Do I need pest control in winter?

People often regard pests as a primary concern in the summer months. There are plenty of pests during this time to cause us discomfort, particularly when we want to enjoy the glorious summer sun and host a tasty BBQ for friends and family. We all know that flies, wasps, flying ants and biting insects are not our friends, and when they disappear for the winter it can be a relief.

Once the seasons change our focus should change to winter pests. During colder months we are more concerned about pests which are less in your face and more in your attic. Winter pests are sneakier and cheekier, and they want to stick around undetected.

Mice and Rats are the biggest winter pests

The first and most prevalent are of course are the dreadful rodents. No one enjoys lying in bed listening to the scurry of tiny feet or entering the office to find the computer system is down because of chewed wiring.

Mice and Rats spread disease, steal your food, ruin your belongings and cause destruction to your building. Both Rats and Mice can gnaw through wires and chew up household materials. Unbelievably, a rat has teeth so strong that it can bite through brick, concrete and even through ½ inch thick sheet metal! They can cause havoc with your plumbing and also breed very quickly. If you hear the unwanted patter of tiny feet or see signs of chewing or defecation take steps to get rid of those pests as soon as possible!  

If you faint at the thought, or don’t know what to do, don’t worry you are not alone - it’s time to call an expert pest controller in.

Squirrels gnawing in your attic

These cute fluffy creatures can be a total pain if they decide your home looks like the perfect place to keep snuggly over the colder months. They are voracious gnawers, which means they do it ALL THE TIME! They could wreck your rafters and weaken your beams.

Getting rid of squirrels in winter can be a traumatic event, not only have they been known to be aggressive when handling, there are also strict laws surrounding them.

Did you know it is AGAINST the law to release a grey squirrel back into the wild if you have caught it? As a consequence of the rising numbers of grey Squirrels in the UK, if you catch a grey squirrel it must be humanely destroyed. The important thing to make a note of here, if it is a Red Squirrel – which is currently a protected species you are NOT ALLOWED to damage or remove their shelter. If you have squirrels – it’s best to call a pest controller, they will keep you from breaking the law unintentionally.

Cockroaches creeping in

These well despised creepy crawlies may not be seen outside in winter, but don’t relax too much – these pests also seek the warmth and food throughout the winter months. Restaurants, hotels and hospitals beware, once these critters are cosy and comfortable, they will breed rapidly, spread disease and love making things dirty.

Don’t let these blighters risk your reputation, get your premises checked regularly by an experienced pest controller.

Rabbits - the enemy of gardeners and farmers

Rabbits are known as Britain's most costly and invasive species, they also spread disease faster than any other pest. They love munching through crops, digging below roads, uprooting new plants and bulbs, and destroying flower beds. In winter Rabbits are particularly partial to winter wheat and oats - farmers can expect to lose 1 percent of their annual yield if Rabbits are present.

Getting rid of rabbits successfully can be a struggle, it’s often a delicate balance of using fences, traditional methods and artificial chemical repellents.

Treatments will depend on the habitat, time of year and surrounding environment involved. It is important to use the most humane solution while still providing the most effective results. You can find out more about the methods we use below. We are discreet pest controllers and will happily offer a night time service if required. 

Moles cause mayhem

Everyone knows digging moles leave unsightly earthy mounds in your outside space. Moles  can scrape away soil from the roots of plants, they can can ruin your newly seeded lawn and their tunnels can cause instability and irrigation problems on your land. Moles also feed on earthworms, which are essential for healthy soil. Livestock can even be put at risk with an increased chance of listeria contamination from soil being upturned.

You can buy mole traps yourself, but the art is in the catching! You can use traditional instant kill traps or live traps.  Remember though, that Moles are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. If you need some support with Mole trapping, it is a bit of an art, we offer a ‘no mole no fee’ arrangement to all of our customers.

Wasps & Hornets  - watch out for the Queens!

Though we think of these stingy insects as being a problem in the height of the summer months, there is a reason we included them on this list too.

Wasps and hornets do indeed die out over the colder months all save one – the queen. The queen from each colony will seek a warm safe place to hibernate. Once the warm weather begins to arrive, she will begin gnawing wood to start building her nest and laying her eggs.

 Typical places for the Queen Wasp to take refuge are the garden shed, green house or attic space, similarly a barn, stable or outbuilding will also provide adequate shelter. We recommend you check regularly over the cooler months to prevent a full-blown nest catching you by surprise!

We can offer regular protection contracts, advice on winter pest control in Angus and Aberdeenshire and take care of domestic call outs too. We’ve got you protected.