Rapid Pest Control

My carpet is being eaten!

April 13, 2012 By GrahamChapple Leave a Comment

We had a call this week from a lovely lady in Newbury who discovered the spare room carpet was coming out in chunks when she hoovered it. As she looked closer , she saw it was all movings, so hence the call to Rapid Pest Control!

On arrival, the culprit was soon identified as the Common Clothes Moth (Tineola bisselliella) or often called the Carpet Moth, for reasons that will become apparent.

Now this is a tricky little blighter to deal with and often go undiscovered for long periods of time, only really becoming apparent when a hatch happens in large numbers. The hatch usually happens after a very long period of feeding on carpets and clothing, so normally when they are discovered it is almost too late to stop an issue. Continue reading “My carpet is being eaten!” »

Filed Under: Carpet Moth Problem Tagged With: Berkshire, Carpet Moth, Moth Problem, Newbury, Oxford, pest control

Pigeon Problems on the Increase

April 9, 2012 By GrahamChapple Leave a Comment

pigeon problem Pigeon Problems on the Increase

When people think of pests they generally think of Rodents and Insects but there is one pest everyone sees all the time and pretty much ignores – and that’s birds – mostly pigeons, starlings and gulls. In the trade we refer to them as “Flying Rats” due to the health risks they pose and the bird problem they create. Continue reading “Pigeon Problems on the Increase” »

Filed Under: Bird Control Tagged With: Bird Control, Newbury, Oxford, pest control, Pest Prevention, pigeon control

Do Squirrels really cause a problem?

April 4, 2012 By GrahamChapple Leave a Comment

This was a comment made by a client recently. Let me tell you the story of the squirrel problem and you make up your own mind if squirrels need to be culled. Continue reading “Do Squirrels really cause a problem?” »

Filed Under: pest control Tagged With: Abingdon, Berkshire, Newbury, Oxford, pest control, Squirrel in Loft, Squirrel Problems, Squirrels, Thatcham

Spiders on a Boat

March 24, 2012 By GrahamChapple Leave a Comment

OK, so we all get our share of unusual jobs, but Rapid Pest Control seems to specialise in the most odd pest control situations.

This week has been no exception. From very persistent squirrels in the attic, to bird control in a modern sculpture we get them all. This one however has topped the list so far.

We had a call a few weeks ago that started with a plea for help. Continue reading “Spiders on a Boat” »

Filed Under: pest control Tagged With: Berkshire, Insects, Marlow, pest control, Spider Problems

Pest Bee Gone Joins forces with Rapid Pest Control

March 4, 2012 By GrahamChapple Leave a Comment

March 1st saw some exciting news for Rapid Pest Control Services, with the announcement of the merger of Didcot based Pest Bee Gone with Newbury based Rapid Pest Control Services.

Over the last few months, the Pest Bee Gone team have been working closely with Rapid Pest Control team and this is the logical conclusion of two organisations with common values and goals.

So what does this mean to our valued clients?

Firstly, you will still get the great service we have always given, but now we have more resources, more diverse services to offer and an all round better proposition. Our service portfolio now covers all the common pest issues in Berkshire and Oxfordshire, but has been extended to include wildlife management of rabbits, deer and foxes, pest exclusion by fencing and extreme cleaning.

This merger has allowed us to extend our coverage and reduce our time to respond, giving same day service to contract clients, but even one off problems are being dealt with on a same day basis in most cases. It has also reinforced and expanded our technical capabilities and accreditations.

Our coverage now extends across Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire and well into Buckinghamshire.

From our head office in Newbury, we will provide centralised invoicing, call management and advice, all backed up with our special service – a service you deserve – but with a local presence, which is vitally important to us.

Steven Light, former owner of Pest Bee Gone in Didcot, says “This is great news for our clients, and our business as a whole. By centralising admin functions, we can spend more time dealing with pest control issues and more time with our clients as well as reducing our running costs. We are investing in new streamlined systems which will allow us to manage calls, record activity more effectively and respond faster. We have been running trials on some systems and our clients love what they get from us. We really are looking forward to a bright future as a larger more flexible organisation.”

