Tackle rodent infestation problems

Rodents damage stored food products, kill products and can pass on deadly diseases to people.

Control of rat is necessary in order to prevent a number of serious diseases which rats are known to transmit. Rat bears secondary parasites such as fleas, mites and ticks in their fur too. Rats can be very persistent and can transmit these diseases if they manage to gain access to your home or business premises, causing substantial harm and contaminate the food.

The first European settlers brought mice to Singapore and they have been a concern ever since. They will multiply rapidly and through their gnawing behaviours can cause serious damage to your house, company, and furniture. The droppings they leave behind will also contaminate food and other items. Their dropouts were also suspected in children as possible causes of asthma. Mice are not only destructive they were also known to cause house fires after gnawing through electric cables.

Signs of Rats

Rats are most aggressive between dusk and dawn, and it is always easier to identify the symptoms of a rat epidemic instead of a live rodent.

If you see any of the signs mentioned below, you need to act quickly to ensure that any possible rat infestation is quickly contained before it can spread, so contact us to speak to a local expert who can help you.

We suggest to act quickly as rats are well known for transmitting disease, destroying crops, contaminating foodstuffs and attracting pests such as fleas, lice and ticks to your home.

Things To Look For To Identify Signs Of Rats

Below you can quickly learn how to easily recognise the most significant indications that suggest you may be having a rat problem.

Rat Droppings

Brown Rat droppings are dark brown with a spindle shape that is tapered-like a grain of rice. Typically found as rats can produce up to 40 droplets per night in concentrated areas. Black rat droppings in a tapered, spindle shape are dark brown, about 9–14 mm long.

Bite Marks

Ratts tend to gnaw on plastic and wood to keep their teeth trimmed. Rats have an ever-growing collection of teeth. To keep them trimmed they need to gnaw on wood and plastic. You can also find torn food packaging, because rats tear open food, leaving noticeable marks on the teeth.

Rub Marks

Grease and debris are leaving smudges on the surfaces of their skin. Because of their poor eyesight Rats use proven routes along skirting boards and walls. Grease and dirt on their bodies leave smudges and dark stains on the objects and surfaces against which they constantly brush.

Scratching Noises

Black rats are agile climbers and you may hear scraping noises at night sometimes found in lofts. Black rats (also known as the roof rat) are skilled climbers and can comfortably enter the loft spaces and the buildings ' upper floors. Hearing scratching noises from above at night can indicate their presence.

Burrows

Brown rats are well known for digging extensive burrow shelter, food storage, and nesting systems. Brown rats are well-known for digging and excavating extensive burrow shelter, food storage, and nesting systems. Search for burrows in heaps of manure, under deck or garden sheds or in garages.

Rat Nests

Rats can shred available nest-making materials such as loft insulation, cardboard and other soft products. Rats use shredded material such as newspaper and fabrics to create nests in dry, hidden places. Nests also contain young rats, and are typically located near a source of food. Check appliances, such as fridges and freezers in or around your oven, behind and under.

Footprints

Rats leave foot and tail traces in dirty, underutilized building areas. Rats leave foot and tail traces in dirty, underutilized building areas. Sprinkle fine flour or talc along a small stretch of floor near the footprints to decide whether an infestation is involved, and search for fresh tracks the next day.

Signs of Mice Infestation

Although not as popular as rats in Singapore, your home or business premises could provide an ideal location for mice infestation. Once inside your property, mice prefer to keep hidden during the day. Identifying a potential infestation through signs of activity is often a lot easier than trying to spot an actual mouse, hence getting professional treatment at the earliest sign can greatly help to reduce the length of time needed to effectively control an infestation.

Signs of Mice Activities

Finding typical signs of mice, such as droppings, could indicate an active infestation in your home or business premises.

Mouse Droppings

50-80 droppings a night, small and dark (approx. 3 - 8 mm in length), scattered randomly. Look for droppings particularly along walls, in cupboards or under sinks.

Grease Marks (smudges or smears)

Mice use established routes along skirting boards and walls and grease and dirt on their bodies leave smudges and dark marks on the surfaces they repeatedly brush against. You may find dark smears around holes or around corners.

Urine Pillars

In established or heavy infestations, body grease, combined with dirt and urine, build up into small mounds up to 4cm high and 1cm wide.

Scratching Noises

People often report hearing unusual scratching noises at night when mice are most active. Listen for noises between partition walls, under floorboards, ceilings and basements.

Mouse Nests

Mice use easy to shred materials, such as newspaper and fabrics, together with other soft materials to line their nest. Check suspended ceilings, cavity walls, under floorboards, under stoves and in airing cupboards. Nests will often contain young mice.

Mouse Tracks (footprints)

Dusty environments such as unused basements can show mice tracks and tail marks. To check for activity, sprinkle flour or talcum powder and check the next day for fresh tracks.

Live or Dead Mice

Spotting a dead mouse during the daytime can be an indication of a heavy infestation.

