Rats
Rodent problems in the home can lead to property damage and health risks. Early identification of an infestation is crucial for prevention. Understanding how rodents enter and thrive helps you take proactive measures to protect your home.
Signs You
Have Rats
They’re good at staying hidden, but they always leave clues:
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Droppings (dark, pellet-shaped, often in clusters)
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Scratching or movement noises, especially at night
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Greasy smear marks along walls or fences (their regular routes)
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Burrows in gardens, under sheds, or along foundations
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Gnaw marks on wood, plastic, or cables
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Strong, unpleasant musky smell in enclosed areas
What Not
To Do
This is where a lot of problems get worse:
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Don’t ignore it – hoping they’ll go away rarely ends well
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Don’t rely on DIY alone – shop-bought products often don’t tackle the root cause
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Don’t block holes straight away – you can trap rats inside the property
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Don’t leave food sources accessible – pet food, bins, bird feeders all attract them
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Don’t disturb active areas without a plan – it can cause them to spread further
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Don't use cruel methods
Why Rat Control
Is Important
Rats aren’t just a nuisance they come with real risks:
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Health hazards – they carry diseases and contaminate surfaces with urine and droppings
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Property damage – they constantly gnaw, damaging pipes, cables, insulation and wood
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Fire risk – exposed wiring from gnawing can be dangerous
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Rapid breeding – a small problem can turn into a big one very quickly
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Hidden movement – they’re usually active out of sight, so damage builds up unnoticed
How We Deal With It
At Dalton Pest, we don’t just treat the symptoms we get to the source.
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Our approach:
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Full inspection to confirm activity and entry points
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Targeted treatment programme
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Monitoring and follow-up
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Proofing recommendations to stop re-entry
Because dealing with rats is one thing… but making sure they don’t come back is what really matters.
Diseases Linked To Rats
Rats can carry and spread a number of diseases that affect humans, including:
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Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease)
Spread through rat urine often picked up from contaminated water or surfaces. Can be serious if untreated. -
Salmonella
Rats contaminate food prep areas, leading to food poisoning. -
Hantavirus
Transmitted through droppings, urine, or saliva (more common in some regions but still a concern). -
Toxoplasmosis
Can be spread via contaminated surfaces and poses higher risk to pregnant women.
Key Facts
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Rats can produce 40+ droppings a day
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They can squeeze through gaps as small as a 50p coin
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They constantly urinate while travelling, marking routes
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They’re mostly active at night so you often don’t see them
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By the time you spot one, there’s usually more than one present
