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Getting rid of mice and rats
Mice and rats can cause many problems including spreading disease and causing damage by chewing through structures and cables. There are some simple steps you can take to control and prevent infestation.
Identifying the problem
House mice are small, usually between seven to nine centimetres long and are grey in colour. House mice are mainly active at night, although you might see them during the day. Nests are made of shredded fibrous materials such as paper and look like a ball of material loosely woven together, usually about 12 to 15 inches across. You may find partially nibbled food and small droppings.
Rats are larger in size (32cm to 43cm from nose to tail) and are of a greyish brown colour with a long hairless tail. Droppings near food sources are the most common sign of rats along with evidence of gnawing, rub marks, tracks, burrows and nests.
Mice and rats contaminate the environments in which they live through their urine, droppings and hairs. They can carry a wide range of diseases which can be passed on to humans, either by directly contaminating food with droppings and urine, or by contaminating surfaces. Rats in particular can pass on the potentially fatal Weils Disease, carried by around 15 to 30 per cent of the rat population.
They can also cause extensive structural damage to property. They are capable of gnawing a range of materials. There is a significant risk of fire and electrocution as a result of mice and rodents chewing through electric cables and wiring in particular.
Reduce the risk of mice and rats in your home
Mice and rats may be discouraged and infestations prevented by improving hygiene and by blocking access points to your home:
- check that air bricks are in place and intact (do not block them)
- inspect for access points around gas, electricity and water pipes
- check that doors fit tightly
- fit cone guards around the bottom of drainpipes to prevent rats from climbing up
- fit metal balloon guards to the bottom of drainpipes to prevent them climbing up the inside
Improved hygiene will restrict the availability of food for mice and rats, reducing the chances that they will remain and breed successfully. Examples of how hygiene can be improved are:
- store food carefully so that they do not have access to food sources
- sweep up any spills as soon as they happen
- remove rubbish and other materials that can be used by mice
- clean up under work units and other areas where food debris can build up
Controlling mice
House mouse problems will sometimes occur despite hygiene and proofing action. In such circumstances, it will be necessary to take control measures in order to eliminate the infestation. There are two methods of control available:
- trapping
- poison baiting
If you have a mouse problem that you do not wish to deal with yourself, contact the environmental health department of your local council or call in a pest control company.
The leaflet from Defra called 'House mice' gives advice on different methods you can use to get rid of mice.
Controlling rats
Before attempting to deal with a rat problem yourself it is essential to carry out a survey to identify where rats are living, feeding and drinking, and the routes they take between these areas. Look for:
- holes and burrows
- runs and tracks
- droppings
- footprints
- other signs such as sightings or a musky smell
Find out how the rats are getting into your home (this can be done by blocking any holes with newspaper (or similar) and coming back 24 hours later to see which holes have been re-opened). You can then take preventative action to permanently block the access holes.
If you have a rat problem that you do not wish to deal with yourself, contact the environmental health department of your local council or call in a pest control company.
The leaflet from Defra called 'Rural Development Service Technical Advice Note 04 - Rats' gives advice on different methods you can use to get rid of rats.
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