Temperatures have dropped recently and rodents will have been looking for somewhere warm to protect themselves. With your property providing all of their necessities such as food, water and shelter, they will jump at the chance to get inside. When they're found on property, it's vital for many reasons to have them removed quickly - but how do we conduct our inspections and get the job done?
The first task is a top-to-bottom survey of the building, and if required, any outbuildings that may also be or become problematic. Attics are a great starting point as they're usually insulated. Holes in insulation are a common entrance point for rodents, so we look for activity in these areas. We set bait points up in these areas as this helps us accurately identify the entrance points.
Rodents will use pipework in your property as an easy method of getting around. This is why the next place we inspect will be airing cupboards as this is often somewhere with open holes and pipes for them to use. We'll bait these entry points to monitor their activity. Our kitchens provide the intruding rodents with food and water, so we look to bait here too. We'll look under kick boards and in cupboards where sinks and plumbing is installed as there will be even more pipework and hiding spots in these places.
The final stage of the initial inspection is to look externally for water sources and entrance points that these pests may be using. We'll search outbuildings and sheds for droppings and activity, as well as ponds, sewer drains and any other source of water. We use bait boxes to clear these areas of rodents.
This is only the first stage of a full inspection and extermination - it's important that second and sometimes third visits are also carried out to review the initial work. We also carry out minor proofing of entrance points once our work is complete. While it might seem like the right thing to do, it's important that you don't attempt to block potential entrance points without a specialist; this won't clear the rodents, but it's difficult to locate all of the small holes that they'll use.
If you suspect that there are rodents on your property, it's vital that you look at your options for removal; there is a legal obligation under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 to keep premises rodent free, or, if rodents pose a threat to health or property, to report infestations to the local authority. Contact us now to book a property survey:
