While British households have resorted to staying at home in compliance with Government’s lockdown measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, hungry rats are beginning to invade homes, according to reports.
The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) said around half of the professionals it had polled during lockdown had seen an increase in activity, Essex Live reports.
Natalie Bungay, technical officer for the BPCA, was quoted as saying, “Rats in particular may be becoming more visible in areas of population.
“With less footfall across cities and towns there is less associated food waste being left in bins and on the floor.
“As a result, rat populations are likely to move further afield to satisfy their need for a food source and this, in turn, is likely to cause more sightings.
“In terms of rats in domestic homes, so long as you manage your food waste properly and there are no considerable harbourage opportunities, you shouldn’t experience any unusual problems.
When the lockdown was first announced some people took to stockpiling food, fearing supermarkets would run out.
But a leading body recently warned of the dangers of doing so – fearing it could further encourage rats into residential properties.
The National Pest Technicians Association said rodents could get in without people knowing and cause problems.
Technical manager John Hope said: “It’s the same as when rubbish piles up on the street due to missed bin collections.
“The more that’s there, the more chance there is of attracting rodents without actually seeing them, because they can get in there unnoticed by time you get to bottom of the pile.
“Stockpiling will have an effect on public health because if you’re stockpiling goods, there’s more food there to attract rodents.”
