Pest control experts are warning farmers against taking a DIY-approach to rodent control.
Farmers have traditionally conducted rodent treatments themselves, but controlling these pests is becoming increasingly difficult and complex.
The UK’s biggest trade association for pest controllers, the NPTA points out that the legal requirements affecting using rodenticides are currently being changed and resistance to current products is growing throughout the country. This leaves farmers in a very vulnerable position.
For example:
• With changes due in the labelling of rodenticides, anyone involved with rodent control will need to be aware of new requirements.
• Resistance in both rats and mice to anticoagulant baits is growing rapidly throughout the country.
• There are some parts of the UK where it is now virtually impossible to control rats with poisons, requiring alternative methods to be used.
• All ‘professional users’ need to keep up with the rapidly-changing biological and legislative environment.
• Professional pest controllers are often not as expensive as farmers think and will get the job done safely, efficiently and effectively, leaving farmers to concentrate on their businesses.
The NPTA have produced the following advice for farmers:
The Never-Ending Battle Against Rodents
Whether you like it or not, every farmer has to invest time and money in keeping their properties as free from rodents as possible. It is a never-ending battle and a never-ending drain on resources. But failure to keep up the fight will inevitably mean the destruction of produce, property and profits.
One of the first decisions to make is whether to use the services of a specialist pest controller or to Do-it-Yourself. In times of economic strain, the second option is superficially very attractive, as it appears to be the cheaper option. However, there is a great deal more to rodent control than just throwing a bit of bait about and getting it wrong could be very costly.
The key to effective rodent control, if you are going to do it yourself, is to be properly trained. Whilst this is a concept that is well accepted with the application of plant protection pesticides, sadly the same is not true when applying rodenticides. To be regarded as a ‘professional user’ of rodenticides all that is required is that you use these products in the course of your work and that you have “received appropriate information, instruction and training”. Our experience is that many so-called ‘Professional Users’, where rodent control is a peripheral part of their work, are very poorly trained.
In the Legislation there is no indication of what is ‘appropriate’, nor is there a suggestion of what is an acceptable standard. There is no requirement for ‘continuous professional development’ (CPD) to show that you have kept up with the rapidly–changing environment, both legal and biological, affecting rodent control, unlike other areas of pesticide use. The result is a lot of very ineffective and potentially dangerous rodent control work being carried, with the environment suffering as a result.
If you have not received proper training in rodent control, you will have no idea about the implications behind the phrases that appear on the product labels and are therefore more likely to make mistakes in treatment. That might lead to poor levels of control, but also to possible prosecution.
The mainstay of rodent control is the use of anti-coagulant rodenticides and these were almost banned recently throughout the EU as the full risks that they pose to the environment have become better understood. It was only because there are no viable alternatives at present that they were, grudgingly, allowed to continue to be used, but it was a very close run thing. They are very much under review as a result.
If any bird of prey, or indeed any animal, is found dead with no apparent injuries and poisoning is suspected, a ‘Wildlife Incident Investigation’ is quite likely to be started, which could involve a visit to any properties nearby where rodenticides are being used. If they find that you have not been using them properly, you could be charged, as one pest controller found to his cost not long ago. Where you bait, how much you use, how long you leave it in place and even how well you document its use will all be scrutinised and if found wanting, you might end up in Court for ‘failing to take all reasonable precautions’ to prevent damage to the environment.
The product labels will be changing significantly over the next few years and as a professional user, you will need to be aware of these changes. Where will you get this information, particularly with regard to the significance of each change?
Resistance, in both rats and mice, to many of the most commonly-used products, is also growing rapidly, with large areas of the country almost complete ‘no-go’ areas for rodenticide use. Would you know where these areas are, or how to get your rats tested to see if they are resistant? Would you know what your options for rodent control are then?
In some of the worst-affected areas, pest controllers are having to turn back to more traditional methods, such as traps, snares and using specially-trained dogs. Do you have those skills?
