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 provide rat control in Sidbury and across the EX10 area, for homes, farms and small businesses alike.
Countryside edges bring rats closer
With farms and fields around Sidbury, rats have a lot of natural cover and a good deal of food. Stored grain, animal feed and spilt bedding all draw them in, and when the weather turns colder they look for warm, dry spaces. A neighbouring building with feed stored in it can lead them straight toward your home.
That does not mean you have done anything wrong. It does mean it is worth keeping your own property tight, with bins closed, pet food cleared away at night and any poultry feed kept in lidded metal or heavy plastic containers.
Old cottages and gaps that are easy to miss
Sidbury has older cottages, and these can have thick walls, uneven stonework, and floors and eaves that have moved with time. Small gaps around pipes, under doors and where an extension meets the original building are common routes. Rats can squeeze through surprisingly little space and will gnaw to enlarge it.
Signs include scratching in roof spaces or under floors, droppings along the edges of rooms, chewed wiring and greasy marks where they follow the same route. If you notice any of these, a quick inspection will usually show how far it has gone.
Our approach for rural properties
We look at the house, outbuildings and garden together, because in Sidbury the source is often outside. Treatment uses baiting and trapping placed carefully, with pets, children and livestock in mind. Once the activity has settled, we advise on proofing and tidying. We also work in Sidford, Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary.
Frequently asked questions
Can you treat rats on a farm or smallholding near Sidbury?
Yes. We can look at barns, feed stores and outbuildings as well as the house. Treatment is planned around livestock, pets and any feed storage so that everything is placed safely and sensibly.
How do rats get into a stone cottage?
Usually through gaps at ground level, around pipes and cables, beneath doors, or through damaged airbricks and eaves. Old stonework can also have loose pointing. We check the whole outside of the building to locate the way in.
Is it worth proofing after the rats have gone?
Yes, because otherwise the next rat can follow the same route. Closing gaps and keeping food stored securely lowers the chance of a repeat, although no method can promise rats will never return.