As temperatures begin to fall across the UK, homeowners and businesses may start noticing increased signs of rats and mice around homes, gardens, garages, sheds, warehouses and other buildings.

Rodents remain active throughout the year, but autumn and winter can bring them into closer contact with people as they search for reliable sources of food, water, warmth and shelter.

Recent UK pest-control activity data also shows that rats and mice continue to represent a significant proportion of pest problems. This makes autumn a sensible time to inspect your property, identify possible entry points and take preventative action before colder weather arrives.

How Serious Is the UK Rodent Problem in 2026?

Industry pest activity data published by the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) in 2026 showed that rats accounted for approximately 25% of recorded pest activity, while mice accounted for around 22%.

Together, rats and mice represented approximately 47% of recorded pest activity within the dataset.

These figures should not be interpreted as meaning that 47% of UK homes have a rodent infestation. They relate to recorded professional pest-control activity rather than a survey of every UK property.

However, they demonstrate that rats and mice remain among the most frequently encountered pest problems in the UK.

Source: British Pest Control Association.

Why Can Rat and Mouse Activity Increase During Autumn?

Rats and mice do not hibernate. They remain active throughout the year and continue searching for suitable sources of food, water and shelter.

During late summer and early autumn, outdoor environments may provide vegetation, cover and natural food sources. As temperatures begin to fall and food becomes less readily available outdoors, rodents may start searching for alternative food sources and sheltered locations.

Homes, garages, sheds, warehouses and commercial premises can offer rodents several things they need, including warmth, shelter, food and protected nesting areas.

This makes September, October and the colder months that follow particularly important times to check properties for possible rodent activity.

Where Might Rats and Mice Be Found?

Rodents are highly adaptable and can take advantage of suitable food sources, shelter and access points around a property.

Common areas worth checking include:

• Kitchens and utility rooms
• Food storage areas
• Lofts and roof spaces
• Garages and sheds
• Warehouses and stockrooms
• Wall and floor cavities
• Areas beneath decking
• Compost areas
• Bin and waste storage areas
• Spaces around pipework
• Gaps around doors
• External walls and drainage areas

A property does not necessarily need to appear dirty to experience a rodent problem. Food, water, shelter and an accessible entry point can make an otherwise clean property attractive to rats or mice.

What Are the Common Signs of Rats and Mice?

Rodents are often active when people are not around, particularly at night. You may therefore notice evidence of activity before actually seeing a rat or mouse.

1. Rodent Droppings

Droppings are one of the most common warning signs of rodent activity.

Check around cupboards, food storage areas, garages, sheds, behind appliances, along walls and close to suspected nesting areas.

2. Gnaw Marks

Rats and mice regularly gnaw on different materials.

Damage may appear on food packaging, cardboard, wood, plastic, storage containers, furniture and electrical cables.

Any suspected damage to electrical wiring should be treated seriously and assessed appropriately.

3. Scratching or Scurrying Sounds

Scratching, scurrying or gnawing noises may sometimes be heard when a property is quiet.

These sounds may appear to come from lofts, ceilings, wall cavities, beneath floors, behind kitchen units or inside storage areas.

4. Greasy Smear Marks

Rats can use established routes repeatedly when travelling between food, water and nesting locations.

Repeated contact with surfaces may leave dark or greasy marks around walls, skirting boards or frequently used access points.

5. Footprints and Tail Marks

Dusty and relatively undisturbed areas may sometimes reveal rodent footprints or tail marks.

Check locations behind stored items, inside garages, lofts and areas that are rarely disturbed.

6. Nesting Materials

Rodents may collect soft materials to create sheltered nesting areas.

This can include shredded paper, cardboard, fabric, insulation or soft packaging materials.

7. Unusual Odours

An established rodent problem may sometimes be associated with a noticeable unpleasant or ammonia-like odour.

If several warning signs appear together, further investigation may be appropriate.

What Are the Signs of Mice?

Although rats and mice are both rodents, they should not automatically be treated as the same pest.

Mice are much smaller and may be able to enter spaces that are inaccessible to larger rodents.

Typical signs can include small droppings, damaged food packaging, scratching sounds, nesting materials, small footprints, greasy marks and unusual odours.

Correct identification is important because rat and mouse behaviour can differ and the most appropriate trap, station or control method may also be different.

Why Should a Rodent Problem Not Be Ignored?

A rodent problem can involve more than simply seeing an unwanted animal inside or around a property.

The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that rodents can carry diseases, damage buildings and spoil foodstuffs.

Rodents can also damage packaging, stored goods, insulation and other materials through gnawing and contamination.

For warehouses, catering environments, food storage areas and other commercial premises, early identification and good prevention practices can be particularly important.

Source: UK Health and Safety Executive.

How to Help Prevent Rats and Mice

Effective rodent management should begin by making the surrounding environment less attractive and less accessible.

Remove Accessible Food Sources

Keep food in secure containers and clean up spills, crumbs and food waste promptly.

Pay particular attention to pet food, bird seed, animal feed, fallen fruit, food waste and open food packaging.

Keep Bins Secure

Use bins with properly fitting lids and avoid allowing rubbish bags or food waste to accumulate around the outside of a property.

Reduce Clutter

Rodents benefit from areas where they can remain hidden.

Regularly check garages, sheds, warehouses, stockrooms, lofts, gardens and storage areas and remove unnecessary clutter where possible.

Check Possible Entry Points

Inspect your property for potential access points around doors, pipework, vents, drainage areas, walls, roofs, garages and outbuildings.

Suitable rodent-proofing products can form part of a wider rodent prevention programme where appropriate.

Check Outdoor Areas

Rodent prevention should also include the area surrounding the building.

Check compost areas, bird feeding locations, spaces beneath sheds and decking, dense vegetation, outdoor food storage and waste areas.

Monitor for Early Signs

Regular monitoring can help identify activity before a larger problem becomes established.

Pay particular attention to locations where rodents are likely to travel and areas close to food, water and shelter.

Should You Use Rat Traps or Mouse Traps?

Physical traps are one of several options that may form part of a rodent-management programme.

Different designs are available for rats and mice, so it is important to select a trap appropriate for the target rodent and the intended location.

Placement can also be important because rodents commonly travel close to walls and along established routes.

Always follow the instructions provided with the trap. Take additional precautions where children, pets or non-target animals may be present.

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What Are Rat and Mouse Bait Stations?

A rodent bait station is an enclosure designed to hold an appropriate rodent monitoring or control product.

Different bait stations may be intended for rats, mice or particular environments.

Bait stations can form part of a structured rodent-management programme, but using a station does not automatically make every rodenticide suitable for every user or location.

Any rodenticide placed inside a bait station must still be authorised for the intended use and used strictly according to its product label.

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What Does the HSE Recommend for Rodent Control?

The UK Health and Safety Executive identifies both chemical and non-chemical approaches to rodent management.

These can include good hygiene practices, physical barriers, traps and authorised biocidal products.

This means effective rodent management is not simply about placing a rodenticide.

A more complete approach involves understanding why rodents are present, reducing accessible food and shelter, restricting possible access, monitoring activity and selecting an appropriate control method where necessary.

This combined approach is commonly known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Is Rodenticide Resistance an Important Issue?

Resistance is an increasingly important consideration within professional pest management.

A BPCA industry survey published in 2026 found that a substantial proportion of respondents had encountered some form of pest resistance.

This can include behavioural resistance, where rodents may be reluctant to approach or interact with traps, bait stations or bait, as well as physiological resistance to certain active substances.

This reinforces the importance of combining prevention, proofing, monitoring, trapping and properly selected authorised control products rather than relying on a single technique.

Source: British Pest Control Association.

Using Rat and Mouse Rodenticides Safely in the UK

Rodenticides are regulated products and require careful handling.

The HSE explains that rodenticides can present risks to people, children, pets, wildlife and other non-target animals.

Restrictions can apply depending on the individual product, including its intended user, formulation, pack size, placement and authorised location of use.

Always read the complete label before use and follow all product instructions.

Use the product only for its authorised purpose, follow the stated dose and placement instructions, observe all safety precautions and keep pest-control products away from children and pets.

Where the product label requires a suitable bait station, follow those instructions exactly.

Professional-use-only products should only be purchased and used by users who meet the applicable requirements.

When Should You Contact a Professional Pest Controller?

Some rodent problems can become difficult to manage without professional assistance.

Professional pest-management advice may be appropriate when rodent activity continues despite preventative measures, rats or mice are repeatedly seen, the infestation appears substantial, rodents have entered difficult-to-access areas or activity affects a commercial food environment.

You should also consider professional advice if you cannot identify the source of the problem or cannot use the required control method safely.

Autumn 2026 Rodent Prevention Checklist

As temperatures begin to fall, September and early autumn are sensible times to perform a basic rodent inspection.

Outside: check bins, sheds, decking, compost areas, vegetation, drainage and possible access points.

Inside: inspect kitchens, cupboards, lofts, garages, utility rooms, storage areas and locations behind appliances.

Look for: droppings, gnaw marks, scratching sounds, footprints, nesting materials and greasy marks.

Remove attractions: secure food, clean spills, manage rubbish and reduce unnecessary clutter.

Restrict access: identify appropriate entry points and use suitable proofing measures where necessary.

Monitor: continue checking areas where signs of previous rodent activity have been found.

Choosing the Right Rodent Control Products

The most appropriate product will depend on the target rodent, where activity is occurring and the particular property.

Rat Control Products

A rat-control programme may include rat traps, bait stations, monitoring products, rodent-proofing products and authorised rodent control products.

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Mouse Control Products

Mouse-control options may include mouse traps, mouse bait stations, monitoring products, proofing materials and authorised mouse-control products.

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Rodent Bait Stations

Rat and mouse bait stations can form part of an organised monitoring or control programme where appropriate.

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Rodent Traps

Select a trap designed for the intended target rodent and always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Rats and Mice in the UK

Are rats a major problem in the UK in 2026?

Rats continue to account for a substantial proportion of recorded professional pest activity in the UK. Industry data published by the BPCA indicates that rats and mice remain two of the most commonly encountered rodent pests.

What time of year are rats most noticeable?

Rats remain active throughout the year, but activity around homes and buildings can become particularly noticeable during autumn and winter as rodents search for reliable food and sheltered locations.

Do rats hibernate?

No. Rats remain active throughout the year.

Why do rats enter houses?

Buildings can provide food, water, warmth and sheltered nesting locations. Rodents may also exploit suitable openings around the structure.

What attracts rats to gardens?

Food waste, bird seed, animal feed, fallen fruit, compost, unsecured bins, clutter and sheltered areas may all make gardens more attractive to rodents.

What are the first signs of a rat problem?

Common warning signs can include droppings, gnawing, greasy marks, footprints, scratching sounds, nesting materials and unusual odours.

Are rats active during the day?

Rats are often more active when conditions are quiet, particularly at night, although they may sometimes be seen during daylight.

Can I use rat poison in the UK?

Authorised rodenticides are available in the UK, but the permitted users and conditions vary between products. Always check the product label and authorisation before purchase or use.

Are traps better than rodenticides?

There is no single control method suitable for every situation. Prevention, hygiene, physical barriers, monitoring, traps and appropriately authorised rodenticides may all have a role depending on the circumstances.

When should I call professional pest control?

Professional assistance may be advisable where rodent activity is substantial, repeatedly returns, occurs in difficult-to-access areas, affects a commercial food environment or cannot be managed safely.

Stay Rodent Ready This Autumn

Rats and mice remain an important pest-management concern across the UK in 2026.

Industry pest-control data indicates that both species continue to account for a significant proportion of recorded pest activity.

At the same time, autumn can encourage rodents to search for reliable food and sheltered locations around homes and businesses.

This makes autumn a sensible time to inspect properties, secure accessible food, manage rubbish, reduce clutter, check potential entry points and monitor for early warning signs.

Taking preventative action early can make it easier to identify and manage rodent activity before a more established problem develops.

Explore our rodent control range for homes, gardens, garages, warehouses and businesses.

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Important: Always read and follow the complete product label and instructions before using any pest-control product. Biocidal products must only be used for their authorised purposes. Professional-use products should only be purchased and used by customers who meet the applicable requirements.

Information reviewed: September 2026.

Sources: British Pest Control Association and UK Health and Safety Executive.