Rats bring with them a whole host of problems, from health risks to humans to structural damage from their ‘gnawing’ behaviour. Getting rid of them is important in maintaining your home, however understanding what factors can increase the risk of an infestation is an important question to answer to ensure you can take steps to prevent them (which you can read about here) in the first place or stop them coming back again.
In this post, we will have a look at some of the key reasons why rats can infest your property and some easy methods to reduce this risk. However, if you do find your property infested with these unwanted guests, we supply a fully range of DIY pest control solutions such as rat poisons, traps and bait stations to get on top of the situation quickly.
Shelter
One of the main reasons a rodent will infest your property is because they are looking for shelter. They’re more than happy to make a home anywhere, such as under decking, sheds, compost bins or in vegetation in gardens. In the colder months (from autumn onwards) they will be more tempted to create their nests in warmer areas such as your attics or behind appliances.
They will be particularly attracted if they can find a secluded place in your home which would be suitable for them to reproduce. If there is shelter, warmth, and access to food and water they will pitch up and can reproduce at an alarming rate. Cluttered areas (more information on this below) will also increase the habitability for them.
The Weather
Yes, the good old British weather can also increase the risks of rats infesting your home. Summer months bring with them an abundance of food sources such as fruit, grains and insects. Vegetation will also be plentiful which provides more opportunities to build nests and safer, sheltered travel routes which will tempt them into gardens.
During colder months, these ‘natural’ food sources become scarcer which tempts rats into homes in search of sustenance from food cupboards or bins. As vegetation dies back, human made infrastructure such as drains, wood piles or other debris can provide them with the safe travel routes they’ve lost from the lack of vegetation.
The colder temperatures also push the rats into homes as they search for warmth. Areas that are by their nature warmer such as attics or near appliances can be a rodents’ favourite.
Another factor of the changing weather is flooding. As rats often live underground, the increased risk of flooding during autumn and winter (which is increasing and becoming more unpredictable as we experience the effects of climate change) can flush them out from nests and burrows, or from overflowing drains if they’re living in sewers. This can force them to look for new homes, with your warm, food-abundant house a perfectly viable option.
Poor weather can also wreak havoc on waste collection areas, with flooding or strong winds scattering waste over unintended areas. It’s important to clean this up as soon as you see it and lock it away in secure bins so the rats can’t get to it. They won’t believe their luck if they find waste food scattered about their feeding areas and will have no reason to leave!
Poor Sanitation
The more clutter you have in your home or garden, the more places rats will have to hide and build nests. Messy vegetation in gardens, basements or attics provide the perfect opportunities for rats to hide and nest in sheltered areas that are relatively undisturbed by humans.
Clutter will also provide them with sheltered travel routes, giving them more confidence to move about. If there are food sources within the clutter, such as food waste, a big old mess can create the perfect environment for these pests.
Mess and rubbish such as cardboard, paper, fabrics or insulation that are loose are also a problem as they can be used by the rodents to make nests, whether inside or outside your home.
Therefore, as with any pest control, good hygiene practices including keeping your home clutter free is a key step in avoiding unwanted guests.
Food
Another core reason for rats infesting your home is because they will be looking for food. In spring and summer, there are often plenty of food sources outside in the fields including fruit, grains and insects. During the colder months, they are more likely to venture nearer homes in search of food such as waste in bins, pet food, or cupboard-essentials such as grains. They are mainly active at night but can be spotted in search of food during the day.
They aren’t particularly fussy about what they eat (makes sense if they’re looking for food in bins) so any access to edible goods can be a significant factor in them sticking around.
It is therefore essential to ensure any food sources are stored securely, whether this is in bins or sealed in packaging and placed in cupboards. Food sources such as bird feed or fruit in gardens should also be made inaccessible.
Water
To complete the trio (food, shelter and...) water. Rats, of course, need a source of water to survive so anywhere that gives them easy access to this can increase their presence.
Any source of water (broken drains, ponds, bird baths or water in pet bowls) will suffice for a rat. However, the access may not be easy to spot, such as leaking pipes, therefore it’s important to keep your home in good general repair.
Structural Damage
The more damage there is to your home or property, such as cracks, crevices, holes in walls or any kind of openings, the more likely rats are to welcome themselves in. They are adept climbers and jumpers so even damage to areas such as attics and roofs can provide them with easy access. They can also squeeze through tiny holes which makes even the smallest of cracks a potential entry point.
Damage to drains and plumbing can also increase the risks here. Rats will use damaged drains to travel between a favoured shelter of theirs (the sewer) and food sources in your home or garden. If there are plumbing issues causing leaks, this can provide them with an easy access water source.
Entering is one thing, however the chances of them staying/nesting in your home is dramatically increased if they also have access to water, food and an undisturbed area to nest.
Signs of a Raf Infestation
We have written a full article on the signs of a rat infestation, however a brief overview is below:
Strange Sounds
Such as scurrying or gnawing noises.
Unusual pet behaviour
Such as hyper-activity or restlessness.
Tracks
Including footprints, hairs or grease marks.
Stale Smells
Foul smells from excrement or rotting dead rats.
Holes Chewed through walls
Where rodents gain access to your property.
Gnawing marks
On anything from food packaging to electric wires.
Including cardboard, fabrics and insulation scattered around.
Droppings and urine stains
Pellet shaped droppings and urine stains found on travel routes/in nesting areas.
Physically seeing them
Dead or alive!
How Can I Prevent An Infestation
There are plenty of ways to reduce the risk of a rat infestation. The good news is that a whole heap of them only require actions that should be followed normally anyway, such as good hygiene practices. Other methods include:
Keep gardens and homes clean and tidy to prevent potential nesting sites
Use secure bins for waste
Remove food sources such as fruit and bird feed from gardens
Keep your home in good repair, including fixing cracks & crevices and plumbing issues as they arise
Store food in sealed containers
Regardless of how closely you follow good practices, it’s always important to stay vigilant as there are no guaranteed ways to prevent rat infestations. Once a problem arises, look to address it as soon as possible as these rodents bring with them a significant risk to human health as well as structural and emotional damage. They also breed rapidly so the quicker you address them, the smaller the problem you’ll be facing.
Conclusion
There are multiple reasons why rats will infest your home or garden. Food, water and shelter are the obvious ones and eradicating their access to each of these necessities can be effective solutions to keeping them at bay.
There are also other factors that may be harder to address, such as changing weather conditions, increased risks of flooding, cracks in your property, or vegetation in your garden that can entice them.
Good hygiene practices, keeping your home in good repair, and keeping your garden tidy are all necessary steps to take to keep these critters at bay.
However, sometimes these pests will invade your property and there isn’t much you can do about it (especially if your neighbours are not following the same practices as you are to keep them away).
If you do experience a rat infestation, we supply a range of rat poisons, traps and bait stations to get on top of the problem efficiently. Our full stock can be viewed with the below button.
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