Pest control companies are warning households across Fermanagh to dispose of pumpkins carefully after Halloween, as rotting pumpkins can attract rats and mice. The firms report that rodent-control call-outs typically increase by 38 per cent during this period.

An estimated 500,000 pumpkins are sold across the country each year, providing a ready food source for rodents when left outside. A spokesperson for specialist firm Catch A Pest said that carved pumpkins left after Halloween give rats and mice an easy meal right beside the front door.

The spokesperson added that as evenings darken and temperatures drop, rodents move indoors seeking warmth, food and shelter. Leftover sweets, open bins and cardboard boxes of decorations also offer rodents food and nesting material.

Rodents can squeeze through gaps about the width of a pencil, so a pumpkin near the house can encourage them to find a way inside. Removing easy food sources is the simplest step to stay pest-free through the winter, the spokesperson said.