Irish Homeowners Warned About A Drastic Rise Of Rats In The Home

Warning: Don't read if the thoughts of brown rats invading your gaff freaks you out...

Pest control company Rentokil has warned householders and businesses to be vigilant in proofing their homes and premises from rodents, predicting that there will be an increased number of rodents invading homes over the upcoming cold weather season.

Known for their fierce survival instincts, brown rats prefer to build their burrows in urban sewers and the dwellings of humans, eating one-fifth of foodstuffs planted every year, but contaminating far more.

The rapid rate of reproduction amongst rats might come as a shock to some people.

Rentokil has created an interactive map, named ‘The Rise of The Rats’, to visualise this rapid reproduction rate. 

‘The Rise of The Rats’ explains the breeding cycle of a brown rat living in an ideal environment: a female rat typically births six litters a year consisting of 12 rat pups, although 5-10 pups is more common; rats reach sexual maturity after four to five weeks, meaning that a population can swell from two rats to around 1,250 in one year, with the potential to grow exponentially.

To avoid attracting rodents into your home, follow these simple tips:

• Keep foodstuffs in metal or glass containers with tight fitting lids.
• Tidy inside the house and around the garden - less clutter means less places to hide.
• Put outdoor rubbish bags in metal bins with securely fitted lids to stop them feeding from contents.
• Clean up pet food and bird seed debris, and store pet food in robust containers with fitted lids - preferably above ground level.
• Keep gardens free from debris - If you have a compost heap don’t include organic food waste, as this will attract them.’’

READ NEXT: These Are Officially The 10 Best Restaurants In All Of Ireland