As Auckland and Wellington prepare for winter rat influx, expert offers advice to keep homes rodent free

April 24, 2018

Rats had a good year in the bedroom, and now they're all looking for warm and dry snuggle spots in your roof.

Residents are being advised to keep trees cut well back from their houses to deter rats taking up residence over winter as Auckland and Wellington see an influx of rodents.

Terry Washington of Wellington Pest Management told Seven Sharp there has been a 30 per cent increase in rats in the capital.

"This is due really to the fact that we had such a mild winter. So the older ones and the younger ones survived winter a lot better that way," he said.

Mr Washington said the warmer weather gave more time for the rodents to breed and that means they have another seven to 10 babies.

But a change to colder temperatures now means a headache for householders as the rats are looking for somewhere warm and dry.

"They're looking for warmth. I mean at  two, three o'clock in the morning it's cold outside. So what they're doing is they're using our houses and our heating and they're getting in under our insulation and they're sitting there quite happily," he said.

Mr Washington says the main method to turn away the unwanted guests from your roof cavity is to keep your trees cut back.

"Keep them back at least a metre and a half, I'd say. Rats will jump across a metre. I mean it is very difficult. You could spend a fortune and they could still find a way in.

"If they're really that desperate to get in, they'll just make a hole."

When it comes to eradicating rats, Mr Washington says baits are the best option, while traps are very hit and miss.

"Because it's rats, they'll pick these baits up and they'll run off with them.

"If a trap goes off near a rat or a mouse at any time of its life, and it doesn't catch it, it won't go near one again. So that's why baits is the best option."

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