Graham Chapple, CEO of Rapid Pest Control said “We are delighted to welcome Steve and the team. when two companies have a such similar vision, it is best to join together and create a formidable force rather than try to compete against each other. The timing is right and the business drivers are compelling, so I am looking forward to rapid expansion and growth over the coming months – watch this space for more announcements!”

We look forward to introducing you to the new team and thank you for placing your business with us in the past. If you have any questions, please call us or email us – or find us on Facebook – just search for Rapid Pest Control and “like” us – or click here to contact us or through the website www.rapid-pest-control.co.uk .

Filed Under: pest control Tagged With: Berkshire, Bucks, Newbury, Oxford, pest control, Wiltshire

Extreme Loft Clearance in Berkshire

March 4, 2012 By GrahamChapple Leave a Comment

Whilst some of the reality TV programs try to glamorise the pest control industry, it is well to remind yourselves that we have to do pretty awful jobs most of the time, in pretty severe conditions that most people would just not do. Last week was no exception. Over the past month or so, we have been working on a few older properties which have had pretty bad rat control problems in the Berkshire area. The good news is that we have solved the rat issues now and the client is delighted we managed the process so quickly and effectively.

Now where there is a large rat infestation, there is always a clean up job to do afterwards. This particular property is a gorgeous old farm cottage with very unusual features and a tiny roof void, which of course the rats have made their home. As building work needs to be done on this cottage, the loft area must be cleaned out completely. It is advisable to do this anyway once a rat infestation has been cleared for health reasons to0.

Clearing lofts is a service Rapid Pest Control offers as it completes the circle of rodent control, so to us this is a normal job, however this loft was particularly bad due not only to the number of rats that once lived here, but the size and position of the loft hatches and low roof.

First job is to completely sheet up all the downstairs area with dust covers. Whilst all effort is made to minimise the mess, just the act of disturbing old insulation materials creates a huge amount of dust, so we just take precautions to make this as painless as possible. The next task is to suit up in full bio-suits, full faced gas masks and gauntlets for protection against dust, glass fibre and rat faeces.

Then the slow and laborious job of clearing up, bagging up all the waste and transporting it out of the property for disposal begins. This particular cottage had not only fibre insulation, but rockwool and, believe it or not, straw as well so you can see why the rats loved it so much!

Once everything is bagged and out of the loft, we then hoover the whole loft space, picking up all the rat and mouse faeces to ensure no contamination is left. This is a painstaking job, but with the right tools it soon gets done. We removed in excess of 10kg of rat poo from this loft, so the smell in there was pretty bad.

Once all is clean, you can identify any issues caused by the rodents, we pay particular attention to the electric cabling and report this to the owners for action.

Due to the presence of disease carried by rats, we then spray the entire loft with a powerful disinfectant and deodoriser to kill any possible bacteria which may linger. To complete the task, we then re-lag the loft area, clean up and retire from the site for a well deserved shower and cold pint!

Loft clearances are probably one of the worst jobs we have to do; the conditions are dark, cramped and very hot, the PPE is at best uncomfortable and nothing is better than finishing the job and getting in the shower, but its all part of the job and we accept it in our stride.

If you have had a rat problem in your loft, you should get it checked and cleared out professionally. Just because the rats have gone, they leave a legacy of filth and disease which could very easily be caught if not dealt with. So call Rapid Pest control Services now for a loft clearance survey so we can assess the situation.

Filed Under: pest control Tagged With: Berkshire, Didcot, Newbury, Oxford, pest control, Rat Control, Rat Problem, Rats, rats in loft, Reading

Another quality fence project

February 15, 2012 By GrahamChapple Leave a Comment

Recently, we were called in to offer several fencing options on excluding deer from a garden in Newbury. The house in question has had a persistent issue with deer coming into the gardens and eating all the plants for a number of years, and several attempts have been made to exclude them.

