Pest Control UK

New Breed Of Super Rat

Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A breed of 'super rat' which has developed resistance to conventional poisons is threatening to overrun British towns and cities, scientists have warned. They say the rodents are fitter, faster and 'almost impossible to kill'. Pest controllers say the mutants are now dominant in parts of Britain and that only a new, stronger generation of poisons can wipe them out.

Flea Infestation Is No Small Problem

Sat, 16 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Fleas are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of animals and people. Brits spend about �3 million a year controlling fleas - one of the biggest expenses for pet owners. In the UK, most flea problems are caused by the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. This flea feeds on cats, dogs and wildlife.

Controlling Garden Pests

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

With spring comes beautiful weather, a bounty of new green plant growth, colourful flowers, and heavenly fragrances. This is also when the insect, weed and disease pests descend upon our gardens and cause problems. The best way to control pests is to use a four-step approach.

Businessman Changes Career

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

It wasn't long ago Tony Wood-Wright spent most of his days, stuck in the office in front of a computer screen. He earned a good living but began to question his quality of life. "Really, the pressure of the job took over and became almost unbearable. Whilst the money was very good, you've got to look at your lifestyle."

Ridding Your Home Of Mice

Sat, 09 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Most species of mice will not enter a house unless a red carpet is rolled out for them � if, for example, the garage door is left ajar with an open bag of grass seed, their favourite food, waiting inside. Then there's the house mouse: a truly remarkable species because it has specialised in living in human environments, with an extraordinary degree of adaptability.

Poison Failing To Stop Super Rats

Thu, 07 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Super rats immune to normal poison are scurrying around Swindon as experts warn of an explosion in the town's rodent population. One rat catcher says rodent numbers are 500 per cent up on a year ago and has blamed fortnightly rubbish collections and mild winters.

Bed Bugs Are Back

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Bed bugs - tick-size insects that hide in the cracks and crevices of mattresses and feed on sleepers' blood, are back. After being largely controlled for decades, an upsurge in travel and a decline in the use of powerful yet environmentally unfriendly pesticides are allowing bed bugs to spread again.

Beyond The Spray Can

Sat, 02 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

When a swarm of pesky flies got into a client's house recently, they did not reach for a can of insecticide. Instead, they got out a fly swatter � and their shoes, which they used to walk outside their home to look for the source of the sudden fly infestation.

Peterborough Council Strike Pest Deal

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Council bosses have done a deal with a private firm to provide pest control services to the public - just weeks after scrapping their own in-house team. Now critics have rounded on the town hall decision makers and questioned the sense of axing the council service in the first place.

Pest Cover?

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Alongside the recession, the insurance sector continues to hit the headlines as more of us start cancelling our policies in order to cut back on monthly spend, and insurance companies compete to entice us back. At the end of 2008 it seemed that many were offering online comparison services.

Cockroaches and Other Pests

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Spring is warming up to cockroaches and other pests multiplying outside and inside Cheshire homes. And hearing the brunt of complaints about invading insects are exterminators such as Pete Jameson, owner and manager of Dynamic Pest Control. Jameson said he's seen a 60-to-70-percent increase in calls for extermination jobs in recent weeks, a trend typical of late spring.

Rats Feed Off Recession

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000

For British rats, the worst of times has turned out to be the best of times. The vermin more associated with the Dickensian era than modern Britain are thriving, with shuttered shops and half-built housing sites to live in, rotting piles of uncollected rubbish for dinner and fewer exterminators sent out to kill them.

Safe And Natural Pest Control

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000

You love the great outdoors, especially gardening. But sometimes wildlife can be just a bit too wild, with rabbits munching prized plants to the ground, deer devouring petals of roses and azaleas, and cats rolling over seedlings and leaving their "calling cards" throughout your landscaping.

The Great Bunny Plague

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Tootling round the borders of the Althorp estate in Northamptonshire, in his tasteful, racing green van, Steve Caple is not your standard sort of pest control man. Because, despite the personalised 'RAT' registration plate and the large plastic rodent, teeth a-snarl, wobbling on the dashboard, mice and rats hardly trouble him at all.

Survey Identifies Need For Training

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Most countryside users of rat baits and slug pellets do so safely and responsibly, according to a survey for the Campaign Against Illegal Poisoning. But phone interviews with over 100 farmers, gamekeepers and pest control officers last summer suggested there was scope for more training in their application and more clearly defined codes of practice.

People Finding Bed Bugs

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000

An increasing number of people are sleeping with unwelcome visitors � bed bugs. Pete Jameson, owner and manager of Dynamic Pest Control, said his company is getting about 20 reports per month of infestations. About a quarter inch in length, the nocturnal wingless insects feed solely on the blood of warm-blooded animals.

Spring Weather Brings Bugs

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The combination of rain and warm weather outside is driving ants inside and drumming up business for exterminators across the UK. But don't be too quick to blame it on the rain - ants multiply during late May and June. Surprisingly wet weather can actually dampen the insect population.

Wanted: High Fliers For Pest Control

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Since the Scottish Parliament building was opened in 2004, its officials have been battling against constant bombardment from winged menaces. Now Holyrood bosses have finally admitted the only way to tackle the pigeons and stop them fouling the building is to introduce their own air force. They have asked falconers to tender for what could be a �40,000 contract to chase off the pigeons.

Bird Proof Your Home

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Spring is a busy time for birds. Warmer temperatures increase food sources, and birds are on the look out for new nesting spots, and mates. Whether they are returning from a winter migration or resident birds weary from a long winter hall, they have a lot of work to be done before autumn.

Green Up Your Pest Control

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Homeowners these days want to preserve their lawns and plantings, but not at the expense of the environment. It may take some investigation to find environmentally friendly materials, but if you start early and plan properly, you can have a garden that is pest-free and full of thriving, blooming, buzzing, fluttering life from spring into autumn.