A drop in temperature acts as the perfect opportunity for rodents to enter your home, looking for a warm and dry shelter over the cooler months. Not only do rodents make loud scratching noises in your roof void at night, but they can also harbor and spread more than 70 diseases to humans.

So how can you spot rodents?

There are a few common signs of rodents activity to keep an eye out for:

• Droppings: New droppings are dark and moist and most likely to be found near food, drawers, cupboards, under sinks and in hidden areas.

• Odour: Rodents leave a trail of urine which leaves a distinct, unpleasant smell. If you have a severe infestation, you may encounter an ongoing stale smell from hidden areas, which indicates an active infestation.

• Scratching Noises: Black rats are climbers and can easily access roof voids and upper floors of buildings. Whereas Brown rats are more commonly found under floorboards, decks and in sheds.

• Running tracks: In active infestations, tracks are likely to be distinctive and fade over time. These runways are most easily detected by shining a strong flashlight at an angle towards an area. This may show smudge marks, footprints, urine stains. To establish an infestation, place a thin layer of baby power, which can show footprints in the power and check each day for new evidence of tracks.

• Rub Marks: Did you know rodents have very poor eyesight? They often follow skirting boards and walls to establish routes. When rodents repeatedly rub against surfaces, they leave dirty, dark smudges known as ‘rub marks’.

What risks do rodents impose on my health?

Not only are rodents a destructive pest, they also pose a risk to your health and can transmit disease to humans. Some of these diseases include:

• Rat Bite Rever
• Leptospirosis
• Salmonella
• Favus / Tinea Favosa

Have you spotted any of these signs?

If you think you have found evidence of rats, it is vital you act quickly to ensure the infestation is tended to and controlled in a timely manner. Professional treated is the most effective and safe solution to minimising the rodent population, reducing further risk of damage and disease infesting your home.