Unwanted Rats and Mice
Rattus norvegicus, brown rat, Norway rat, common rat is most common rat, it is thought to have originated from China (not Norway) and spread to all continents except Antarctica. It is the dominant rat in Europe.
A full grown brown rat is 25 cm long with a similar tail length and weighs on average 350g (maximum weight 500g), females slightly less at 250g.Its fur is coarse and usually brown or dark grey .Rats have acute hearing but their eye sight is poor.
The brown rat is usually active at night and can travel up to 1 kilometer per night looking for food. They are good swimmers. The brown rat can breed all year round if conditions are good (5 litters a year), they have on average 8 pups, gestation period is 21 days. Life expectancy is 12 to 18 months (max 3 years).It is estimated there are 80 million rats in the UK (more rats than people).
Brown rats carry some diseases including Weil’s disease, rat bite fever, cryptosporidiosis, viral hemorrhagic, Q fever and Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Rats live all around us living under sheds, decking and sometimes enter properties. People feeding the birds are a major factor in the increase in rats.
Rats and Mice Control
There are many species of mice with the house mouse being the most common pest. Mice range in size including tail from12 to 21 cm and weigh up to 2oz.Their fur colour ranges from white to brown to grey .They are native to Eurasia and Africa.
Mice are normally active at night but will not travel to far from the nest if a food supply is nearby. They are incontinent and tend to leave droppings where ever they have been. Mice are sexually active at 50 days old; the average gestation period is 20 days. They have 10-12 pups depending on conditions.
Mice tend to move into properties when the weather turns cold and can access properties through very small holes. This makes proofing difficult.
Rodents Solution
For rats in properties we carry out 2 visits (2 weeks apart) treat the property and we also proof against re-entry. In gardens we carry out 2 visits (2 weeks apart) using heavy duty lockable bait stations.
For mice in properties we carry out 2 visits (2 weeks apart) to treat mice and proof any obvious holes.
Commercial work, inspection needed and quotes given.
For more information about our rat and mice control and removal services in the Birmingham Solihull, Knowle, Dorridge, Redditch, Bromsgrove, Oldbury, Halesowen, Hagley, Walsall, West Bromwich, Tamworth and Lichfield areas, please contact us by phone, email or complete the simple enquiry form above or go to the contact form page.