Mice & Rats

 

“House” mice are considered amongst the most troublesome and economically damaging rodents in the UK.   The female produces 5 to 10 litters per year, averaging five per litter. Mice contaminate foodstuffs with their urine, droppings and hair and one of the diseases they may transmit to humans is food poisoning. 

Mice also chew cables and wiring and this can cause short-circuiting and increase fire hazard.

 

Common rats live in any situation that provides food, water and shelter. The common rat is the most widespread of its species and is widely found in urban and rural areas.

In homes they will live in loft spaces, wall cavities, cellars or under floorboards. 

In gardens, they will burrow into compost heaps and grassy banks or under sheds.  

Rats will eat or contaminate food intended for humans.   favourite foods for rats are cereal products, although they will eat almost anything that humans eat. Rats can transmit several diseases to humans including Weil’s disease which is a bacterial infection that attacks the kidneys and liver and can be deadly.