The Brown Rat

Rat Pest Control in Taunton, Somerset and Devon. Our rat control call out service offers professional, discreet solutions to solve your rat problem quickly, effectively and at a very competitive price. Call us now for a no obligation quote or if you would like to know more about rats and what we do read on.

Biology

Brown Rats along with House Mice are known as commensal rodents which translates into “Sharing mans table” which is a pretty good description as they need our presence to live. Brown Rats belong to the mammal order Rodentia. This name is derived from the Latin word rodere which means to gnaw. The common characteristic of all rodents are continually growing incisor teeth.

Habitat and Movement

Brown rats will live in a large variety of different locations. In natural surroundings they like to burrow into banks this would normally be near a food source. Humans have provided them with many man made habitats from sewers and drain systems to dark unused areas of garages and sheds in fact there are very few places that man exists and rats don’t.

Rats are primarily nocturnal and therefore their eye sight detects movement rather then form. Rats have an incredible sense of touch using fine hairs and whiskers (vibrissae). This allows them to navigate in the dark. Creatures of habit they are very fearful of new surroundings and objects (Neophobia).

A Pest Controllers Guide to Rats and Rat Control

For the purposes of this site and in general UK pest control we will only consider the Brown rat as a major rat pest in the U.K. Although there are occasional problems with Black rats these are rare and mainly confined to port areas where they occasionally come in on ships.

The Brown rat is thought to have originated in Asia perhaps China but no one can be sure. It is thought that they arrived in Europe at the beginning of the 18th Century. The first date recorded of Brown rats in the UK was 1728. They are also sometimes named the Common rat, House rat, Sewer rat, Wharf Rat and the Norway Rat. The term Water Rat as in “Ratty” from the wind in the willows is totally incorrect as “Ratty” was a water vole and these are NOT a pest species.

Signs of Rats

We would imagine you are reading this page because you either know or think you have Rats. There are many clues and signs to look for, but many take experience to interpret these are the main types of evidence you yourself my find
Droppings. Varying in size from 5mm to 250mm the shape of a jelly bean. If wet and shiny then they are fresh.
Damage. Torn food bags, gnawed doors, pet food going missing, fruit being taken etc.

You will only get these signs if the problem is caused by a heavy infestation.

We use only the latest tried, tested and approved pesticides.

The Safety of our Commercial customers and their environment are our number one priority.

We will explain fully any treatment we have carried out and any precautions you need to take, if you require more than one treatment you will be given a 24 hour telephone number, if in any way you are concerned you can call us. We are with you every step of the way.