In short, rodent control, which was for years simply a question of putting bait around the place, is rapidly becoming a much more fraught and complex issue. It may now be the time for getting professional expertise on board to help you. Why not focus your time and effort on doing what you do best and getting a professional pest controller in to do what they do best?
The question now is how do you choose an appropriate professional?
The National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) has the largest number of independent Members throughout the country. Membership requires that technicians are properly trained and insured.
An elite part of the Membership, the ‘Accredited Members’ are also audited regularly to make sure they are working to Industry Best Practices.
Having a professional, with a local reputation to maintain, that you can rely on to help you in this increasingly complex issue, could well turn out to be the most cost-effective approach to the problem of rodent control on your farm.
The National Pest Technicians Association can be contacted at tel. no: 01773 717 716; e-mail: office@npta.org.uk; web site: www.npta.org.uk
Pest Control Ipswich - Click here to view our main website
Wednesday 30 January 2013
Wednesday 2 January 2013
Commercial Pest Control Ipswich – Common Pests that Affect UK Businesses and Other Organisations
Any industry or organisation in Suffolk and Essex can have a pest outbreak and, if this happens, the consequences can be devastating. That is why, at the first sign of pests on your premises, it is important to call on the services of a commercial pest control company in the Ipswich area who offer swift and effective pest control. Better still is to have pest control contracts in place as this guarantees ongoing pest control monitoring and it takes the worry out of your hands.
Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions offer competitively priced pest control contracts for businesses and other organisations in Ipswich and the surrounding area. Our pest control contracts include on site visits and recommendations, full reports, risk assessments and free call-outs for pests covered. As experts in commercial pest control, we aim for prompt action - before pests become a problem.
Pest Control – Suffolk and Essex – contact us now for friendly effective assistance.
Here are examples of some of the most common pests for each industry and the impact it has if you don’t tackle the issue head on and call on the services of a commercial pest control company.
1. Farming and Agricultural Organisations
The Most Common Pests – Moles, Rats, Mice and insects in grain stores, such as Moths, Mites and Grain Weevil.
Are these Pests on the Rise? A rise or fall in the population of any these pests depends on nature and there are several contributing factors, including the weather.
Impact on Business – Pests can bring about reductions in crop yields caused by contamination, consumption and/or damage.
How Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help – We believe prevention is the best form of action and offer pest control contracts in the Ipswich area to protect crops and prevent stock wastage in grain stores. We are also able to offer advice on proofing premises and how to keep rodents out.
2. Hotels, Pubs and Restaurants
The Most Common Pests – Mice, Rats, Flies and Fleas. Wasps and Moles in outdoor dining areas. Bed Bugs in Hotels.
Are these Pests on the Rise? Yes, Bed Bugs. Again, the population of many of the pests above is nature/weather dependant so numbers can rise or fall from one year to the next. Moles seem to flourish in wet summers.
Impact on Business – A pest outbreak can potentially damage the reputation of a business. It can be a nuisance to staff and customers, contaminate and damage stock and, at worst, transmit disease. In some cases it can even lead to prosecution and/or the closure of a business on public health grounds. Pests pose a danger to property too. Rodents can gnaw through buildings, especially wooden structures, and chew on electrical wiring.
How Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help - We offer pest control contracts in the Ipswich area for complete peace of mind. This includes a full risk assessment, ongoing monitoring and recommendations. Pest control contracts also prevent downtime during treatment processes (e.g. Bed Bugs).
3. Shops and Supermarkets
The Most Common Pests – Mice, Rats, Cockroaches, Ants, Flies and Pigeons on roofs or ledges.
Are these Pests on the Rise? They are nature dependant, so the pest population can rise or fall from year to year.
Impact on Business – Pests can damage stock through consumption and contamination and they can also spread disease. A building that has been contaminated by pests will impact negatively on a brand and, in the worst case scenario, an infestation can lead to closure by the Environmental Health Agency on public health grounds.
How Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help – We offer discreet commercial pest control in the Ipswich area and can provide unmarked vans on request.
