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 look after households and small businesses in Sidford and the wider EX10 area, with treatment that is careful, controlled and safe around family pets.
Water, gardens and a steady supply of food
Homes close to a river valley often have damp ground, long vegetation and ditches nearby, all of which give rats cover to move around unseen. In a village like Sidford, gardens, sheds and outbuildings sit close to the house, so a rat that settles in a compost heap can reach a wall cavity or loft quite quickly.
Food is what keeps them there. Open bins, spilt pet food, fallen fruit, compost and anything put out for wildlife can feed a small population. Reducing these is a big part of getting lasting control, and we will point out what we see on the day rather than leave you guessing.
Older and newer properties, different weak spots
In older Sidford properties, the weak points tend to be worn mortar, loose airbricks, gaps where pipes pass through walls and old timber at the eaves. Newer homes can have a different set of problems, such as gaps around service pipes, poorly fitted soffits or shrinkage cracks beside extensions.
Either way, rats will use whatever is open. We check the outside of the building as carefully as the inside, because the entry point is frequently well away from where you hear the noise. Finding it is what separates a short-term fix from a proper solution.
How we deal with it
After the inspection in Sidford, we set out baiting and trapping in a controlled way and keep pets and children well out of reach. We then return as needed to check progress, and once activity stops we recommend proofing work to close gaps. We also cover Sidmouth, Sidbury and Ottery St Mary if neighbours or relatives need help.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I have rats in my shed in Sidford?
Sheds offer shelter, quiet and often food such as seed, feed or stored compost. Rats may also dig burrows beside the base. Clearing stored food, raising items off the floor and repairing gaps all help, and we can treat the activity itself.
Will rats leave on their own?
Usually not while food and shelter are still available. Activity can drop for a while, then return. It is better to deal with them properly and remove what attracts them rather than hope they move on.
What should I do with my compost bin if I have rats?
Avoid adding cooked food, meat, bread or dairy, and keep the bin lidded and sitting on a solid or mesh base. If rats are already using it, tell us so we can include it in the plan.