9 minute read
HOW TO KEEP RATS AND MICE OUT
Rats and Mice HOW TO KEEP
OUT OF YOUR HOME
Advertisement
With rodent numbers on the rise, Lisa Salmon finds out how to stop them moving into your home...
The number of enquiries about getting rid of rats and mice soared over the winter - possibly linked to climate change.
Figures released by Rentokil Pest Control (rentokil.co.uk) show the number of householders and businesses asking how to get rid of rodents increased by 36% this winter just gone, compared to av erages recorded over the past three years.
Colder winters usually mean fewer rodents, because they don't survive the lower temperatures, but milder weather is apparently allowing more rodents to live, and long hot summers are creating perfect conditions for young mice and rats to leave the nest and breed rapidly.
"Last year's summer was the hottest on record for the Northern Hemisphere, and the surge in roden t sightings this winter are a legacy of these conditions, as more young rodents survived through to adulthood and were then able to breed almost immediately," explains Paul Blackhurst, head of Rentokil Pest Control's Technical Academy.
"Rain and a drop in temperature cause rats and mice to migrate indoors, where there's more food and shelter. With rain falling, it's likely we'll continue to recor d a rise in rodent enquiries as rats are displaced from their burrows," he adds. "However, there are steps you can take to ensure pests are kept at bay."
Signs of a rodent problem include an unusual, ammonia-like smell, small dark droppings, greasy marks on walls or skirting boards, and gnaw marks. Hearing scratching noises, especially at night, is also a sign of rats and mice, and their nocturnal nature mean s they can remain hidden for a long time before you begin to suspect they've invaded your home.
But rodents can potentially spread germs, and damage your property through gnawing, so if you suspect you have unwanted furry house guests, it's a good idea to get rid of them quickly.
Prevention is always better than cure, however, and it's an even better ideal to try and stop rodents getting into your hom e in the first place.
Here are the sensible ways to keep rats and mice out of your home - and what to do if they take up residence... 1. SEAL GAPS Mice are capable of squeezing through gaps the size of a Biro to enter a building. So check around the outside of your home, particularly near pipes and drains, to make sure there are no holes. And if you see any, fill them with wire wool, caulk, metal kick p lates or cement.
2. CLEAN UP AFTER EATING A mouse only needs 3g of food per day, so simple measures like ensuring crumbs and dropped morsels aren't left on the floor, and that all waste food is sealed and disposed of properly is crucial. Blackhurst stresses:
"The simple step of ensuring food and waste is properly sealed and stored can make a big difference."
3. DON'T LEAVE FOOD OUT OVERNIGHT It' s easily done, but try not to leave food and leftovers out on the side in the kitchen. When the house is dark and quiet, mice will smell it and enjoy a feast.
4. ENSURE WASTE IS STORED AWAY WELL Make sure rubbish is stored in a strong bin with a lid large enough to prevent waste from overflowing. Use strong plastic or metal containers for waste so rodents aren't attracted to any smells, and don't leave f ood waste in black bin bags on the floor. "Rodents and other pests can easily tear through black bin liners to get to unwanted food," Blackhurst points out.
5. CUT OUT CLUTTER Move storage away from walls where possible, and remember less clutter means fewer places for rodents to hide.
6. YOUR BIRD FEEDER MAY BE A MOUSE FEEDER Bird feeders may attract rodents to your home, and although it may be nice to f eed the birds, you may actually be giving food and shelter to the local mice too.
7. IT'S PROBABLY NOT JUST ONE Rodents like to stay out of sight as it helps them feel safe, so seeing just one pest could actually indicate a larger problem. They also have a very quick reproduction cycle, so failing to act could create the conditions for an isolated issue to turn into a full infestation. Prevention is defi nitely better than cure. "You might not think that one mouse sighting warrants immediate attention, but a problem can quickly escalate into something more serious if left untreated," stresses Blackhurst.
8. DON'T RELY ON A CAT Rentokil insists getting a cat to deter mice is an old wives' tale, as while cats do instinctively hunt mice, a well-fed pet isn't always going to deliver effective mouse-control.
9 . O R ANTI-MOUSE PLANTS There are several plants that mice are supposed to dislike, including peppermint, chamomile, lavender, cloves and chillies. They may provide a deterrent, but it's unlikely they're powerful enough to keep mice away completely.
10. THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT TRAPS There are various types of mouse/rat traps available - some that kill the rat/mouse, and humane ones that trap them so you can set them free away from your home. It's advised that release should always be at least two miles away from your property, or you risk your unwanted house guest returning.
