Galway is apparently one of the most rodent infested counties in Ireland, accounting for the third highest level of callouts so far in 2019.
Pest control experts Rentokil have said that Galway makes up 7% of all rodent call outs they receive in Ireland, trailing behind only Dublin (24%) and Cork (11%).
Worryingly, the number of rodents finding their way into people’s homes and businesses has exploded this summer, with Rentokil saying that call outs between May and June of 2019 are up 102% on the same period last year.
To combat this the Pest control business is launching a new service called PestConnect, which is meant to monitor and contain rodent activity round the clock using mobile connected technology.
PestConnect is a system of devices that detect, capture and/or humanely kill a variety of rodents using a combination of traps, bait stations and monitoring units.
The devices were developed using Rentokil’s unique technical capabilities and in-depth research into pest behaviour, and have infrared sensors that can detect a pest and activate a trap or allow access to bait.
Once the devices send a signal, a Rentokil technician attends the site to identify the origin of the infestation and implement the Integrated Pest Management programme.
“PestConnect is an extremely useful tool for businesses to ensure they stay pest free,” said Dr. Colm Moore, Area Technical Manager for Rentokil.
“Rodents are a real threat to the hygiene of a premises, and we expect to see a further increase in callouts later in the year when rats and mice begin their migration indoors to escape colder temperatures.”
He added that using modern solutions can drastically cut down on the time between the beginning of an infestation and its extermination, “Early detection and prevention is always better than a cure.”
In order to prevent rodent infestations in your home or business people are advised to:
- Keep foodstuffs in metal or glass containers with tight fitting lids
- Tidy inside the house and around the garden – less clutter means fewer places to hide.
- Put outdoor rubbish bags in metal bins with securely fitted lids to stop rodents feeding from their 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 rodents.
