It’s not only humans who like living in Galway — rodents are also attracted by the lifestyle.
Galway was the county which accounted for the second most Rentokil callouts for rodents, with 11 per cent of all callouts. Dublin (32 per cent ) had the most callouts for rodents, while Clare (9 per cent ) and Limerick (8 per cent ) were the next counties most affected by rats and mice.
Rentokil, Ireland’s leading pest control provider, has noted a 34 per cent increase in callouts to deal with rodents so far this year (January – October ) when compared with the same period in 2017.
The company attributes the rise in rodent activity to a combination of increased construction activity in cities, favourable conditions during the summer, and the subsequent drop in temperatures later in the year.
Rentokil believes that the unprecedented hot summer period provided ideal conditions for rodent populations to thrive and multiply. As is the norm for the autumn and winter months, rodent food becomes scarce and temperatures drop.
The large rodent population have already started their move indoors to seek shelter. Rentokil predicts that rodent infestations will continue to rise, and is warning households and businesses to be vigilant.
Dr Colm Moore, Area Technical Manager for Rentokil said Rentokil experiences a sudden spike in callouts for rodents every year during autumn, as the rodent population begins to move indoors to escape the cold weather.
“Notably, in 2018, this annual spike increased by 45 per cent and occurred a month earlier when compared with the previous year. Rodents have begun to move indoors earlier and in higher numbers, and we believe that this could be due to extreme weather conditions as a result of climate change.”
There are a number of signs to watch out for that will indicate the presence of rats or mice in your home. These include the presence of rodent droppings. Scratching noises at night from inside walls, under floorboards, or in attics are also an indication of mice and rats. Both of these rodents also leave grease marks or smears on walls as they run past them.
To avoid attracting rodents into your home, follow these simple tips:
Keep foodstuffs in metal or glass containers with tight fitting lids.
Tidy inside the house and around the garden - less clutter means less places to hide.
Put outdoor rubbish bags in metal bins with securely fitted lids to stop them feeding on the contents.
Clean up pet food and bird seed debris, and store pet food in robust containers with fitted lids, preferably above ground level.
Keep gardens free from debris - If you have a compost heap, don’t include organic food waste, as this will attract them.