4. Factories and Warehouses
The Most Common Pests – Mice, Rats, Birds (Pigeons and Seagulls in particular).
Are these Pests on the Rise? Again, the population of these pests is dependent on a variety of factors including the weather.
Impact on Business – Again, pests in factories and warehouses can transmit disease and potentially damage the reputation of a business, not to mention close a factory down on public health grounds. They also risk contaminating products down the supply chain, leading to loss of contracts. Another problem is second hand machinery being brought into the building which can create an infestation of rodents and insects.
How Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help – We offer 24 hour pest control call-outs and all work is carried out to strict health and safety guidelines.
5. Tenancy Blocks and Property Management Companies
The Most Common Pests – Mice, Rats, Wasps, Flies, Fleas, Birds (especially Pigeons and Seagulls).
Are these Pests on the Rise? Again, the population rise or fall depends on nature and climate.
Impact on Business – The noise from birds can irritate tenants. Gulls can live a number of years. They can damage property and bird fouling makes a building look unsightly. Gulls are also a problem as, once they start to nest, they can start a colony and will return, year after year. Bird droppings can block gutters and gulleys causing water to enter the building. Their nests attract a variety of insects (including carpet beetles and biting insects) and these can infiltrate and infest buildings.
How Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help. We provide contract solutions and also commercial pest control on an ad-hoc basis including pest proofing, bird control and decontamination.
6. Schools and Public Buildings
The Most Common Pests - Mice, Rats, Moles, Rabbits, Flies, Wasps, and Birds (especially Pigeons).
Are the Pests on the Rise? – Populations vary from year to year.
Impact on Business - Rodents can spread disease, damage a school’s reputation and potentially lead to school closure. They can also gnaw through electrical wiring causing a hazard. Moles and rabbits can damage school playing fields and other outdoor areas and cause injury. Second hand furniture or equipment that is brought into a building can potentially cause an infestation.
How Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help - We provide contract solutions for complete peace of mind which includes free call-outs for pests covered by the contracts. Our workforce has CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked staff.
7. Office Blocks
The Most Common Pests – Mice, Rats, Flies, Fleas, Birds (especially Pigeons).
Are the Pests on the Rise? – Depends on a variety of conditions.
Impact on Business – The noise from birds can irritate staff and visitors, not to mention the damage to property that birds can cause. Rats and mice can chew through equipment and wiring, which is potentially dangerous. Any infestation can impact negatively on a business causing damage to reputation.
How Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help – We offer one-off commercial pest control solutions in the Ipswich area, as well as pest control contracts to ensure long term protection of your organisation.
Pest Control – Suffolk and Essex – contact us now for friendly effective assistance.
Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions offer competitively priced pest control contracts for businesses and other organisations in Ipswich and the surrounding area. Our pest control contracts include on site visits and recommendations, full reports, risk assessments and free call-outs for pests covered. As experts in commercial pest control, we aim for prompt action - before pests become a problem.
Pest Control – Suffolk and Essex – contact us now for friendly effective assistance.
Here are examples of some of the most common pests for each industry and the impact it has if you don’t tackle the issue head on and call on the services of a commercial pest control company.
1. Farming and Agricultural Organisations
The Most Common Pests – Moles, Rats, Mice and insects in grain stores, such as Moths, Mites and Grain Weevil.
Are these Pests on the Rise? A rise or fall in the population of any these pests depends on nature and there are several contributing factors, including the weather.
Impact on Business – Pests can bring about reductions in crop yields caused by contamination, consumption and/or damage.
How Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help – We believe prevention is the best form of action and offer pest control contracts in the Ipswich area to protect crops and prevent stock wastage in grain stores. We are also able to offer advice on proofing premises and how to keep rodents out.
2. Hotels, Pubs and Restaurants
The Most Common Pests – Mice, Rats, Flies and Fleas. Wasps and Moles in outdoor dining areas. Bed Bugs in Hotels.
