Rat & mouse control
Scratching in the loft, droppings in a cupboard or a rat in the garden. Rodents breed quickly, so the sooner they are dealt with, the easier they are to clear.
Signs to look for
- Droppings: mouse droppings are small, like grains of rice; rat droppings are larger, about the size of an olive stone
- Scratching or scurrying in walls, ceilings or the loft, usually at night
- Gnaw marks on food packaging, skirting boards, pipes or cables
- Greasy dark smears along walls where they run regularly
- Burrows in the garden, often under sheds, decking or compost heaps
Why it matters
Rats and mice contaminate food and surfaces, and rat urine can carry Weil's disease (leptospirosis). They also gnaw through electrical cables, which can start fires.
The longer rats and mice are left, the bigger the job. If you have seen the signs, it is worth acting now.
What Steve does
- Survey the property to find how they are getting in and where they are nesting
- Place professional baits or traps in secure stations, out of reach of children and pets
- Advise on proofing the gaps they are using, or seal them where possible
- Return to check activity and remove bait once the problem is cleared
Keeping them out
- Seal gaps around pipes and under doors: a mouse can squeeze through a gap the width of a pencil
- Keep food, including pet food and bird seed, in sealed containers
- Clear garden clutter and keep compost and bins covered
- Cut back vegetation growing against walls
Rats & mice: your questions
Is it safe to have rodent bait in a house with children or pets?
Professional bait is placed inside tamper-resistant stations, positioned where children and pets cannot reach it. Steve will talk you through where everything is and what to look out for.
How many visits will it take to get rid of rats or mice?
Most jobs need an initial treatment and at least one follow-up visit to check activity and remove bait. Larger or long-standing infestations can need more.
I only saw one mouse. Do I really need pest control?
Where there is one there are usually more. Mice breed quickly, so dealing with them early is quicker and cheaper than waiting.
Other pests Steve deals with
Covering Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex and Greater London, for homes and businesses.
Think you have rats and mice?
Call, WhatsApp a photo, or send a message. You deal with the person who will actually do the job.