The matter in summary • Rodents move into homes in autumn to seek warmth, shelter and nourishment.• Keep the vegetation around the house down to reduce the likelihood of rodents.• Seal openings in walls and foundations, and cover ventilation areas such as vents with fences or gratings. • Keep the property tidy and avoid mess and scrap, especially near the house wall.• Avoid flushing food waste and grease down the toilet, as this provides nourishment for any rats in the sewer.• If you already have rodents in the house, there are measures such as cleaning property, sealing holes and setting up traps. You can also contact pest control. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Have you heard noises in walls? Or rustling in the attic? Maybe your wires have been chewed on? These days, rodents are looking for warmth, shelter and food. Many Norwegian cities, including Oslo and Tønsberg, report increasing rat problems. In Trondheim alone, there are most likely more than 100,000 rats living in the sewage networks, reports the municipality. Food scraps and garbage in the sewer get some of the blame. Milder weather can also be a reason. Earlier this week you could read about a rat that appeared in a toilet in Sandefjord. Here is the advice on how you might be able to avoid experiencing the same thing. Keep vegetation down Sales manager for Pelias, Anstein Berntsen. Photo: PELIAS Long grass and bushes increase the likelihood that you will get rodents in your house, says sales manager at the pest company Pelias, Anstein Berntsen. – Under the grass, behind bushes and next to walls, rodents feel safe. Then they will search and spend more time finding places where they can enter the house. He therefore believes that the most important thing is to keep the vegetation around the house down. SHOULD BE MOWED: Don’t let grass, bushes and other things grow freely along the house wall, advises Pelias. Photo: Andreas Molland Sealed openings Make sure there are no holes in the walls and foundation. Grids can be placed in front of air hatches or valves. – There are especially corner boxes with gaps that mice and rats get into, says Berntsen. FIRST WAY IN: Holes and openings in walls and the foundation are often the first way in for rodents. Photo: PELIAS Clear away scraps – Mess and scraps give the rodents the security they need to find openings to enter. THRIVE: Rats find security in mess and scraps, says Berntsen. Photo: Marianne Løkkevik / news That is why it is important to keep the property tidy, and especially the area next to the house wall, says Berntsen. Avoid food waste in the toilet It can be tempting to pour grease from pots and pans into the toilet. Then it quickly becomes a feast for rats living in the sewers, according to Berntsen. – Nothing should be flushed down the toilet other than what is normally flushed down there. RAT ON A SWIMMING TRIP: A mother of a toddler in Sandefjord woke up this week to a rat in the can.
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Effective tips to avoid rats and mice in your home – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
