Mice and Rats

• Service Information
• Fees

Rats

There are two types of rats common to Britain – the common or brown rat and the ship rat or black rat.

The common rat can be found almost anywhere, including sewers and beneath floorboards. Ship rats, however, are mainly found around ports and can be transported inland with cargo.

Rats can be both a nuisance and a danger to health. They can eat food intended for humans, damage electric cables and water pipes and spread many forms of disease.

Mice

As with rats, there are two types mice in Britain which can become pests; the house mouse and the field mouse. Mice are mainly found in urban and farm buildings, but are not considered a pest until they are under floors.

Mice can also spread disease fatal to man and contaminate food with their urine and droppings.

Controlling rats and mice is a difficult business and requires professional attention. But you can help prevent infestations by taking a few simple precautions.

Make sure your premises are in a good state of repair making it difficult for rats and mice to get into your property.

Do not leave food out around the house and garden.

Remove potential nesting material e.g pipes or timber or overgrown vegetation in your garden.

If you do find a mouse or rat infestation and want help removing it, trained Pest Controllers can help you.  The can assess the situation and if necessary lay bait along the rat/mouse runs and re-check the area concerned.

Fees

The Council offers a free rat and mice service for domestic premises.  Please contact Environmental Protection for further information.