Are these Pests on the Rise? Yes, Bed Bugs. Again, the population of many of the pests above is nature/weather dependant so numbers can rise or fall from one year to the next. Moles seem to flourish in wet summers.
Impact on Business – A pest outbreak can potentially damage the reputation of a business. It can be a nuisance to staff and customers, contaminate and damage stock and, at worst, transmit disease. In some cases it can even lead to prosecution and/or the closure of a business on public health grounds. Pests pose a danger to property too. Rodents can gnaw through buildings, especially wooden structures, and chew on electrical wiring.
How Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help - We offer pest control contracts in the Ipswich area for complete peace of mind. This includes a full risk assessment, ongoing monitoring and recommendations. Pest control contracts also prevent downtime during treatment processes (e.g. Bed Bugs).
3. Shops and Supermarkets
The Most Common Pests – Mice, Rats, Cockroaches, Ants, Flies and Pigeons on roofs or ledges.
Are these Pests on the Rise? They are nature dependant, so the pest population can rise or fall from year to year.
Impact on Business – Pests can damage stock through consumption and contamination and they can also spread disease. A building that has been contaminated by pests will impact negatively on a brand and, in the worst case scenario, an infestation can lead to closure by the Environmental Health Agency on public health grounds.
How Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help – We offer discreet commercial pest control in the Ipswich area and can provide unmarked vans on request.
4. Factories and Warehouses
The Most Common Pests – Mice, Rats, Birds (Pigeons and Seagulls in particular).
Are these Pests on the Rise? Again, the population of these pests is dependent on a variety of factors including the weather.
Impact on Business – Again, pests in factories and warehouses can transmit disease and potentially damage the reputation of a business, not to mention close a factory down on public health grounds. They also risk contaminating products down the supply chain, leading to loss of contracts. Another problem is second hand machinery being brought into the building which can create an infestation of rodents and insects.
How Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help – We offer 24 hour pest control call-outs and all work is carried out to strict health and safety guidelines.
5. Tenancy Blocks and Property Management Companies
The Most Common Pests – Mice, Rats, Wasps, Flies, Fleas, Birds (especially Pigeons and Seagulls).
Are these Pests on the Rise? Again, the population rise or fall depends on nature and climate.
Impact on Business – The noise from birds can irritate tenants. Gulls can live a number of years. They can damage property and bird fouling makes a building look unsightly. Gulls are also a problem as, once they start to nest, they can start a colony and will return, year after year. Bird droppings can block gutters and gulleys causing water to enter the building. Their nests attract a variety of insects (including carpet beetles and biting insects) and these can infiltrate and infest buildings.
How Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help. We provide contract solutions and also commercial pest control on an ad-hoc basis including pest proofing, bird control and decontamination.
6. Schools and Public Buildings
The Most Common Pests - Mice, Rats, Moles, Rabbits, Flies, Wasps, and Birds (especially Pigeons).
Are the Pests on the Rise? – Populations vary from year to year.
Impact on Business - Rodents can spread disease, damage a school’s reputation and potentially lead to school closure. They can also gnaw through electrical wiring causing a hazard. Moles and rabbits can damage school playing fields and other outdoor areas and cause injury. Second hand furniture or equipment that is brought into a building can potentially cause an infestation.
How Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help - We provide contract solutions for complete peace of mind which includes free call-outs for pests covered by the contracts. Our workforce has CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked staff.
7. Office Blocks
The Most Common Pests – Mice, Rats, Flies, Fleas, Birds (especially Pigeons).
Are the Pests on the Rise? – Depends on a variety of conditions.
Impact on Business – The noise from birds can irritate staff and visitors, not to mention the damage to property that birds can cause. Rats and mice can chew through equipment and wiring, which is potentially dangerous. Any infestation can impact negatively on a business causing damage to reputation.
How Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help – We offer one-off commercial pest control solutions in the Ipswich area, as well as pest control contracts to ensure long term protection of your organisation.
Pest Control – Suffolk and Essex – contact us now for friendly effective assistance.
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