How to safely remove rats from your home and how to spot an infestation

-Credit: (Image: Getty)
-Credit: (Image: Getty)


The capital is crawling with rats with The Metro reporting around two of the critters for every Londoner. They’re mainly nocturnal and live underground, keeping mainly out of sight.

Rats eat the food we throw away and can spread diseases among humans, like the medieval Black Death which was spread by fleas living on them. So with restaurants and venues shut due to lockdown you’d have thought rat rates would plummet.

But you’d be wrong - they soared. Lockdowns led to scores of commercial property closures and the disruption of pest control services.

READ MORE: Critically endangered bongo calf born at Woburn Safari Park

Keep an eye out for signs of an infestation -Credit:Getty
Keep an eye out for signs of an infestation -Credit:Getty

This meant business owners were forced to postpone or cancel upcoming visits with the lack of pest management in closed premises leaving open doors to infestations. Pest expert Mark Moseley, founder of Pest Gone Environmental said : “Rats are always prevalent in our towns and cities, where there is a big build-up of people there is going to be a lot of food waste, food coming into that location so that is where the rats are going to try and nest.

"The saying you are never more than seven feet away from a rat is true in our cities because they are under our feet in our sewer systems where they nest and travel from A to B. When the pandemic hit all the restaurants shut down, so there was no food waste, no food coming into the cities.”

However, there are a few things you can do to minimise infestations. Find out more below.

Signs of an infestation

Look out for sure signs of an infestation -Credit:Getty
Look out for sure signs of an infestation -Credit:Getty

There will be evidence of waste such as dropping and the smell of urine. But also look out for areas which are stained as this could be attributed to urine.

You may also see signs of gnawing, such as on food packets. Scratching noises are also a giveaway, as they’re nocturnal animals so you may hear them scrabbling around the house at night.

Preventing an infestation

Rats eat any food they can find so lock away any rubbish -Credit:Getty
Rats eat any food they can find so lock away any rubbish -Credit:Getty

Blocking up entry holes is the first point of call. It’s advisable you get a professional to do this so they can identify spots you may have missed.

This typically includes clogging the holes with foam and filling them with wire wool as rats can’t chew through this. Keep your kitchen free from crumbs as this makes for the perfect feeding frenzy.

Food - including for pets - should be stored in an air-tight container. But most importantly, if you see signs of rats, call pest control immediately.

Can rats climb walls?

Rats are very agile and so have no issue climbing walls -Credit:Getty
Rats are very agile and so have no issue climbing walls -Credit:Getty

Rats are brilliant climbers and can scale vertical angles with ease. In fact, they can jump a vertical foot, and these skills allow them to navigate rooftops, attics, and upper floors of buildings - places where they can find warmth and nesting sites without much disturbance.

How to get rid of rats humanely

Sticky traps - so strong rats can’t leave - are inhumane as they die of dehydration and end up gnawing on their limbs. Traditional traps also break the animals' necks, so that should - unless absolutely necessary - be off the table too.

If you’re faced with a real problem and you've exhausted all preventative measures then this humane trap will suffice. You simply put some bait inside , and leave the trap. It won’t harm the animal and you will have to take it and release it a suitable distance from your home.

Buy the humane trap here.

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