The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act
1949 places a duty on owners and occupiers of property to keep
their land free from rodents and a duty on the Council to ensure
that owners and occupiers fulfil their duty.
Contact Us:
Telephone: (023) 9244 6017
Email: customer.services@havant.gov.uk
Visit: Civic Offices, Civic Centre Road,
Havant PO9 2AX
Free
service for Rat Control
About rats
Description
Free service for Rat Control:
In order to assist owners and occupiers fulfil their duty to
keep their property free of rats, the Council offers a free control
service for rats in domestic and farm premises. For further details of when
charges apply, follow this link here>>>
About rats:
The most frequent type of rat is
the common rat and this is mainly active at night. Rats are a major
hazard to health as they can spread diseases such as Weils Disease
and can cause contamination of foodstuffs. They can also cause
considerable damage to foodstuffs. Rats can cause structural damage
and can breed at an alarming rate particularly in the spring and
autumn. Rats require a nearby water source and are often found in
and near sewers or drains.
The adult common rat may weight from 10oz (300gm) and has
brown fur on its back and grey underneath; its tail is shorter than
its head and body.
Distribution
The common rat is the most abundant and widespread species and
can be found anywhere that offers shelter and food - including
sewers. They are efficient burrowers and favour compost heaps and
the ground underneath hedges and sheds where they will dig shallow
burrows and form nests with dry grass and leaves. In houses they
will nest in wall cavities and beneath floorboards.
Rats are active mainly at night but may be seen in search of
food and water during the day.
Significance
Rats are a major hazard to health. They spread many forms of
disease, some of which can be fatal to man such as Weils' Disease.
They may eat food which is intended for human consumption and they
often damage much more which has to be discarded. Through their
gnawing habit they also cause considerable structural damage to
woodwork, waterpipes, electric cables and so on.
Life Cycle
The life expectancy of rats is around 18 months, during which
time a female will typically breed five times. The average size of
a litter is between seven and eight. Breeding occurs throughout the
year but especially in Spring and Autumn.
What to look out for
There are some simple tell-tale signs to look out for that will
reveal whether you have rats in your home:
- damage from gnawing and feeding such as tooth marks on
packaging and wires;
- holes - rat holes about 80mm in diameter;
- greasy smears along walls, skirting boards and pipes from
rodent fur;
- droppings - rat droppings are 15mm to 20mm long, and are
usually grey or black in colour with a pointed end;
- flattened grass, plants and other vegetation where rats have
created their own pathway;
- nests (sometimes found indoors, in lofts or under floorboards);
and
- scratching and gnawing sounds from the loft, under the
floorboards and in wall cavities.
Control
You will need professional help in controlling colonies of
rats. Their ability to burrow, climb and jump, and the speed with
which they breed and form new colonies, make rats difficult to
control.
The following points may help to prevent an infestation:
- make sure drainpipes are not broken,and drain inspection covers
are in good condition;
- if you feed birds, use a bird table or a hanging net, and
ensure any food that falls to the ground is cleared away;
- don't leave food for other wildlife on the ground and clean up
after rabbits, guinea pigs and other pets,making sure their cages
are raised off the ground;
- don't put meat into compost heaps or compost bins or other
non-fruit or vegetable waste onto open compost heaps - use a
properly designed compost unit;
- when building a compost heap or siting a compost bin, use
strong small guage wire mesh on the base or site them on a
concrete base to stop rats digging underneath;
- secure outbuildings and sheds so that rats and mice cannot get
inside;and
- make sure gardens don't become overgrown, and dont let rubbish
build up outside (such as old carpets, timber, etc) as this will
provide protection for rats
In the event of infestation our Pest Control Officers will
visit and survey the area to determine the most appropriate control
measures, which may include the laying of poison baits along rat
runs and in the drainage system.
The baits must be left undisturbed and will be examined
by our officers when a revisit is made.
Safety
All pesticides are applied by our qualified and experienced
staff to ensure the safety of the public and to minimise damage to
the environment.
For further information and advice: