Whether it's the allotment garden in the city or the garden in the country - sooner or later most of them will be visited by rats. However, the unwanted visitors often only attract attention because of their legacies. Here we tell you how to recognize rat droppings and how to remove them.
Look
Rat droppings are comparatively easy to recognize by their appearance. However, it should not be viewed at close range unprotected. Stirring up and inhaling dust that has come in contact with the droppings could also be dangerous.
The reason for this lies in possible pathogens and parasites, which may be present in the rat droppings. Although only a few of these can be dangerous to humans, infection cannot be completely ruled out.
You can recognize the droppings of the black rat by the following characteristics:
- 1 to 2 cm long
- elongated and narrow "sausages" that can be slightly curved
- fresh droppings light to medium brown and shiny
- older faeces dark brown to black and dry
- tends to be more scattered
The rat droppings are very similar to mouse droppings, but are significantly larger than this. The excrement of migration rates differ slightly and can be recognized by the following typical features:
- 2 to 3 cm long
- wide or thick "cocoons"
- dark brown to black
- mostly in a heap and not scattered
signs of rats
If rat droppings or mouse droppings are found in the garden, there is no reason to panic. The legacies are often only found when the animals have already moved on. Once the animals have "settled down", other signs are also noticeable. These include:
- smell of urine or ammonia
- very much and fresh droppings
- Running streets that can appear like sidewalks of people
- gnawing marks
Indoors, such as the garden shed or the garage, footprints can also be noticed on the floor. Dirty or greasy prints, drag marks and paw prints are possible.
Remove
If the amount of faeces is small and there are no other signs of a rat infestation, it is usually sufficient to remove the excrement and clean the floor. The procedure is as follows:
1. Gloves
Wear sturdy disposable latex gloves and, if necessary, a face mask and painter's overalls for protection. This is particularly recommended for very fresh faeces or old faeces that are in a dry, very dusty environment.
2. Pick up
Wipe up or collect the droppings with moistened cellulose and place in a plastic bag, seal the bag tightly.
3. Disinfect
Thoroughly soak the floor with disinfectant and allow the agent to take effect. If this does not completely eliminate the odor, an enzyme cleaner can also be used.
4. Disposal
Then dispose of gloves, face mask and suit, also packed in a bag. Thoroughly clean skin.
When cleaning, you should be careful not to stir up any dust and only use tools that can then be disposed of or thoroughly disinfected. So the excrement you should no way with the vacuum cleaner remove.
obligation to report
If rats are sighted in the garden or in rooms, there is an obligation to report to the health department. This can then also advise on how to proceed and, if necessary, recommend exterminators or suitable means of combating it.