Always Inspect the Inspection Chamber..

As previously stated, Rodent pest control is not about mindless poison use, just throwing poison baits at a problem very rarely works and if it does eradicate the problem i’ll bet you it’s short lived. Finding the origin of the infestation is what is required.
Site inspections, full site surveys are what every professional pest controller should carry out before even thinking about the method of control, the inspection dictates your approach going forward. you’ll be amazed how many pest controllers will not look inside a inspection chamber. We apply risk assessments to all aspects of the survey, so why not risk assess whats going off under foot…?
Create a safe working environment. sign off the area, lift chamber lid (Without straining yourself) set aside and allow to vent for a short period of time, again, risk assess beforehand to insure you are operating safely. It is thought that around 90 percent of rat infestations within the domestic property originate from drainage, so why not add a chamber inspection into your survey ..?? (If its safe to do so)
On a recent call to a domestic property in Nuneaton, Warwickshire the customer has had a repeated rat infestation over the last three years and has had two pest control companies out to investigate. neither of them lifted he chamber, both of them baited the loft space and left, returning only to collect the residual baits and trays once the noises had stopped. At no point was there investigations into the point of entry.
Asking questions to the customer is also so important, you know your home better than i ever will, granted i’ll get to seem places of it you never will but you know how your house works, noises, smells and all.
“So Mr Smith, how old is your extension..?”
“It’s three years old, why..?”
“And how long have you been having issues with rats Mr Smith..?”
“Oh, i’d say about three years…!!”
When building works are carried out drainage is sometimes moved and altered, sometimes previous active lines are not capped off correctly creating ‘Dry’ lines where rats can nest and gnaw in time allowing access into cavities then access to the entire property. Other times it just poor workmanship or lack of attention to detail which can be the start of something very sinister..
Mr ‘Smiths” property was the usual very well kept, clean and tidy property, it was in a good stare of repair in a normal cul-de-sac where houses faced each other. There was nothing obvious that would attract repeated rat infestations to the home. no bird feeders, no rubbish build up, no sofa on the lawn etc.. If the problem was surface related then you would have thought neighbours would have seen activity, but no… rats were never seen on the street.
So this is where we as the professionals should look away from the obvious to the inconspicuous.. look at what can not be seen..

Upon safely lifting the inspection chamber I took a closer look and found a well used hole in the chamber brickwork, this would be a good place to start.

It can be clearly seen where the greasy rats sit and feed of waste that is flowing through the drainage system. This area was the only area where the drainage had been altered by the builders of the extension, however so as not to put all eggs in a single basket a full CCTV survey was carried out to inspect all drainage serving the property and no other defects were noted.
The suspect point of entry was filled with extra rapid cement and some good old fashioned rat traps to the loft space. returned after a week, took two dead rats away from the loft and the customer has heard no noises.
As previously stated, rats live in drains, so to sewer bait would just be a waste of my product as it would achieve very little in the grand scheme of things, no rodenticide use in the loft. Rodent bodies incinerated and one very happy customer.
And all for taking the time to carry out what the customer is paying for…. A full site survey and inspection.
At Rattraxs Pest Control we can carry out full CCTV surveys, I am qualified NADC Certified Surveyor with over 30 years industry knowledge and experience in Pest Control and Drainage. If you require our services or just wish to discuss a issue of your concern please feel free to contact us direct.