Rats invade buildings in response to floods and low temperatures

IPCadmin | June 14, 2013

Widespread flooding across the UK during 2012 has caused thousands of rats to retreat from their waterlogged outdoor nests and make for the nearest dry shelter. Given rats usually live within close proximity to homes and farm buildings, indoor sightings of these pests have sharply increased in recent weeks. If a nest becomes flooded, the rats will make for the nearest open door or access point.

Danny Beginn, a professional pest controller from Knaresborough Pest Control in North Yorkshire says that not only is he getting called out more frequently than in previous years, but that the ‘busy period’ has come earlier too. “Buildings that normally offer harbourage to rats trying to escape the cold in December and January are finding rats moving in earlier due to the flooding,” says Danny. “This is particularly the case in old buildings and on farms where there’s fairly easy access for rats to come and go.

He is also experiencing rats in locations where there have never been problems before. “I had a period when I was called out to about five adjacent houses in a street where there had never been issues with rats before, but the householders were all complaining of activity in their loft spaces. It turned out the rats were all coming from their waterlogged nests under the garden sheds.”

Alan Morris from Bayer explains that if a nest becomes flooded, the rats will make for the nearest open door or access point. “If there’s food and shelter there, they’ll set up refuge in the wall cavities, under the floors or in the ceiling space,” he says.

Danny adds that once the rats have set up home indoors, they are more often than not inclined to remain there, even once the flood waters retreat. “Their nests remain saturated and as long as the food source is consistent, indoor living seems to be preferred.”

Danny explains that he has had great success with Bayer’s rodenticide Rodilon® which is approved for use indoors. “I’ve had good results with Rodilon® Blocks as they can be nailed or tied onto something, which stops the rats from carrying them away, but in this weather, it’s also stopped the bait from being swept away in floodwater, should it enter a building.

He adds that the bait is highly palatable and the rats devour it very quickly. “I’ve also found that it is incredibly fast acting. “Within a couple of days the rats are dead, which is what’s required considering the damage and health risk posed.”

Published in International Pest Control – January/February 2013 issue.

Tags: Rats, rodenticide