Yorkshire’s Big Increase In Rat Infestations
This blog looks at the main reasons for the large increase in rat infestations in the Yorkshire region.
Local authority pest control departments and private pest control companies have reported significant increases in requests for rat control as reported on the BBC report broadcast on the 5th of July. Also there is a general consensus of opinion among many citizens that they are seeing more rats in the last few years than ever before. The 3 main reasons for the explosion in rat populations are:
Cuts to Local Authority Budgets – The cuts to many Local Authority budgets has had a big impact on pest control departments. Some have ceased offering a service, some have contracted out the service and some have increased their charges. This hotchpotch of service between various authorities has undoubtedly resulted in a much diminished service. In fact the number of LA’s that offer a free pest control service has declined significantly by 26% in the last four years (BPCA: spending cuts could spark plaque of pests).
Drains and Sewers – The drains and sewers offer an ideal habitat for rats to proliferate. They offer a predator-free refuge. They have a relatively stable all-year round temperature, which allows rats to avoid the harsher winter temperatures. There is a constant supply of food that is on offer all year in the form of waste food and fats that flush into the system. The deterioration of some parts of the system allow rats to gain access to the surface including our homes and businesses. At Kestrel Pest Management we are seeing more and more cases where the infestation in someone’s home is due to a defect in the drains. The defects are often not severe enough to cause noticeable drainage issues, but the small breaks and gaps allow rats to excavate up under the house foundations. From there the rats often gain access to the sub-floor voids and cavity walls. When we attend a rat infestation, part of our survey always includes looking in the drainage system. The National Baiting Protocol was meant to improve cooperation between Water Companies and Local Authorities on the control of rats in sewers and surface infestations. However with the cut backs to Local Authorities the resources for the proactive work required is limited. Unfortunately the drains and sewers have been underfunded for many years and parts of the system have been little altered since the Victorian times. Problems are commonly caused by builders, who have little experience with drainage, carrying out sub-standard work and leaving the homeowner prone to rat ingress.
Resistance to Rodenticides – The mainstay of rat control over the last 60 years has been the use of anticoagulants that disrupts the blood clotting system. The widespread use of these poisons over time has exerted such a pressure on the rat populations that genetic mutations have occurred, which has resulted in rats being able to survive doses of anticoagulant baits that would of previously killed them. It is analagous to the overuse of antibiotics that has resulted in ‘superstains’ of bacteria developing. In layman’s terms, resistance is more likely to develop when the wrong type of rodenticide is applied using poor techniques. The professional pest control industry has recently implemented a number of changes to the way rodenticides are used (Rodenticide Stewardship Scheme) which should not only minimise secondary poisoning but should also minimise the spread of resistance in rat populations. Perhaps the biggest threat to increased resistance is the misuse of DIY rodent control products. These are often used by well meaning homeowners who have little understanding of rat biology, ecology and behaviour. This results in incomplete treatments allowing the more resistant rats in the population to survive and thus pass on their resistant genes to their offspring. It must be noted that poisons are only one aspect of controlling an infestation and an integrated approach, using a range of techniques, is the most successful and long lasting. When we do have to use poisons, we have rodenticides that have no known genetic resistance.
There are of course other reasons why rats are becoming more numerous: The milder winters, reduced household waste collections, the recession impacting on the less well-off being less inclined to pay for a pest controller, the spread of our towns and cities (urban sprawl) allowing the spread of rats.
Our experience at Kestrel Pest Management tells us that rats are indeed on the increase and the best people to deal with rats are professional and experienced pest controllers. We offer a professional rat control service that ensures any rat infestation is quickly eradicated.
