Rat & Mice Control

We offer rodent control services for Dublin, Dun Laoghaire and surrounding areas. The two most common rodents we get called out to deal with are House Mice and Brown Rats.

Our Service

We use a variety of treatments to rid properties of rodent infestations. Depending on the severity of the pest problem, we may use a combination of spring traps, cages, rodent bait and rodenticides. We can help with rodent prevention and advice on rat-proofing your home. We also provide Rat Flaps (see below) to block rodents from gaining access to your property through sewer pipes and drains.

 

Do you have a rat or mice problem? Call us now for a quote: 087 257 7017

Rats are Ireland’s most serious pest

Brown Rats (also known as the Norway Rat/Rattus Norvegiucs/sewer rats/street rats /garden rats) are Ireland’s most serious pest. They carry diseases, breed quickly and are hard to get rid of. They are often found in:

  • Commercial & industrial buildings
  • Sewer systems and drain pipes
  • On farms
  • In and around homes
  • In coastal areas and along canals

They will usually nest in cellars or on ground floors, but as Brown Rats are also excellent climbers they can also be found living in the top levels of grain stores or even inside the walls of a building.

They tend to live in colonies with other rats and they often emerge at night to run through hedges, fields and gardens in search of food.

How dangerous are Rats?

Rats pose a serious public health threat and are especially dangerous to have around families with younger children. Rats and rodents of any kind can harbour disease-carrying organisms, such as fleas or mites, which can pass on Q disease and Hantaan Fever to humans. Brown Rats also spreads Leptospirosis, commonly known as Weil’s disease, which can cause renal and liver failure in humans. Rats will also contaminate water sources.

Brown Rats are highly resistant to many types of poisons and have learned to avoid food traps, making them extremely difficult to get rid of without the help of professional rat catchers. Swift Kill Pest Control Services has considerable experience in rat removal and rat extermination.

How fast do Brown Rats breed?

A single pair of breeding Brown Rats can produce a colony of up to 800 rats after just one year. Breeding females can produce up to 50 pups a year. Newly born brown rats reach full maturity after only three months. Rat populations can rapidly increase if left unchecked.

How to recognise a Brown Rat

Although mostly brown in colour, Brown Rats may also be grey. They tend to have lighter undersides, sometimes with white patches. They can grow up to 28cm in length. Males can weigh up to half a kilogram. They have long tails and a distinctive hump-backed appearance when moving due to their heads being carried lower than their back.

Brown rats have small eyes and ears and use long whiskers and an excellent sense of smell to navigate dark environments. Rats are also neophobic, meaning they are scared of new and unfamiliar things – which makes it very difficult to catch them with traps.

Footprints can provide evidence that these rats have been in your garden: they leave behind a five-toed star-like footprint that can be up to 4.5cm in length. Look out for rat droppings, as well as for damage to foodstuff or property. Rats will often gnaw on hard and convenient surfaces, such as timber or electric cables. Often you may also come across a very distinctive and foul smell from their urine.

If you do see a rat or a mouse in your house, there’s no need to panic. Swift Kill Pest Control Services can give our advice over the phone, or even send out one of our experts to take a look for you: 087 257 7017

 

Rat Flaps

How to prevent rats & rodents from returning

Once your property is free of a rodent infestation it’s absolutely essential to take steps to keep rats and mice from returning to your property. Long-term prevention is better (and cheaper!) than having to repeatedly call our ratcatchers out to help with rodent removal.

Top 4 Ways To Prevent Rodents From Returning

  1. Block easy access to water sources:

    1. Ensure water tanks in attics have properly sealed covers.
    2. Get rid of any standing water in buckets and flower pots in your garden.
    3. Install Rat Flaps in your drains.
    4. Clean up any spillages inside your house as soon as they occur.

  2. Don’t let rodents get to your food:

    1. Do not keep rubbish in the house, and keep bins away from your house.
    2. Keep food in sealed containers.
    3. Ensure any uneaten pet food is disposed of and not left down in bowls.
    4. Place any bird-feeders away from your house.

  3. Don’t give rodents easy access to your property:

    1. Keep windows and doors closed when possible.
    2. Rat Flaps can prevent rodents from entering your property via your drainage or sewer system.
    3. Ensure any vents are also rodent-proof.
    4. Block off any holes rats or mice may enter through – a mouse can squeeze through a 6mm hole (the size of a pen) and a rat can squeeze through a 12mm hole(!).

  4. Remove places rats or mice could hide:

    1. Trim back your hedges.
    2. Don’t let your house get overly cluttered.
    3. Don’t let your garden become get overgrown, trim back hedges, avoid clutter.
    4.  Avoid having firewood piled up by your property entrances.

Get a quote today, call us on 087 257 7017