THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS JUST ONE RAT  . . . .

If you  have a problem with pests, and you live in a local authority building, simply contact your caretaker / estate manager / neighbours / Residents' Association and  also ring the Camden Pest Control Service (0207-974 5976) and they will sort out your problem.

Rats are different from mice. Both can be controlled effectively.  If you see a mouse or rat, don't suffer in silence and hope it will go away; it won't.  Notify your caretaker / neighbours / estate manager /  landlord / freeholder / Residents' Association and the Camden Pest Control Office as soon as possible and ask for a block survey  to be done.

When doing a block survey, or looking at the results of a block survey,  DON'T under-estimate the level of infestation. There are always more rodents than you think. If you have one rat, you have more than one rat - most rats being social creatures are in multiples.
Wild mice often come into warm buildings for the winter. Like rats,  you  can't control them just by using traps, you must block up any rodent-sized openings in flats (around water pipes, electrical wiring, gaps in windows, etc), so that new mice can't wander in.

The sudden presence of rats may be simply the result of a blocked drain, or a missing grill mesh on a drain, and the problem can be sorted quickly, if the problem is addressed immediately. The sooner it is addressed, the better.

If the drain is blocked, it may be blocked further up the general U-Bend of the main drains. If the U-Bend is dry, instead of being faced with a large pool of water, rats would be able to walk up the U bend drain  and gain access to the building.

Rats can breed from 6 weeks of age with litters of up to 12, which means that even a small infestation  may soon becomes a major problem. Most rats in the wild have a life span of 6-9 months, which means there can be thousands of offspring  from 1 pair in one year.

Whenever you are dealing with rats you must have high regard to personal protection. Rats carry a multitude of diseases some fatal, so rubber gloves must be worn at all times. ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES when working on rat control.  DON'T use the canvas and leather type of glove -  they will hold contamination. DON'T walk barefooted in an area where rats are suspected, and DON'T allow children to crawl on the floor. Disinfect any surfaces the rodent  could come into contact with, especially in the kitchen, and dispose of rodent faeces.

Lock your food away and seal your rubbish securely (and remove it to the outer bins as quickly as possible).

Seal any gaps and holes around water pipes, electrical wiring, etc.

Rats have to drink water every day as opposed to a mouse which can get enough water from its food.

Have patience these are wild animals that don’t want to be caught or controlled. Rats are suspicious of new objects, so have patience. If it doesn’t work first time try another bait in the trap or put the trap somewhere else. If using chemical free bait, make sure there is no alternative food source.

If you are baiting traps with your own food, it's a myth that rats and mice like cheese best - peanut butter is much more effective.

Be humane.  If using traps, check them every 12 hours, or more often , if possible (you are required to check them every 24 hours).
 

GREEN OPTIONS:
ARTICLE:
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/techniques/pests/rat_green_control_owen1.asp
'I have been getting fantastic results with (Green Pest Control Co.) rat control using the chemical free rodent bait. This is a bait formulated from ground maize, wheat and sweet molasses, it takes only 40-60 grams to do the deed. Normally the rat dies in the burrow but should the rat die above ground there is no danger to carrion feeders or your cat because no chemicals have been used (the product is approved by the barn owl trust) and there are no residual toxins in the rodent body'.--Owen W. Metcalfe

Owen W. Metcalfe's site: Green Pest Control Co.
http://www.greenpestco.com/

OTHER PESTS: PIGEONS

OTHER PESTS: COCKROACHES