11. CALL IN THE EXPERTS Rodents breed very quickly, so by the time you notice they're in your home they may have a large family. Pest control experts can get rid of rats and mice from your home quickly and easily, if you don't want to t ry th e DIY route.
The SEAGULL season is nearly here... ARE you READY? We offer prompt, efficient solutions for wasps nests, moles, rats, mice and other unacceptable nuisances, using sustainable, effective, economical and environmentally sound methods. FRANK RAIMBAULT La Grenier a Pomme La Rue de la Prairie St Mary JE3 3EH T: 01534 843111 M: 07797 829885 E: malcolmlewis60@gmail.com
FUN WAYS YOU AND THE KIDS CAN RECONNECT WITH NATURE IN THE GARDEN
Top gardening influencer Ellen Mary reveals how families can reconnect with nature in their own garden. By Hannah Stephenson...
If you're lucky enough to have your own garden, there's lots of ways you and your family could enjoy it - and connect with nature and benefit from a wellbeing boost in the process.
With social distancing at the height of the agenda at present, you migh t need to make sure you keep a safe distance from neighbours, so be sensible and follow the all-important guidelines. But gardens can bolster wellbeing for both children and adults, says gardening writer, presenter and horticultural influencer Ellen Mary.
Mary, who specialises in gardening for wellbeing, has just launched a 30 Moments In Nature challenge on her website (ellenmarygardening.co.uk), featuring activities to help people reconnect with nature.
"We all lead such busy lives, with everyday stresses of work, school and digital life, that 'nature deficit disorder' and even 'plant blindness' has become all too real," she says.
"There is nature everyw her e, and spotting it, even in the most unlikely places, can give a much better understanding of how we are all connected - to nature, not our phones."
Here, Mary offers top tips on how you and your children can reconnect with nature in your own garden...
1. GARDEN TRACING This is an activity many of us took part in at school as a child and it's still really good fun, no matter what age we are. Children c an learn about plants and trees in their garden, identify them and be outside away from computers and mobile phones. Studies have shown that walking among trees reduces levels of cortisol and can even boost the immune system.
Activity: Take a walk in your garden with some paper and a crayon. Trace the bark of a tree, if you have one, and a fallen leaf to stick on the paper by your tracing. Look closely a t the tree, identify it, touch the bark and the leaves. Back inside, put it on your fridge. Each time you look at your tracing, remember how you felt in the garden, the smells and the air on your face.
2. WALK BAREFOOT Walking barefoot brings us into direct contact with the planet and allows us to absorb the natural energy the earth provides. This is known as 'earthing' and it's said to have a host of ben ef its. Great on a warm morning in the garden.
Activity: Get your socks off! Put your shoes aside. Feel liberated by walking outside on the lawn or a soft outdoor surface with bare feet.
Feel the natural negative charge from the earth being absorbed through the soles of your feet. Allow it to happen, accept it. Breathe deeply and relax.
3. SPOT A STAR CONSTELLATION When we are busy looking down at phones and laptops, it's easy to forget to look up. By looking up at the night sky not only is it a hub of fascination and awe but it's also a relaxing activity before bedtime.
Finding shapes in the moon and trying to spot star constellations can be a lovely way to switch off before a good night's sleep.
Activity: Did you ever stare at the stars as a child and wonder what they are? Glistening in the sky, light yea rs away. It's really good fun identifying star constellations but if you can't work out where Orion is, make your own shapes in the sky like a dot-todot drawing.
• Mini diggers, excavators, dumpers and lorries (self drive available) • Topsoil supplied & delivered • Black sand, chippings & hardcore supplied & delivered • Hard landscaping • Large/small excavations undertaken • Demolition • Drainage and Drain Laying • Fencing • Sand Schools
& CUTTING SPECIALISTS LTD
Core Drilling (Hole Sizes 8mm - 750mm) Wall & Floor Sawing Wall Chasing Anchor Systems
4. SOW SOME SEEDS Sowing seeds is now only a great way to grow your own food, but also for children to understand where their food comes from. Great seeds to try with children are sunflowers, nasturtiums and microgreens, which grow really quickly.
Activity: Be mindful and sow some seeds. Before you do, feel the seeds in your hand. What is the texture, shape, size? Look clo se at the detail - does each seed differ? Smell them and if they are edible, taste them.
Be marvelled at the way those tiny seeds become big fruits, vegetables or flowers.
5. SEE LIFE BENEATH Picking up a large stone from your garden, your children will be able to marvel at the life beneath. They'll be fascinated by the woodlice, ants, worms and beetles. We forget that inner child as we grow up and life ta kes over.
Activity: Revisit those memorable moments with your children, lifting a stone in your garden and encouraging the children to stay inquisitive and keep looking.
