• Break-back: Traps may be set and these should be placed next to walls where mice tend to travel.

The trap should be baited with chocolate, biscuit or cereal. Use several traps and examine them daily, removing dead mice as soon as they are discovered. All traps should be handled with care.

Warning: When using pesticides always follow the instructions on the label. Remember that pesticides may be harmful to other animal’s e.g. household pets etc.

For more information, help or advice please contact the Environmental Health team at any of our offices below:

CookstownBurn RoadCookstownBT80 8DT

DungannonCircular RoadDungannonBT71 6DT

Magherafelt 50 Ballyronan RdMagherafeltBT45 6EN

Call 03000 132 132 Visit www.midulstercouncil.orgContact info@midulstercouncil.org

Pest ControlAdvice

Dealing With Rats and Mice

Mid Ulster District CouncilInformation For Residents

Why control rats and mice?

Mice and rats have been known to spread diseases to humans, including Salmonellosis (food poisoning) and Weil’s disease, usually from the urine of infected rats. There is also a legal requirement on occupiers to ensure their premises are rodent free.

What do they eat?

Preferred foods for rats and mice are cereal products, although they will eat almost anything. Most of the damage they do is by gnawing and ripping open packets. They also spoil food with urine, droppings and hairs.

Signs of Infestation

- Droppings

Rats: capsule-shaped, black and up to 12mm long. A rat will leave around 40 dropping a day. Fresh droppings will be soft and moist.

Mice: often black, rod shaped and 3-6mm long. A mouse can leave around 80 droppings per day. Fresh droppings will be soft and moist.

- NestsSometimes nests can be found indoors; in lofts, under floorboards, wall cavities or in airing cupboards. - GnawingRats and mice gnaw continually to wear down their front teeth, even on non-food materials such as electrical cables, pipework and wooden fixtures. Check for damage to foodstuffs in cupboards.

Prevention of rats and mice infestation

As a precaution ensure that:

• All gaps and holes in the exterior structure of your home are sealed, especially around heating and water pipes. Mice only need a gap the diameter of a pencil to gain entry. Rats only need a gap of 15mm to gain entry.

• Remove potential nesting sites by keeping yards and gardens clean and tidy, and by cutting back overgrown areas.

• Ventilation bricks and slots should already have a fi ne wire mesh incorporated.

• Do not leave household waste where mice can get access to it, close dustbin lids and composters and do not feed wild birds to excess - you may be feeding mice as well.

How to get rid of rats and mice?

It is possible to carry this work out yourself however, a professional pest control expert will always have more technical expertise and access to rodenticides that are not available over the counter.

If you decide to carry out the work yourself there are two options, – poison or break-back traps.

• Poison (rodenticide):Can be bought from most hardware stores and most garden centres.

Put the poison in a safe and secure place out of reach of children and pets and ALWAYS wash your hands after use. Rodenticide can take 4-12 days to take effect. This may result in a localised foul smell due to the presence of carcasses.