eliminate areas where they can nest and breed, helping to prevent a full-blown infestation. 

Entry points 

Rats are really good at finding entry points into your property. This can include cracks in the foundations, gaps around the windows and doors, and even roof or soffit vents. Rats can squeeze through even very small openings, and they are excellent climbers, which means they can access entry points at various heights. Strikingly, they can even climb down chimneys if they’re damaged or uncapped. Sealing gaps and openings in entry points is crucial for keeping rats out of your home. 

Neighbouring infestation

When people ask us what causes rats, we always tell them to look next door. If your neighbour is dealing with a rat infestation, there’s a chance that this can spread to your home. Rats are extremely mobile and tend to move between locations in search of food, water, and shelter. We recommend talking to your neighbour if you suspect they have a rat infestation. Encourage them to address the issue promptly and work together to prevent the problem from spreading.

Professional rat removal in Doncaster 

If you’re dealing with a rat infestation in your home, don’t ignore the problem in the hope that it will go away. Rats tend to reproduce extremely quickly, with a pair of rats producing several litters in a single year, each with several pups. This rapid reproduction rate means that an infestation is likely to get significantly worse over time. If you’ve noticed rat droppings, gnaw marks on surfaces or even nesting materials such as shredded paper, fabric or insulation, it’s a good idea to enlist the services of a local pest control company like Topline. We regularly carry out rat removal in Doncaster and the surrounding area, serving both home and business owners. We can use a variety of effective methods to get rid of rats effectively and safely. Don’t attempt to solve the problem yourself since this can make it worse in some cases.

Common rat removal methods 

There are a number of methods we can use to remove rats from your home. We will start by carrying out a survey to determine the extent of the infestation and identify any possible access points. We will then treat the problem by either trapping the rats or using poisoned bait stations. We’ll always aim to take a humane approach when removing rats from your property. Live trapping is a humane and environmentally friendly method to capture rats without harming them. Specialised rat traps, which are like cage traps, can be used to catch rats. Once captured, they can be released at a suitable location away from your home. 

In some cases, using poisoned bait stations to eliminate rats may be more appropriate. These stations are designed to safely contain and dispense toxic bait to the rats whilst minimising the risk to non-target species, such as pets. Inside the bait station, there is a chamber where rodenticide bait is placed. The rats are attracted to the bait and consume it within the station. At Topline, we always ensure that we use poisoned bait stations with great care and with an absolute focus on safety. 

Contact us 

Now you know what causes rats, hopefully, you can take steps to prevent them from accessing your home in the first place. However, if you’ve noticed signs of them on your property, it’s important to hire a pest control company to carry out rat removal in Doncaster. Call us on 01302 969049 to discuss your requirements with one of our friendly team. Alternatively, send us a message via our website and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.