Effective control starts with understanding how rats live, breed and behave.
Here is what every site manager should know.
The brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) is the species behind almost all rat problems at UK food waste, farm and commercial sites. Highly adaptable, fast-breeding and opportunistic, it thrives wherever food and shelter are available.
Scientific name
Rattus norvegicus (brown rat) & Rattus rattus (black rat)
Adult weight
200–500 g; brown rats are larger than black rats
Body length
20–28 cm, plus a tail of similar length
Lifespan
Up to 2 years, though most wild rats live under a year
A single pair can produce hundreds of descendants in a year. Understanding the breeding cycle shows why early, decisive control matters.
1
A female carries her young for around 21–24 days before giving birth.
2
Typical litters are 6–11 pups, and a female can produce 5–10 litters a year.
3
Young rats are ready to breed at just 5–8 weeks of age.
4
In ideal conditions a single pair can give rise to over a thousand descendants in a year.
Rat behaviour explains both why infestations take hold so quickly and why shooting is so effective against them.
Rats are most active after dark, which is why shooting programmes are run at dusk and through the night.
Rats follow the same routes repeatedly, wearing visible runs along walls, fence lines and burrows.
Rats are cautious of new objects — one reason bait boxes are often ignored, while shooting targets natural behaviour directly.
Rats eat almost anything, which is why food waste sites, farms and feed stores are so attractive to them.
From understanding to control
Because rats are nocturnal, cautious of new objects and tied to established runs, bait boxes are often slow or ineffective, especially on busy food waste sites. Shooting works with the rat’s natural behaviour: we target active runs and feed points after dark, when rats are moving, and remove them immediately. No bait to ignore, no carcasses to decay unseen, and a clear count of exactly what was dealt with.
Tell us about your site and the problem. We will call you back to arrange a survey.
Specialist, professional rat control services for commercial sites where traditional poison-based pest control may not be suitable.
07860 132 208
Specialist, professional rat control services for commercial sites where traditional poison-based pest control may not be suitable.
07860 132 208
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