Reports of rat and mouse infestations have sharply risen during the UK’s Coronavirus lockdown, according to analysis released by Aviva.
Research revealed that company JG Pest Control saw a 42% increase in rat infestations, calculated by comparing their call-outs from January to March with those between April and June. In total, the company saw an increase of 120% in rodent-related call-outs compared with the same period in 2019. The figures provided to the Press Association show the number of residential rodent cases for the first half of 2020 was equivalent to 90% of comparable cases for the whole of last year!
Aviva said there could be a ‘number of possible reasons’ behind the rise in these unwanted visitors in our homes, including reduced bin collections, no leftover food near pubs and restaurants due to their closure, and increasing homeowner awareness of pesky rodents due to more time spent at home.
So, what can you do? Here’s how you can identify rodents in your household and prevent & deal with infestations:
| Mice
A small rodent that typically has a pointed snout, relatively large ears and eyes, and a long tail. |
Rats A rodent that resembles a large mouse, typically having a pointed snout and a long tail. Some kinds have become cosmopolitan and are sometimes responsible for transmitting diseases. |
| Identify Droppings:
Droppings are quite easy to identify – they are about the size of a grain of rice |
Watch Out:
The advice for rats is similar, but they are much bigger and can do more damage with their gnawing teeth |
| Put some gloves on and pick them up – if the droppings crumble to dust, they are old; if they are soft, it is a sign they are new and there is more likely to be an active problem | They can also pass on Weil’s disease through their urine, which can cause a high temperature, sickness and, in serious cases, shortness of breath and coughing up blood |
| Find Their Access Point & Block It:
Try to find their access point – if you take off the kickboards underneath kitchen units and can see holes at the back of them, that is probably where the rodents are getting in |
Focus On Drainage & Sewage Pipes:
There may not be any obvious entry points, so experts may advise that you get a drain survey done |
| Protect & Secure Your Home:
Make sure your property is secure, both internally and externally |
Keep Your Outdoor Space Tidy:
Rats often travel from garden to garden – given they are attracted to litter; it is important to keep your outdoor space tidy |
| Limit access to potential food sources – do not leave food where mice can get to it, clean thoroughly every time you cook, and do not leave any easily accessible food in the lower cupboards of your kitchen | |
| Act quickly as mice can breed rapidly – if you do not have home emergency or specialist cover in place, give yourself a maximum of a week to sort the problem out yourself before calling a pest control company, but get in touch with your provider as soon as you discover a problem if you do have cover | |
| Make sure mice do not return by blocking access points and securing bins, do not leave any food out, make sure any bird feeders are placed up high and away from entrances and make sure there is no litter around |
It’s worth noting that most home insurance policies do not cover rodent infestations as part of their standard terms – however, there are specialist policies available and certain add-ons which provide cover. Contact us to find out more information.
If you are struggling to get the home insurance cover that you need, the team here at Omni Davis can help give you the peace of mind you deserve, by sourcing the cover you require or by providing valuable advice.
Get in touch by Telephone on 01403 785775 or via Email on info@omnidavis.co.uk. We’d be delighted to hear from you.
