Rat control in Rotterdam: how to recognise a rat
In Rotterdam it is almost always the brown rat. It is much bigger than a mouse, with a blunt snout and a thick, scaly tail that is shorter than its body. Because it is wary and mostly out at dusk and at night, you usually find signs before you see the animal:
- spindle-shaped droppings, considerably larger than a mouse's
- burrows with a smooth entrance under paving, fences or the shed floor
- flattened trails in the grass and dark smears along walls
- scratching or gnawing under the floor or in the crawl space
- torn rubbish bags, nibbled windfalls or emptied chicken feeders
Why rats end up in your home
Rats are after food, water and a safe place to hide. Outdoors there is plenty of all three, but they generally get inside by one route: the sewer. A dislodged or broken drain pipe beneath the house gives a rat access to the crawl space, and from there it is a short step to the kitchen, the meter cupboard or the bathroom.
In the garden they are drawn to bird food, chicken runs, compost heaps and bin bags left out overnight. Rats can spread diseases such as Weil's disease and gnaw through pipes, cables and insulation. Waiting for the problem to go away does not work; as long as there is food and a way in, they will keep coming.
From source to aftercare: how we tackle rats
Effective rat control starts with finding the route. We inspect the garden, crawl space, cellar and every point where pipes enter the building. If the signs lead to the sewer, we advise fitting a rat valve (rattenklep), a flap in the drain that lets water out but stops rats coming back up. If the condition of the pipe is in doubt, we refer you to a drainage specialist for a camera inspection.
For rats already on the move we use traps or professional rodenticide in locked bait stations; those products are reserved for certified pest controllers. Rats are suspicious of new objects on their runs, so it can take a while before they accept the bait, which is why we come back to check. The same order applies to everything we do in pest control across Rotterdam: cause first, then the animal.
Rats in the street or in your garden: who does what?
Is the rat running along the street, beside a canal or around the bins in your area? That is public ground, so report it to the gemeente Rotterdam. If it concerns your own home, garden, shed or business premises, give us a call. The two are often linked: rats from the public sewer find their way into a private connection.
There is a lot you can do to avoid attracting them. Do not scatter bread or seed for birds and ducks, use a lidded bin, choose a closed compost container and put the chicken run on a mesh base. Filling in burrows achieves little while the source is still open. Not sure whether it is rats or mice? Have a look at our mouse control page as well.
