Boom for rat-exterminators Rentokil during unprecedented Cold Spell

05 January, 2010

Rentokil, the leading provider of pest-control and specialist hygiene services, is experiencing unprecedented calls for its service, arising out of the prolonged cold spell being experienced in Ireland. The reason is that in cold weather rats seek shelter indoors, and as a result of this, the current freeze has caused greater indoor migration of rodents than normal. Rentokil reported a 55% increase in November in Rodent related call-outs. These figures were maintained in December 2009. However, call-outs for rodent infestations in the first 7 days of 2010 alone constitute a whopping 38% of the total call-outs experienced for the previous month.

With the cold spell promised to continue for another week, Dr. Colm Moore, Technical Manager, Rentokil Ireland, is warning homeowners and businesses to look out for ways to keep heat-seeking rats out of their homes: “It is important that rodent access to a building is denied. There is no point in placing poisons if rodents can still get access and still cause a problem. It is more important to keep the rodents out by efficiently blocking up the many routes of access.”

Rats are everywhere. They crawl through sewerage pipes. They live in rubbish tips among rotting material covered with potentially harmful microbes that could cause a range of infections and diseases in humans. Then they come into our homes and premises and spread whatever they have picked up along the way. Rats also carry the sometimes fatal disease, Leptospirosis. This microbe can be transmitted to us by contact with items contaminated with infected rat urine and faeces.

Brown rats are omnivorous but actually prefer cereals as a food source. They will however eat a variety of substances from vegetables to animal fat-based foods. Common rats eat about 30g of food per day and require a considerable amount of water daily to survive. Generally, common rats are ground dwelling and burrow in mounds of earth and under dense vegetation but they have been known to climb.

Females can have litters of up to 8 young and they can have up 6 litters a year, under favourable conditions. Female offspring may reach sexual maturity in as little as 10 weeks after birth. Given these facts, is not difficult to see how an infestation of rats can so easily get out of control if left unchecked. The rapid reproductive rate of these remarkable animals emphasises how important rat control is, at an early stage.

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Issued on behalf of Rentokil by Heneghan PR

For further information, please contact:
Louise McNamee / Sorcha Mullis
Heneghan PR
01 6607395
louise@hpr.ie / sorcha@hpr.ie

About Rentokil

Around the world, Rentokil is the leading provider of pest control and specialist hygiene services. The company protects homes and commercial premises from the damage, health risks and nuisance that pests cause. While flies, insects and rodents might be the first that come to mind, Rentokil technicians also provide specialist treatment against woodworm. Whatever the pest, Rentokil can deal with it.

For information about Rentokil services, visit www.rentokil.ie or call 1890 869 869.