It may raise a smile on avid TV watchers or indeed the critics, but a rat or mouse problem in real life in your home or business is never funny. I can think of a whole raft of emotions people describe or show when I visit them with this problem, but amusement and laughter aren’t a common one!

You can limit the chances of your business or home experiencing this problem by taking some simple steps:

1. Don’t let bins overflow with rubbish. Food smells will attract rodents.  If there is a problem in your area with overflowing commercial or domestic waste, contact the council before someone else’s problem becomes your nightmare
2. Make sure there are no holes around the outside of your home or business allowing for easy access to our furry ‘friends’. Remember that mice can get through a hole just 6mm wide and a rat through a 10mm hole – scary!!!
3. Be aware if you feed the birds in winter you can’t choose which wildlife you feed – bird or rodent. It may not be your choice if a ready food source is out in the open
4. If you hear a noise in the loft or around the home, don’t ignore it as it will only get worse – Remember rats breed 3/6 times per year with an average litter size of 7/8 young. They are sexually active within 3 months. Mice breed 7/8 times a year with 4 – 16 in a litter and are sexually active within 6 to 8 weeks!! Think about just 2 mice in a house or business. They could have 128 young within 1 year. Remember also that mice do not have to leave the comforts of your home or business as they can survive on as little as 3ml of water per day.

SCARY!!!!!!!