Strong Odour

Mice urinate frequently and their urine has a strong ammonia-like smell. The stench may be very strong near the main site of activity or in enclosed spaces and may linger for a long time (even after an infestation has been removed).

Where to Check for Rats Inside a Building

• Lofts & attic spaces – search for torn loft insulation, chewed objects and droppings of rats (rat poo) in corners and inside objects such as cardboard boxes.
• Kitchens & laundry facilities – look behind appliances such as cookers, washing machines, dishwasher, and dryers. In addition, check any gaps from outside where the pipework or cables reach your house.
• Young rats will fit into out of sight areas, such as crawl spaces, suspended ceilings and even cavity walls.

Where to Check for Rats Outside your Property

Where do you start looking for the rat signs, their nests and the damage they can cause in your home or business? Rats are athletic climbers who can so easily leap, gnaw and burrow that you can test your property from top to bottom, inside and outside. Here are some popular places where you might find signs of an infestation of rats.

• Decking – check edges of decked surfaces for signs of gnawing and burrowing damage.
• Sheds – search for rat holes along the edges of sheds and out buildings (entrances to burrows).
• Garages – search gaps around door frames or gnarled holes at the bottom of wooden doors. If you do have an important garage search around the inner door, and any winds that could give in to other internal areas.
• Compost bins – compost heaps attract rats because they’re moist and have food in them. Check composter lids and base for holes and gnaw marks.
• Vegetation – check for rat holes between the roots of tree and shrub, in overgrown vegetation or surrounding wastelands.
• Drains – Test if drain covers are working, or whether holes are dug next to drain covers.

How To Deter Rats

It can be very distressing to discover rats inside your home or company. Fortunately there are ways to discourage rats and avoid an infestation. You can really make a difference by proving your home to refuse them entry and preventing easy access to food and water. Rats need simple and reliable access to a source of water, even if they only drink about 15–60ml a day.They can eat almost anything, but some prefer eating small quantities of a variety of different foods.

Rat Deterrent Tips

Here are some tips on practical ways you can help deter a rat problem:

• Hold foodstuffs with close fitting lids in metal or glass containers.
• Clean inside the house and around the garden-less clutter means fewer hiding places.
• Place the outdoor garbage bags with tightly placed lids in metal bins to stop them from feeding from contents.
• Pick up pet food and bird seed litter and store pet food with fitted lids in sturdy containers-ideally above ground level.
• Keeping gardens free of waste. Do not have organic food waste if you have compost heap, because this would attract them.
• Unless you’ve already seen rat signals, like droppings, you might be too late.

Proofing Your Home

Rats will make the most of every chance to get into your home in search of shelter and food. Black rats (the common term used in Singapore is roof rat) are strong climbers and will happily occupy roof space; whereas brown rats (sewer rats) prefer to burrow more and are highly inclined to swim in sewers and drainage systems. Both species can gnaw at holes to make them open enough to be easy to reach. We understand the habits and activities of various rat species and know how to prove your home or business premises by rodent.

Need Professional Rat Deterrents?

Tamper-resistant rat bait stations, which are professionally operated by us, are trusted rat deterrent and can be used safely even where children or pets are present. Our pest control specialists will provide the most effective treatments for a rat issue that has been found in your home or company. Perhaps the most effective way to facilitate a long-term solution to a pest problem is through professional services.

Mice Prevention Tips

In your home or company, the best way to prevent mice problems is to refuse them access inside. If they manage to gain indoor entry, it is necessary to discourage their presence by denying easy access to food and water for mice. When you can discourage mice, you’ll also reduce the harm that they can do to your property and prevent the safety hazards associated with this rodent being exposed.

Proof Your Property to Prevent Mice

One successful method of stopping mice is to show your home or business premises to keep mice out. Identify any openings higher up on the building or on the rooftop and ensure proper sealing and blocking of those possible entrances. Mice are very good climbers, they can reach rough vertical surfaces, and walk along thin wires or cables

Mice Deterrent Tips

Be careful not to collect food for mice. Food should be kept in plastic or metal containers wherever possible. Under cookers, refrigerators and cupboards vacuum daily. To prevent entry, add bristle strips to the bottom of the doors, particularly in older properties where door add might not be snug. Seal holes with coarse grade stainless steel wire wool around current or new pipes, and pliable sealant caulking. Ensure all holes in the pipework are sealed properly. Any holes that are larger than 5 mm would help mice to gain access as their jaws will fit into small spaces like these and chew wider gaps quickly to allow them to reach a house.

Repair damaged roofing, and close holes using wire mesh. Trim tree branches back from the house and avoid plants growing up on the sides of your property where possible. Vines, shrubs or branches that hang over can be used to bring mice onto the roofs. Overgrown vegetation near the walls provides cover for the mice and possible nesting sites.

How we can get rid of Rodents

Using Repellents

Electronic mouse repellents work inside human homes with the concept of using high-frequency sounds to scare mice away from food sources and breeding grounds. Ultrasonic repellents theory is to produce a sound that irritates animals, but at a frequency out of the range of human ears.

