If there's an infestation of pests in your home, you're advised to contact a private company to arrange treatment. If you live in the Eden area you can contact us to book a treatment (which you'll be charged for) to treat:
- cockroaches
- wasps
- fleas
- rats
- mice
For further advice about pests, or if the pests are in a neighbouring property, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page.
Report an insect infestation on commercial premises
Preventing infestations
To prevent infestations of pests like ants, rats and mice it's essential that basic housekeeping is good. Remove all food sources or make sure food is kept in sealed containers, ideally rodent-proof ones. Regularly wipe out cupboards and remove any spillages on surfaces or floors.
Remove sources of water such as dripping taps and leaky pipes. Repair any drain breaks to prevent rats from the sewers getting into your private drains.
Block up holes where service pipes enter your home, as well as any holes behind kitchen cupboards. Make sure there are no gaps between floors and floorboards and that doors fit properly or have bristle strips fitted to them or steel plates etc. Cover air vents with a metal mesh to stop rodents getting in but still allow air through. Fill any holes under the eaves.
Repoint missing mortar on brickwork to prevent wasps entering your home and building a nest.
Compost heaps should be covered or in purpose-built containers to prevent fly larvae emerging or to promote fermentation temperatures at which the larvae cannot survive.
Bats
All bat species, their breeding sites and resting places are fully protected by law.
Visit GOV.UK for advice on what you should and should not do if you have bats on your property
Seagulls
Seagulls can be a nuisance due to the noise, mess and droppings they generate. They have also been known to attack when protecting their young. This may constitute a direct public health issue and officers can give suitable advice to homeowners and businesses to:
- bird proof there premises to reduce or stop nesting activities
- seek a suitably qualified pest controller
- apply to Natural England for an A08 license to control wild birds
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects gulls and their nests, so it's illegal to intentionally injure or kill them, or damage their nests. If you need further advice, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page.