How to recognise them
Brown rat (sewer rat)
Large and sturdy, with a tail shorter than its body. Lives in sewers, drains, cellars and ground floors; an excellent swimmer.
Black rat (roof rat)
Slimmer, with a very long tail and a great climber. In Liguria it is common in lofts, on palm trees and along dry-stone walls.
House mouse
Small; it gets in through gaps of just 6-7 mm. Hides behind appliances and furniture and in false ceilings.
Warning signs not to ignore
- Dark droppings shaped like a grain of rice (mice) or an olive (rats)
- Scurrying or gnawing noises at night, especially in the loft and false ceiling
- Gnawed cables, pipes, bags and packaging
- Dark, greasy smears along walls and skirting boards where they always run
- Strong smell of urine in enclosed spaces
- Holes in the ground near walls and flower beds, burrows under hedges
Why they are a problem
- They spread diseases such as leptospirosis and salmonellosis, contaminating food and surfaces
- They gnaw electrical cables: a known cause of short circuits and fires
- They breed very quickly: one pair can produce dozens of young in a year
- For a food business, rodents mean fines and closure
How we work
- InspectionWe look for signs, nests and entry points, inside and outside the building.
- Tamper-proof bait stationsWe place authorised baits in locked, numbered and labelled boxes.
- Sealing entry pointsWe show you (or seal ourselves) the holes, grilles and gaps that need closing.
- ChecksWe come back to check how much bait has been eaten and replace it until the rodents are gone.
What you can do to prevent them
- Keep food, animal feed and pet food in closed containers
- Close rubbish bags and empty your bins often
- Seal holes around pipes and cables and fit grilles over air vents
- Cut long grass and move firewood and stacked materials away from walls
- Don't leave fallen fruit in the garden
Send us a photo: we'll identify it and tell you what to do.
FAQ
Are the baits dangerous for dogs, cats and children?
We use closed, fixed bait stations that children and pets cannot get into, with authorised baits. Each station is labelled and recorded on the job sheet.
How long does rodent control take?
Several visits a few weeks apart are usually needed, until the bait is no longer being eaten. For businesses and apartment buildings we offer scheduled checks all year round.
Why not use poison from the supermarket?
Put down at random, poison is dangerous for pets and children, mice often avoid it, and they die in places you cannot reach, leaving bad smells. And unless the entry points are sealed, more will come.