Pest Control
Moles, Insects, Squirrels, Rats, Mink & Rabbits. I hold the RSPH Level 2 Certificate in pest control and the Accredited Technician Certificate for the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use.
Moles“An old fashioned approach to an age old problem”.
I started offering a traditional mole catching service in 2007 when I realised that due to the banning of strychnine poison to control moles, there was an opportunity to revive a skill that was an essential part of countryside life in years past but was in danger of being lost.
I provide the best mole catching service throughout Hampshire, and provide this service to domestic, agricultural, equine, golf courses and local government clients.
Wasps, Hornets, Bees, Carpet Moths
I have undergone the appropriate training and obtained the relevant certificates for flying insect control. I can provide a prompt, discrete and efficient service.
Honey and Bumble bees can sometimes be relocated if they are accessible. Local bee keepers will sometimes provide this service for honey bees.
Squirrels
Control of grey squirrels in domestic properties and woodland areas is done with either live capture cage traps or humane target specific kill traps. Squirrels caught in live capture traps are required by law to be dispatched, and not released else where.
Squirrels in lofts will damage wood work and electrical wiring and will nest in the insulation.
Rats & Mice
Rodents are a major pest in both urban and rural environments. They spread disease through their urine and faeces and damage property and buildings with burrowing and gnawing.
Rodents can be controlled through various methods such as rodenticide, traps and gas. Each method has it’s own area of use and these will be used where appropriate. Unfortunately the rat populations in this area are becoming immune to the poisons available for outdoor use. This genetic resistance is classed as the L120Q strain or the Berkshire/Hampshire strain and is passed onto offspring. As the non resistant rats die off, only the resistant rats are left behind to breed.
To counter this, there is new legislation coming into force by 2016 that will allow stronger rodenticides to be used ‘in and around buildings’. It is hoped that this will go some way to combat the resistant rat problem in urban and rural areas (but not open countryside).
However, due to the increased risk of secondary poisoning, these stronger poisons can only be bought and used by trained and qualified professionals. By employing an ‘Accredited technician’ of the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use, you can be assured of work being carried out to strict guidelines of best practice.
Rats and mice can be discouraged from visiting your property by removing food source (bird food and rubbish bags) and harbourage (anything that may provide them with cover to hide). Removing or limiting the amount of bird food put out and ensuring bin bags are placed inside metal bins or off the ground will help discourage rats from visiting.
I work with many farming clients who are 'Farm Assured' accredited and use my services to comply with the strict guidelines regarding rodent control.
See my working terrier page 'Monty the rat catcher'.
Mink
American mink are a non native predatory species that can decimate populations of ground nesting birds and mammal species like the water vole around water courses and surrounding countryside.
I can set up a monitoring program using mink raft equipment to monitor and trap these top predators. See the photo gallery to see the results of mink raft monitoring.
Rabbits
Rabbits can be controlled through gassing, cage trapping and shooting.
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