As the nights get cooler and the first rains arrive, rats and mice start looking for a warm, dry place with food nearby. For many of them that place is a house, a roof space, a storeroom or a restaurant kitchen. Autumn and winter are the busiest months for rodent problems in Paphos, and acting early makes control much faster and cheaper.
Why Rodents Move Indoors in Winter
In summer, fields and gardens give rodents plenty of food and shelter. When the weather changes, that food becomes harder to find and nests outside get cold and wet. Buildings offer warmth, shelter and easy food from kitchens, bins and stored goods. A mouse can squeeze through a gap the width of a pencil and a rat through a gap the size of a coin, so even well kept properties can be affected.
The Rodents Found Around Paphos
- Roof rat: slim, agile and an excellent climber. It travels along walls, trees, cables and pipes and often nests in roof spaces, false ceilings and under solar panels.
- Norway rat: larger and heavier, it lives at ground level, digs burrows and uses drains and sewers to move around.
- House mouse: small and curious, it nests inside walls, cupboards, appliances and stored boxes and breeds very quickly.
Find out more about each one on our rodents page.
Signs You Have Rats or Mice
- Scratching or running noises in the ceiling or walls, usually at night
- Droppings in cupboards, along walls and behind appliances
- Gnawed food packaging, wood, plastic or cables
- Greasy marks along walls and pipes where rodents travel
- Nests made of shredded paper, fabric or insulation
- Pets that suddenly show interest in one area of the house
Why Rodents Need Fast Action
Rats and mice contaminate food and surfaces and can spread diseases such as salmonella and leptospirosis. They also gnaw constantly, and chewed electrical cables are a real fire risk. A single pair of mice can turn into a large population within a few months, so the sooner the problem is treated, the easier it is to solve.
How ProPest Deals With Rodents
- A full inspection to find entry points, runs and nesting areas
- Secure, tamper-resistant bait stations placed where rodents travel, keeping baits away from children and pets
- Traps where baits are not suitable, for example in food areas
- Advice on proofing: sealing gaps, fitting mesh on vents and protecting pipe and cable openings
- Follow-up visits to monitor activity until the problem is gone
How to Keep Rodents Out This Winter
- Seal gaps around pipes, cables, doors and roof edges
- Keep food, pet food and bird seed in sealed containers
- Use bins with tight lids and keep the area around them clean
- Cut back branches that touch the roof and clear clutter from storerooms
- Check roof spaces and the area under solar panels for signs of nesting
Rodent Control in Paphos
ProPest Management provides rodent control for homes, apartments, restaurants, hotels, shops and warehouses across the Paphos district, including regular monitoring contracts for businesses. If you have heard noises in the ceiling or found droppings, call us on +357 99 711791 or contact us to book an inspection.