Rat control in Nijmegen: recognising the signs
Rats are shy and mostly active at dusk and during the night. You usually notice their traces before the animal itself. Look out for:
- droppings clearly larger than mouse droppings, often grouped in one spot
- dark, greasy smears along walls and beams where rats run repeatedly
- burrows in the garden, under a patio or next to the shed, sometimes with loose soil
- gnaw marks on wooden doors, cables, drainpipes or plastic bins
- heavy, shuffling noises under the floor or above the ceiling
If you see a rat during the day, there is often a larger group or a disturbed nest nearby. That is a reason not to wait.
The sewer as a way in
The brown rat likes to live in and around the sewer. In a system in good repair it stays there, but a broken pipe, a loose joint or an old connection that was never sealed gives it access to the crawl space, the cavity wall or the garden. In older houses the drains are sometimes decades old and have subsided.
With persistent problems we therefore often recommend a camera inspection of the drains by a sewer specialist. Once the leak is found, it can be repaired. A rat valve (rattenklep or rioolklep) fitted in the drain then stops rats trying to come up from the sewer. Without that step, any treatment is like mopping the floor with the tap still running.
How we approach rat control
First comes the inspection: we follow the traces back to the source and check the sewer, crawl space, shed, compost bin and the connection with the neighbours. Then we close off the entry points with mesh, metal plates or advice on the drains. Only as the final step do we deal with the rats still present.
Rats are wary of new objects on their route. That is why we place lockable bait stations or traps patiently in the right spots and return to check them. Only certified pest controllers may use professional products, and we apply them as precisely as possible to spare other animals. For us this is part of a broader approach; read more about our pest control in Nijmegen.
What you can do yourself
Rats stay where they find food, water and shelter. Take those three away and the problem already starts to ease. Feed birds from a feeder rather than on the ground and clear up spilled seed. Put chicken feed away in the evening, use a closed compost bin and do not leave bin bags next to the container. Cut back plants growing against the façade and tidy up clutter in the shed.
Do not put down poison yourself, and do not simply block a hole without knowing where it leads: a trapped rat will gnaw a new way out. If you see rats in public spaces, such as around street bins or along a pond, report it to the gemeente Nijmegen. Hear lighter scurrying and find small droppings? Then take a look at mouse control.
Why you should not leave rats alone
A rat in the shed may seem harmless, but rats can spread pathogens through their urine and droppings, including the bacterium that causes Weil's disease. They gnaw electrical cables, insulation and water pipes, which can lead to short circuits or leaks. And where a few rats find food undisturbed, a group grows quickly.
Acting early is also practical: a small group with a single way in is easier to tackle than a colony that has dug tunnels through the whole garden. Waiting for rats to leave by themselves rarely works.
