Advice
Signs of Rats in Your Home or Garden and What to Do
Rats are secretive and mostly active at night, so the signs they leave behind are often the first and clearest way to know they are there.
Read the guide →We offer rat control across Crediton and the EX17 area, covering homes, shops, eateries and farms, with methods chosen to keep pets and children safe.
Behind the high street
Older high streets tend to have narrow back alleys, shared yards, old drains and buildings joined side by side. Rats can move along these without being seen, and a food business with poor bin storage can draw them toward its neighbours as well. In Crediton, we often find the pattern clearer once we look at the rear of a row rather than a single unit.
If you run a shop, cafe or pub, keep waste in closed containers, clear grease and spilt food promptly, and keep stock off the floor. These simple habits remove much of what rats want, and make our treatment more effective.
Houses, gardens and the farmland beyond
Away from the centre, Crediton has newer housing as well as older homes, and farmland is never far off. Rats use the river valley, hedgerows and field edges as routes, and they may burrow beside sheds, patios or under decking where the ground is soft and sheltered.
Inside, the first sign is often a sound, such as scratching in the roof or scurrying at night. You might also notice droppings, gnawed food packaging or a smell in an enclosed space. Taking a photograph of anything you find helps us understand the problem when we arrive.
From inspection to proofing
We inspect inside and out in Crediton, mark the likely entry points and decide on safe baiting or trapping. We check back to see that activity has stopped, then suggest sealing work and housekeeping changes. We also cover Exeter, Cullompton and Okehampton for those living nearby.
Frequently asked questions
Do you treat rats in the yard behind a Crediton shop?
Yes. We look at the yard, bins, drains and any gaps into the building, then plan treatment that keeps staff and customers safe. We also advise on waste and storage so the problem is less likely to return.
What do rat droppings look like?
They are dark, roughly the size of a large grain of rice, and blunt at the ends. They are bigger than mouse droppings. Avoid touching them with bare hands, because they can spread germs.
How long does it take to clear rats?
It varies with the size of the problem and how easily they can reach food. Some jobs settle quickly, others need several visits. We will tell you what we find and how we expect the work to go.