{"id":14074,"date":"2015-12-17T16:02:32","date_gmt":"2015-12-17T15:02:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/\/?p=14074"},"modified":"2026-07-15T11:22:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T10:22:09","slug":"beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/","title":{"rendered":"Beware the Invasion of the Flood Rats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Beware the invasion of the flood rats<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ireland has recently suffered a severe and unprecedented flood surge. Many families and businesses in affected areas are&nbsp;advised to avoid direct contact with floodwater and beware the invasion of the&nbsp;flood <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/rats\/how-to-get-rid-of-rats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rats<\/a>&nbsp;into homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Resettlement is not an easy job as many things need to be done before cleaning up the house. We have recently received many call-outs as the result of this situation. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/rats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rodents<\/a> that survive a disaster often move to new areas. Hence, we strongly advise you to identify <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/rats\/signs-of-rats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">signs of rodents<\/a> and check whether they\u00a0have taken shelter in your property before commencing any clean-up activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The following recommendations will help residents reduce the risk of disease or personal injury associated with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/rats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rodents<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Precautions to Limit Household Exposure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Removing food sources, water, and items that provide shelter for rodents is the best way to prevent contact with rodents. When necessary, you should call <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">professional pest control services<\/a> to help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/rats\/how-to-get-rid-of-rats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">get rid of dead rodents<\/a> or rodent-contaminated areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Inside the Home<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep foodstuffs in metal or glass containers with tight fitting lids.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Put outdoor rubbish bags in metal bins with securely fitted lids to stop them feeding from contents..<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Give pets only enough food for each meal, then throw out any remaining food. Do not leave&nbsp;remaining&nbsp;pet food or water out overnight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dispose of garbage on a frequent and regular basis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t leave&nbsp;dishes, pans, and cooking utensils. Instead, wash them immediately after use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clean up and&nbsp;remove spilled food from cooking and eating areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do not store empty cans or other opened containers with food residues inside the home.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Outside the Home<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Garbage&nbsp;should be put&nbsp;in rodent-proof containers with tight-fitting lids.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drains and animal feed should be stored&nbsp;in rodent-proof containers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove any food sources that might attract rodents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Haul away trash, abandoned vehicles, discarded tires, and other items that might serve as rodent nesting sites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep gardens free from debris. If you have a compost heap don\u2019t include organic food waste, as this will attract them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trim tree limbs or shrubs that overhang or touch buildings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Place spring-loaded traps in outbuildings and in other areas where signs of rodents are found. Do not allow children or pets to play near spring traps.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Rodent-Proofing Your Home<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Mice may enter through a hole the size of a dime. Rats may enter the home through a hole the size of a quarter.&nbsp;You should check it there are any gaps and holes inside and outside the home that are greater than a \u00bc-inch diameter. If so, we strongly advise that you should do&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/rats\/prevention\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">proofing your home<\/a>&nbsp;to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/rats\/prevention\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">prevent rodents<\/a> from entering your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\u00a0you see any\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/rats\/signs-of-rats\/\">signs of rats<\/a>, don&#8217;t hesitate to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">contact us<\/a>\u00a0for any help.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/dealing-with-storms-how-bad-weather-makes-rodents-a-problem\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"786\" height=\"437\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Flood-pests.png\" alt=\"Flood pests\" class=\"wp-image-15100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Flood-pests.png 786w, https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Flood-pests-300x167.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Beware the invasion of the flood rats&nbsp; Ireland has recently suffered a severe and unprecedented flood surge. Many families and businesses in affected areas are&nbsp;advised to avoid direct contact with floodwater and beware the invasion of the&nbsp;flood rats&nbsp;into homes. Resettlement is not an easy job as many things need to be done before cleaning up [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":14955,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[2412,2407],"tags":[509,546],"class_list":["post-14074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rats","category-rodents","tag-rats","tag-rodents"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Flood Rats: Avoid Invasion &amp; Dangers | Rentokil Ireland<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In flood-affected areas: avoid direct contact with floodwater and beware the invasion of flood rats into your home. Get Rentokil&#039;s advice.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Beware the Invasion of the Flood Rats\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Many families and businesses in affected areas are advised to avoid direct contact with floodwater and beware the invasion of the flood rats into your home.