Winter is here without the cold weather so far. The unseasonal warm start to the season while very pleasant has delayed the usual influx of rodents both rats and mice into our homes and out buildings as they look for shelter for the winter period. Although late now they are turning up.
This year is presenting with unusually high numbers of rats moving in, (particularly Rattus rattus commonly called the roof rat), uninvited and causing havoc particularly when they start breeding within our buildings multiplying their numbers significantly in a short period of time. Across the Scenic Rim and adjoining districts there has been many situations where we have been called upon to manage rodents. These range from homes around Boonah and Peak Crossing, businesses and homes in Kalbar, Aratula and Harrisville with farms in between also being affected.
What damage can rats cause?
These pesky critters can and do cause extensive damage by gnawing on electrical wiring, plumbing and other fixtures in our homes and buildings as well as cars and other machinery requiring expensive repairs. One situation we dealt with is worth mentioning as it highlights the health risks which rodents pose. A horse breeding establishment had a number of foals become sick unexplainably with some dyeing. On investigation a rat problem was found in hay sheds, grain storage and feed preparation sheds. Adjacent to these sheds were a number of hollow pepperina trees where rats had taken up residence. Rats were found to be contaminating hay and grain feed with urine and faeces that was then fed to the horses including the foals. It is suspected that through the contaminated feed a number of foals became diseased.
How do you get rid of rats?
Controlling rats typically invokes the use of a combination of treatment methods including baiting and gels. We recently conducted a significant treatment to a property using these methods. In the first four days apart from the occasional dead rat not much change occurs, then a large number of rats where removed, being picked up daily by the corn bag full. This continued over a number of weeks with the volume of dead rats diminishing as time progressed. In all many hundreds of rats were bagged and disposed of with the situation coming under control at around the three week mark.
It is important to keep some form of rodent control present in our homes and buildings to prevent the worst from occurring. Don’t forget to keep an eye on your rodent programme and top it up when required.
Still concerned?
Contact Amalgamated Pest Control Boonah about rodent control measures for your business, industry or home and get advice tailored to your situation from the professionals.
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