At Pinpoint Environmental, we know pests; especially those in London and its suburbs. We also know that some pests are more likely to be a nuisance at different times of the year. Some pests never seem to go away—mice and rats being the top of that list—while others are seasonal.
Why is knowing this important? Because it lets you be proactive in controlling the pests, which is much better than a retroactive approach. Prevention, rather than removal or control, is also a more economical approach.
As winter draws to a close, this blog highlights the pests you can encounter indoors and outdoors and our suggestions to keep them at bay proactively.
January – March
While moving from these months, it is worth remembering these are usually the coldest months in the UK calendar. It is when pests seek to come in from the cold. Unfortunately, mice and rats are an ongoing pest problem in London. Preventing their incursion into your residential or business properties is a season-by-season endeavour.
At this time of year, the cold snap may drive even those not inclined to be indoors to relocate. Warmth and food are the priorities, and with all the central heating we have working, our indoor, warm spaces are a huge draw. But, unfortunately, it is harder to get them to go once they get entrenched in your buildings. Better to prevent their entry in the first place.
Preventing rats and mice access in winter and as spring starts to appear means ensuring several things require attending to.
- Keep waste bins emptied regularly
- Do not leave food lying around
- Store food where rodents can not get to it
- Rodent-proof any access point
Another pest to be aware of in these months are cockroaches. Again they, like rodents, are attracted to our centrally-heated homes and businesses. At the first sign of this unpleasantness, visitors give us a call.
You may also see some outside pests this month, especially the mounds in your lawns from moles.
Pests To Look Out For In March
While February 14th is a day for love, the breeding season for pests usually starts in March.
Birds like Robins, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds and Greenfinches sing for mates and build their nests. Unfortunately, the feral pigeon is as well. The female will have her nest wherever she feels safe, and that could be in your home in a variety of places, like,
- Balcony
- Under solar panels
- In your loft
- Top of a downpipe hopper
- In your garage
The dropping of pigeons is a biohazard. Alongside making walkways slippery, their acidic dropping can eat into metals and erode stonework. While legally and ethically, you cannot remove the nest until the fledglings have flown away, you can introduce various preventative measures to stop the birds from nesting. Some considerations can include,
Physical Deterrents involve placing a British decoy bird, like a hawk, eagle or owl statue. While they look fake to us, as prey birds, they deter other birds. However, these need to be firmly attached to your roof. They can look a little unsightly, and some birds do suss them out as fakes.
Audio Bird Deterrent is an economical and effective way to stop birds from nesting under your roof tiles. Also known as a bird repellent, it’s usually installed on or around your roof and emits a high-pitched sound that will stop birds from nesting. It will also prevent any other birds from coming into your garden.
Chimney Caps – If you do not use your chimney, a chimney cap will stop birds from nesting and, as an extra plus, will reduce dampness from your chimney.
Bird Spikes – These might look vicious but will not harm the birds. They do, however, prevent them from making nests.
Eaves Comb Fillers – Nesting in your eaves is popular for birds as the nest and fledglings get protection from the weather and predators. The combs fit into place between the felt and the tiles, making an effective barrier.
All these options are available, but remember to use an expert to install them—an expert who knows what he is doing and has the correct equipment to work at height.
Clothes Moths are another march pest, mainly if your business includes textiles. The larvae of the common clothes moth are very destructive to carpets and clothes. It is essential to control this moth as soon as it appears and continue monitoring until eliminated. These moths like dry, dark places, so you must regularly check out unopened cupboards, plus loft and basement areas.
Outside you may begin to see the bees, especially the Queen Bumblebees. These are the only ones that survive winter, and they will start building their colonies – hopefully not in any of your spaces.
Pests To Look Out For In April & May
Bees and Wasps are emerging from their winter hibernation. More birds will begin nesting, and this can continue up to September. Queen wasps and bees continue to arrive, looking to build their nests. Check your loft spaces for early activity. Refrain from attempting to remove the nests yourself. This is a job for experts.
Warmer temperatures also start to tempt the insects out. Ants and houseflies will begin to make an appearance. If you have pets make sure they commence their flea treatment.
The other active pests are, of course, rats and mice. These can become a nuisance any month of the year. Therefore, preventative action should be ongoing.
If you are struggling to manage these pests, give us a call. We offer comprehensive prevention and control systems to suit your home or business. Using camera drain surveys, motion cameras and tracking gels, we can Pinpoint entry points and runs, facilitating accurate pest control solutions.
If you have any concerns about pests in your London premises, inside or out, please call us to discuss the problem. We can provide preventative methods as well as a variety of options to manage and control the situation.