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"deBugged\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-12-17T15:02:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-15T10:22:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Berwyn Evans\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Beware the Invasion of the Flood Rats\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Many families and businesses in affected areas are advised to avoid direct contact with floodwater and beware the invasion of the flood rats into your home.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Flood-rats1.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@debugged\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@debugged\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Berwyn Evans\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/\",\"name\":\"Flood Rats: Avoid Invasion & Dangers | Rentokil Ireland\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/main_rat-in-tree.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2015-12-17T15:02:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-15T10:22:09+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ed8999f67b983fba8ab95c438e0af42f\"},\"description\":\"In flood-affected areas: avoid direct contact with floodwater and beware the invasion of flood rats into your home. Get Rentokil's advice.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/main_rat-in-tree.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/main_rat-in-tree.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":440},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Beware the Invasion of the Flood Rats\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"deBugged\",\"description\":\"The Pest Control Blog Ireland\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ed8999f67b983fba8ab95c438e0af42f\",\"name\":\"Berwyn Evans\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Berwyn.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Berwyn.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Berwyn Evans\"},\"description\":\"Berwyn Evans\u2019s professional journey at Rentokil Pest Control United Kingdom is a story of continuous growth and expertise, spanning over 26 years. He began his career on the front lines, getting his hands dirty as a Technician in the East Midlands, a role that gave him invaluable, firsthand experience with pest challenges. He quickly moved through the ranks, becoming a Field Biologist, Service Manager, and Interim Branch Manager, mastering the practical and managerial aspects of the business. His career took a more technical and strategic turn when he was appointed Technical Service Manager, where he was responsible for managing a team of expert Field Biologists. This period solidified his reputation as a knowledgeable leader. For over eight years as UK Product Manager, Berwyn was at the heart of Rentokil\u2019s innovation, ensuring the company\u2019s services and products were at the cutting edge of the industry. Today, as Head of SME and Marketing Manager, Berwyn serves as a key authority and a go-to source for subject matter expertise. His deep understanding of pest control, built from the ground up, makes him a trusted and compelling voice for Rentokil and its customers.\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Flood Rats: Avoid Invasion & Dangers | Rentokil Ireland","description":"In flood-affected areas: avoid direct contact with floodwater and beware the invasion of flood rats into your home. Get Rentokil's advice.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Beware the Invasion of the Flood Rats","og_description":"Many families and businesses in affected areas are advised to avoid direct contact with floodwater and beware the invasion of the flood rats into your home.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/","og_site_name":"deBugged","article_published_time":"2015-12-17T15:02:32+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-07-15T10:22:09+00:00","author":"Berwyn Evans","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Beware the Invasion of the Flood Rats","twitter_description":"Many families and businesses in affected areas are advised to avoid direct contact with floodwater and beware the invasion of the flood rats into your home.","twitter_image":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Flood-rats1.png","twitter_creator":"@debugged","twitter_site":"@debugged","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Berwyn Evans","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/","url":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/","name":"Flood Rats: Avoid Invasion & Dangers | Rentokil Ireland","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/main_rat-in-tree.jpg","datePublished":"2015-12-17T15:02:32+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-15T10:22:09+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ed8999f67b983fba8ab95c438e0af42f"},"description":"In flood-affected areas: avoid direct contact with floodwater and beware the invasion of flood rats into your home. Get Rentokil's advice.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/main_rat-in-tree.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/main_rat-in-tree.jpg","width":1200,"height":440},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/beware-the-invasion-of-the-flood-rats\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Beware the Invasion of the Flood Rats"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/","name":"deBugged","description":"The Pest Control Blog Ireland","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ed8999f67b983fba8ab95c438e0af42f","name":"Berwyn Evans","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Berwyn.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Berwyn.jpg","caption":"Berwyn Evans"},"description":"Berwyn Evans\u2019s professional journey at Rentokil Pest Control United Kingdom is a story of continuous growth and expertise, spanning over 26 years. He began his career on the front lines, getting his hands dirty as a Technician in the East Midlands, a role that gave him invaluable, firsthand experience with pest challenges. He quickly moved through the ranks, becoming a Field Biologist, Service Manager, and Interim Branch Manager, mastering the practical and managerial aspects of the business. His career took a more technical and strategic turn when he was appointed Technical Service Manager, where he was responsible for managing a team of expert Field Biologists. This period solidified his reputation as a knowledgeable leader. For over eight years as UK Product Manager, Berwyn was at the heart of Rentokil\u2019s innovation, ensuring the company\u2019s services and products were at the cutting edge of the industry. Today, as Head of SME and Marketing Manager, Berwyn serves as a key authority and a go-to source for subject matter expertise. His deep understanding of pest control, built from the ground up, makes him a trusted and compelling voice for Rentokil and its customers."}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/83"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14074"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14074\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17230,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14074\/revisions\/17230"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentokil.ie\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}