How to get rid of rats and mice in your home

How to get rid of rats and mice in your home

Mice and rats often seek shelter in our apartments and houses in winter. The consequences? Apart from the disgust that many people feel, they also pose health risks. A pest expert gives tips on how to keep the uninvited guests away.

When the temperatures drop in winter, many animals seek shelter in the warm. This includes mice and rats: The rodents look for a cozy place to hibernate during the cold season - and often choose apartments and houses for this. Not only do many people feel disgusted, the pests can also have health consequences for humans. In this interview, pest expert Sophie Scharrer explains where the animals prefer to hide and what to do if rats or mice have found their way into your home.

During the winter months, rats and mice increasingly invade homes. What dangers and risks do they pose to health and the household?

Sophie Scharrer: Pathogens such as salmonella, typhoid or jaundice can be transmitted, especially through the droppings and urine of rodents. Therefore, gloves and mouth and nose protection should always be worn when cleaning affected areas. People with a weakened immune system, older people, children and pregnant women should be particularly careful.

Through their gnawing activity, the animals can damage cables, for example, which can cause short circuits and fires. They build their nests in walls and other cavities. This can lead to serious damage to the building fabric and insulation.

Where in the house do mice and rats prefer to hide and how do they get into the house or apartments in the first place?

Among the various species of mice, house mice are particularly common in human settlements and on farms - wherever there are hiding places, nesting material and food. They prefer to live where it is warm and dry. The animals cannot survive in the wild. They often live in walls or false floors, especially in old buildings, but also in insulation or facades. They fit through the smallest cracks and crevices and thus gain access, for example, via cavities under façade cladding or supply shafts.

A distinction is made between Norway rats and house rats, although the latter are much rarer. Like house mice, house rats prefer warm, dry places. They are therefore also mainly found in human settlements. They particularly like to stay in the attic or generally on higher floors. House rats can climb and swim very well, but are not found in sewers. Norway rats, on the other hand, are often found in sewers. They can also swim and climb very well. They can enter the home from the sewer system via sewage pipes - and through the toilet, for example.

Are apartments on higher floors also at risk?

Yes, higher floors can also be affected. House mice and house rats can gain access through passages in the wall. This is particularly common in old buildings through the partition walls and false floors. Norway rats can also reach higher floors via the sewage pipes.

Are there signs of an infestation even before you see the animals yourself? For example, do they nibble on furniture or leave behind a certain smell?

Traces of droppings are a very reliable sign, especially in mice, as they continuously excrete small droppings. With rats, smear marks can often be seen, which are caused by the combination of body fat and dust along their paths. But noises in the wall caused by house mice or house rats are also a sign, as are nibbled food or bitten-through garbage bags. Sometimes they also nibble on furniture and other objects.

Do you have to report a pest infestation?

An infestation of rats must be reported to the relevant public order office. An infestation of mice does not have to be reported.

What measures can help to prevent a pest infestation?

There are a few things that can help prevent an infestation. However, even if you follow all these tips, the risk cannot be completely eliminated. Rats and mice usually nest where they have access to food, nesting sites and nesting material. This means: keep food and supplies out of reach, do not dispose of leftover food in the toilet, keep windows (e.g. cellar windows) closed. Possible access points should be closed as far as possible (e.g. cracks and crevices in the façade or masonry). To deprive rodents of nesting places, it helps to remove false ceilings, floors and other cavities, for example. In a tenancy, however, this is the responsibility of the landlord or owner

What should I do if an infestation is detected? Is it important to seek professional help or can you solve the problem yourself?

It is important to act as quickly as possible, as mice and rats multiply rapidly. A rat infestation must be reported to the public order office. Unless those affected are certain that it is a single specimen, I would always recommend calling in an exterminator, as it is often difficult to assess the situation yourself. Nevertheless, many of those affected would like to take the problem into their own hands. In this case, I would provide the following information:

If the infestation is small, i.e. up to ten animals, you can try to take matters into your own hands. In the case of a single animal, for example, this can work well. However, the control methods differ depending on whether it is rats or mice: Mice can be controlled with mechanical or electric dead traps, rats rather less so, as they quickly learn to avoid the traps when they see their dead conspecifics in them.

In the case of a large infestation, or at the latest if self-attempts are unsuccessful, a professional pest controller should definitely be called in. Professional pest controllers have access to stronger doses of poison bait and can therefore carry out effective control. Care must also be taken when applying the bait so as not to endanger other animals such as dogs or cats or even children.

Are there environmentally friendly methods of getting rid of pests?

The best method of control always depends on the exact situation. In general, it can be said that dead or live traps can be used instead of poison baits for small infestations, especially in the case of mice. For larger infestations, poison baits are usually the only effective method.

Agents such as vinegar, essential oils or certain plants only have a limited effect in controlling infestations. These agents may have an effect in driving the rats or mice away, but the animals usually find other options or become accustomed to the smell.

1. To maintain cleanliness and prevent pest infestations, an advisor might suggest that consumers regularly clean their apartments, paying special attention to areas where rodents might hide or leave droppings.
2. A real estate agent, when showing an apartment to consumers, should point out any areas that might be susceptible to pest infestations, such as cracks in the walls or pipes that could provide access for insects or rodents.
3. When it comes to sustainable pest control, an advisor might suggest using environmentally friendly methods like dead traps or certain essential oils, although these may not be as effective as poison baits for larger infestations.

Source: www.ntv.de