Using Traps

Traditional snap traps are available and commonly used also known as spring loaded-bar mousetraps. This can be placed on tracks that rodents move along and can be used to make traps such as food or nesting material. When triggering the spring mechanism a metal bar snaps and destroys the rodent. Classic snap traps are commonly used inside homes to capture rodents. Traps should be placed close to walls for the best performance, with the trigger plates facing the wall. Glue boards can be powerful, too. The mice should get caught in the glue if properly placed and unable to free themselves. Zapper traps attract mice into enclosures until a lethal electric shock is delivered. They are more complex than the other two devices, and require batteries.

Using Bait

Rodenticides are poison baits, and should be used in places where they can not be reached by domestic animals and children. Using tamper-resistant bait stations which hold the baits in place and keep children and pets out for protection against accidental poisoning.

Identifying Rodents

Unknown triggers of fire, strange sounds coming through the walls and the roof. Damaged labeling and hazy traces of urine. Those are all the nightmares that a small furry rodent might bring to you, to your family and to your company. Rodents are considered threats because they face dangers. An infestation of rats could potentially carry health hazards, physical harm and safety threats to you. The situation can be even more difficult as the rats and mice adapt quickly to the world in which they live. Rats can squeeze into a building through a 1 cm gap.

It is also important to know the symptoms of rats and the rat styles. Rats emerge at night; hold themselves out of human control and sight. There are generally 3 types of rats popular in Singapore. Right identification is important because it should be understood that different species have different habits and attitudes in order to be successfully handled best.

Undertaking Rat Control Yourself

When you try to handle a rat problem by yourself, you won’t have it easy. It is especially true in a situation where significant infestation of rats occurs. Home maintenance such as good housekeeping helps to have a positive effect on your attempts to manage rats too. It involves learning how to find the holes and allow rats in open access. Sealing such open access is necessary and crucial. Rat is smart, and quickly becomes wary of new stuff. They could even leap over a trap or a bait laid waiting for them! Rat skills and senses allow them to navigate in the dark with confidence. They often easily identify and prefer to avoid, for at least a few days, new objects being put in a familiar area. Being very resilient urban pests, it takes time and concerted effort to gain control impact. This can be difficult for people without the experience and knowledge of rat-changing habits, to try to eradicate them on their own.

It’s no surprise, of course, that DIY would have its own limits not only in terms of how quickly rats can reproduce given ideal conditions, but one pair of rats can produce thousands of offspring each year. Rodents are dependent on breeding from food, water and warm shelter. Here are some practical tips to remain rat-free:

• Remove food spills and waste
• Place all foodstuffs in airtight containers or in refrigerator
• Empty garbage bins regularly
• Remove bulky objects that may be hiding places
• Perform maintenance of buildings and cover holes or crevices
• Install solid wire meshes at openings that may be possible entry points

Benefits of a Professional Rat Control Service

Getting Rid of Rats in Your Home and Business

Rats can be difficult to manage on their own because of the health and safety risks they present to you, your family and your employees. Rodents freely excrete urine and dropouts which can contaminate the food, utensils, and surfaces they pass over. This puts us at risk for diseases like Salmonellosis, Weil’s Disease and plague. Both conditions may cause signs of food poisoning, such as fatigue, headaches, diarrhoea and nausea. For a pair of continuously growing incisors, rats need to keep their teeth sharp and short by gnawing at items. These gnawing habits are known to trigger fires and short circuits as rats chew through wiring. Even wood, plastics and mild steel will gnaw them. Although realistic housekeeping methods are nice to follow, this can help to some degree in managing the issue. A severe rat infestation can be further prevented and eliminated by qualified rat control solution. Rat traps, bait bins, glue boards and poison are some of the techniques employed by trained pest control experts to control an infestation. Control impact can be obtained with the right guidance, time and concerted effort.

Benefits of getting rid of rats:

• Prevent financial losses resulting from rodent damage
• Prevent property damage, food supplies and products
• Avoid food poisoning Protect company reputation from rat spotting
• Prevent spread of diseases
• Adhere to authorities regulations

How To Get Rid of Mice

When an infestation is detected, medical care is the only and most effective way to get rid of the mice. Professional solutions should ensure mice can be removed from your home or business premises easily and safely. Solutions can be customised to fit any single issue. Professional mouse control can help avoid:

• Mice and their ability to contaminate food and water sources are well known to transmit diseases. Salmonellosis and leptospirosis are only a couple of illnesses they can spread.
• Animals can also cause significant property damage and pose a potential fire threat with their habit of gnawing on electrical cables and wiring.

Getting Rid of Mice

Equally troubling is a mouse problem in your company as having an infestation in your house. Using our experience and constructive approach, we are able to guarantee full security against rodents. We will deliver tailored therapies and access to a variety of technology and innovation to ensure a guaranteed solution for your problem.