Summer coming to an end and rodents are moving back into our homes

Are you waiting to hear the sound of rats and mice scratching around in your loft this winter? Judging by the call outs we are already getting already, it’s during the colder winter months that rodents tend to enter homes more frequently – certainly in Didcot, Wallingford, Wantage and Newbury. This is due to the warmth and shelter from the cold and wet weather outside and sometimes a tasty food source inside. 

You may be aware of the damage rodents can do in the loft from chewing. Not only is it damage to homes, they also have the potential cause a variety of illnesses. The damage is caused by their need to chew to keep their constantly growing teeth to a reasonable length. Rats can gnaw and claw at materials such as floors, walls and ceilings. It can include your loft insulation and personal belongings stored up there. Their urine and faeces will build up and produce foul-smelling odours in your home. They also can cause fire or water damage by chewing on electrical wires or plumbing pipes, which can be expensive and hard to replace. 

Rodent-based illnesses can be transmitted when rodents are active in our kitchens and cupboards. Germs that were brought in on rats’ bodies infect our food and surfaces. 

To keep rats out of your loft this winter, you will want to make sure you:

• seal off all entry points leading into your home;

• look around the window and door frames;

• trim back tree branches and bushes that are next to your home so that they don't touch your house; and

• check drains for signs of rat activity.

You will find that rodents are persistent and will keep trying to enter your home. That’s why it is so important to seek professional pest control for a rodent problem. Shire Pest Solutions is here to help you keep them from taking over.

Contact us today to find out more about the many rodent solutions we have.