How rats get in your house

by SerumTD-019 | Jul 27, 2020 | Blog, Rats

They’re dirty, destructive and a horrifying sight in your house. Even Sir David Attenborough admits he’s not their biggest fan. Unfortunately for us South Aussies, our cold winter is encouraging rats to shelter in our homes and they’re very good at finding their way in there.

How do rats get in your house?

You don’t need a rat-sized hole to let one into your house. Rats are amazingly good at squeezing through tight spaces – even smaller than a 20-cent coin. They are also good at gnawing, digging and jumping, so have a lot of skills at their disposal to make it inside.

Some of the ways that rats can get in your house include:

Holes in the roof

Your roof will usually have small gaps created by your roof corner intersection, which rats can usually fit through. They can also chew through ridge cap plugs to gain entry. Any gaps should be sealed with a waterproof sealant.

Cracks in your walls

Rats can enter via cracks in your external walls, then find a way through the inner wall where you have existing holes for pipes and wiring. Smaller holes can be filled with caulk and larger holes with steel wool or waterproof sealant.

Gaps around windows

Any small spaces around your windows are often big enough for a rat to crawl through. Check and seal any windowsill gaps and check your flyscreens for holes.

Chimneys

Chimneys are an easy entry point and a good nesting spot for rats. Installing a chimney grate or cap is usually the best way to help keep them out.

How to tell if you have rats in your house

While seeing a live rat is a pretty obvious sign you have a problem, other indicators to look out for include:

Rat droppings, which look like large, dark brown grains of rice
Gnaw marks on anything from walls to pipes to food containers
Squeaking or scurrying sounds coming from the walls or roof
Greasy rub marks on walls or furniture (these are from the oily sebum in the rat’s fur)
A strange musty odour

What to do if you already have rats in your house

If you think you have rat problems, the first thing to do is check for any entry points using the list above. Given rats are so crafty, these can sometimes be tricky to find and you may need the help of a rat control expert.

Once all entry points are sealed up, you can manage the rats with traps or bait. It’s important to remember that rats are ‘neophobic’, meaning they are afraid of new things, so it can take several days for them to build up the courage to inspect the trap or bait.

When to use professional rat control

If you have rats in your house, DIY rat control can be effective in some situations. However if the problem doesn’t seem to be going away or you are concerned about children, pets or wildlife accessing bait, it’s wise to get a professional to do the job properly.

At Allstate Pest Control Adelaide we always start with exclusion – finding all rat entry points and sealing them up. We then manage the rats using strategically placed, lockable bait stations that keeps the bait safely out of reach of children and pets. All treatments are covered by a 6-month warranty, meaning that if rats return within that time frame we will re-treat your home free of charge.

To get rats out of your house and keep them out, live chat now or phone us on 8371 1277 to book.

Reopening business? Covid-19 shouldn’t be your only hygiene concern

by SerumTD-019 | Jun 18, 2020 | Blog, Business

A message from Vasili, CEO – Allstate Pest Control

As South Australia eases restrictions and more businesses reopen and return to onsite work, much attention is being placed on number of people per room, hand sanitiser dispensers and elbow bumps. And while these measures are important for keeping everyone safe and preventing future outbreaks, we need to address a second big issue – pests have quite possibly running amuck in your premises for the last three months.

While pests are always trying to find a way indoors, our absence has been great for opportunistic rodents, flies and other pests. And while you may not always see them, it doesn’t mean they’re not lurking in drains, behind cupboards or wall crevices – compromising health and ready to disturb customers and staff at worse possible moment.

Pests you should look our for and why

Some pests pose more of a problem than others. These are the main ones to look out for:

Rats and mice

Notorious for carrying diseases and damaging walls and furniture, rats and mice are a major hygiene problem, particularly for food service businesses. And because they dwell in enclosed areas like corners and behind cupboards, it could be a while before you realise they’re there. Look out for:

A strange, musky smell left by the rodents’ bodies, faeces and urine
Dark droppings – mice droppings look like ground coffee, while rat droppings are slightly bigger and look like grains of rice
Squeaking or scurrying sounds coming from the walls
Greasy streak marks on walls or furniture, left by rodents’ fur
Signs of gnawing, or tears to food packaging

Cockroaches

Like rats and mice, cockroaches are very unhygienic and fast breeders. They contaminate food, spread disease, and can cause asthma and other allergies. Keep an eye out for:

An unusual musty smell
Brown smear marks, usually seen on horizontal surfaces and where walls meet the floor
Egg capsules, which are brown and oval-shaped
Cockroach droppings, which look like ground coffee
Live cockroaches – if you see one there are almost certainly many more out of sight

Flies

Flies are not only a nuisance, but pose a health risk to both customers and staff, thanks to their ability to spread diseases like Salmonella and E.coli. If you notice signs of flies, it’s important to nip a small outbreak in the bud before it becomes a major problem. Watch out for the following types of flies:

House flies will be found hanging around rubbish bins, as this is where they lay their eggs
Drain flies – a tiny tan-coloured fly which dwells around drains as the name suggests
Fruit flies are found around drains, rubbish bins, and empty bottles and food containers

Ensure a successful reopening with a Return to Work Pest Service

If you’ve just reopened, there’s an easy way make sure you’re pest free. Allstate’s Return to Work Pest Service is a straightforward inspection and managion program so you can be confident your business is 100% safe and healthy.

Find out more COVID-19 page or phone us on 8371 1277 to book.