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 →Our first job is always to find out how they are living on your property. Once we know that, treatment is far more effective and the advice we give is specific to your home rather than generic.
Newer estates and the gaps nobody notices
Modern estates look tight, yet rats still find a way. Typical weak points include gaps where utility pipes enter, loose or missing mesh on vents, poorly sealed garage doors and spaces beneath decking or conservatories. Shared fences and back-garden compost bins also let rats travel between plots without ever crossing a road.
In Ivybridge we often find that activity is shared by several neighbouring gardens. We talk through what we have found, treat your property with baiting and trapping that keeps pets and children safe, and suggest simple measures such as closing gaps and lifting feeders off the ground.
Older terraces and moorland edges
Older terraces in Ivybridge have their own routes: shared roof voids, ageing drains, and floors with gaps beside the skirting. Rats can travel along these without being seen and surface in a kitchen or airing cupboard. A cracked drain is one of the most common ways they reach a house, so we check drains and inspection covers as well as the building itself.
With open moorland nearby, gardens backing on to fields or scrub tend to see more wildlife of all kinds. Fallen fruit, compost and spilled seed from feeders attract rats from the edges, so clearing these regularly is one of the most useful things you can do.
What a visit involves
In Ivybridge we inspect inside and out, show you the evidence and explain the plan before we begin. Treatment is carried out in a controlled way, and we return to check progress and collect equipment. If you are in PL21 and think you have rats, we are happy to talk it through by phone first. We also cover Plymouth, Totnes and Salcombe.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I have rats in a newer Ivybridge house?
Newer homes still have gaps around pipes, vents and garage doors, and gardens offer food and cover. Rats look for easy access, not old buildings. We find the entry points and suggest sensible proofing as part of the visit.
Can rats come up through the drains into my home?
Occasionally, yes, particularly where a drain is cracked or a pipe is broken. If we suspect this we check inspection covers and recommend a drain survey or repair, because treating the rats will not hold if the route stays open.
Does having moorland nearby make rats more likely?
Open land does mean more wildlife around, but rats mainly follow food and shelter. Compost, spilled seed, poultry feed and open bins matter more than the view. Keeping those under control makes your garden far less appealing.