It’s not a list any county wants to be top of.

It’s not the most pleasant thing to be thinking of in the run-up to Christmas, but rodents are more likely to move indoors during the winter months and particularly during the type of cold spells that we’ve experienced in Ireland of late. With that in mind, Rentokil, Ireland’s leading pest control provider, has reiterated a warning to home and business owners to proof their homes and premises and has also revealed the counties where rat infestations are most prevalent in Ireland. Not surprisingly given the population in the capital, Dublin is way out on top, accounting for almost a third of all rat infestations in the country. Cork is next on the list, accounting for 12 per cent of infestations, followed by Kildare (8 per cent), Kerry, Galway and Limerick (6 per cent apiece); you can see the 10 worst affected counties below. -          Dublin                  32 per cent -          Cork                      12 per cent -          Kildare                 8 per cent -          Kerry                    6 per cent -          Galway                 6 per cent -          Limerick              6 per cent -          Meath                   5 per cent -          Wicklow               4 per cent -          Cavan                    3 per cent -          Wexford               3 per cent As well as noting that rat infestations in Ireland have increased by 38% between July and September this year compared to the same period in 2016, Rentokil predicts that the number of rodent infestations in homes will continue to rise and the pests will likely continue to multiply during the winter months. Dr. Colm Moore, Area Technical Manager with Rentokil, says: “During winter months, rodents like to base themselves somewhere warm, quiet and close to a source of food. If you can prevent rats you will also reduce the damage and health risks they cause. “They can be very persistent and if rats gain access into your home or business they can spread disease, cause damage and contaminate food. One pair of rats shed more than one million body hairs each year and a single rat can leave up to 25,000 droppings. “If you have already spotted signs of rats, such as droppings, prevention may already be too late. We would advise you to act quickly to get rid of them and prevent a large infestation.” Rentokil also offered the following practical ways to help home and business owners prevent a rodent problem.

• Keep foodstuffs in metal or glass containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Tidy inside the house and around the garden - less clutter means less places to hide.
• Put outdoor rubbish bags in metal bins with securely fitted lids to stop them feeding from 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 them.

For more information, check out the Rentokil website.