The most cost effective method is a simple deer fence which is made of mesh, but it looks pretty ugly and certainly not in keeping with the house or the area, so we suggested a quality close board fence which would offer much more than simple deer exclusion. Deer Fencing is primarily used to protect wooded areas or as a boundary fence which is pretty much out of sight.

The area in question is a prestigious residential area in Newbury, with lots of footpaths around, so adding more privacy and security to the property was seen as a real benefit in addition to excluding the deer, as well as looking good and in keeping with the surroundings.

Our first task was to clear the area, removing past attempts at fencing and cut back bushes and undergrowth. Then we did the most important thing, laying out the framework for the fence. As this had a dogleg in it, getting this right was essential to make the fence look great. I have seen a lot of jobs which have just been thrown up and they look awful, so spending time getting the fence layout right is time well spent both for us and the client as they get a better job.

Once the frame is laid out and set, the boards can be applied, completing the fence. We did have to tie into the neighbours existing fence so matching the style and getting an exact fit was critical.

Needless to say, thanks to all the careful planning, the fence looked great and the customer was delighted. We also got several comments from people passing on what a nice job, which is great as well, and we also got a few business cards taken as well … It just shows you people do appreciate and notice good work.

If you have a fencing issue, require a new fence or a fence repair in the Newbury, Berkshire or Oxfordshire area, contact Rapid Pest Control for advice and a great price.

Filed Under: fencing Tagged With: Berkshire, Deer Fencing, Fence Erection, fence panels, Fence Replacement, Fences, Newbury, pest control

Top marks for my trainee today – rabbit control

January 18, 2012 By GrahamChapple Leave a Comment

Today I was working with Steve Light from Pest Bee Gone over near Goring / Wallingford doing some much needed rabbit control with the ferrets. Ferreting, when done well, is one of the most effective ways of clearing an area of rabbits and is also the most environmentally friendly one too as its all natural. Rabbits are a major agricultural and domestic pest in the Berkshire and Oxfordshire area.

I have been ferreting since is was very small, but I am still surprised when I come across people who have never done it. Well today, Steve was one of those guys.

When it comes to rabbit control using birds and hawks, Steve is one of the best Falconers in this area. Sadly, his best hawk died recently, and getting a good hawk to replace one lost is not an easy thing, so Steve needed to deal with the rabbit problem in another way – by using ferrets to control a growing rabbit problem in one of his customers gardens.

Anyway, I am happy to pass on skills to friends and colleagues and also work with like minded pest control professionals who have their clients interests at heart, so after a short chat to go through what we were going to do today, we set off for the first rabbit burrow to net up.

Ferreting is a skill you learn over many years – every hole is different and every situation is ever changing, so whilst you can show somebody how to do it, it is something that only experience can teach. Steve however took to it like a duck to water and soon was clearing bushes, netting up and getting on well. Then came the crunch moment….handling the ferrets!

It turns out that Steve was not a lover of ferrets, and having read a few of my previous blogs with various people getting bitten, he was very nervous. The thing is, the more you handle the ferrets the easier they get with you, so its something you have to do. The biggest issue is getting the radio collars on them, you are right at the business end and they do get cross if you fiddle about. Today, they were in a good mood, so getting them ready was very easy.

The next thing to overcome is grabbing the rabbits when they are in the net (the ferret will chase the rabbit into a net over the hole, which closes around them and holds them while you get there). I am a great believer in diving on the rabbit, despatching it quickly and humanly, then getting another net on before another one comes out. Sounds simple but when you have 30 holes all netted and two ferrets going nuts in the burrow, it does get a bit crazy – as Steve found out!

Anyway, we had to dig once to get a killed rabbit out (sometimes a ferret will actually kill a rabbit in the burrow and stay with it, trying to eat it) but the radio tracking worked perfectly and I dug down the 3 feet straight onto the rabbit and ferret, saving loads of time.

The day ended nicely with 14 rabbits in the bag, a very happy customer as the rabbits had devastated the garden, and a very happy Steve – who funnily enough now loves ferrets and can’t wait to do it all again soon!

If you live in the Oxford Area and have a rabbit problem, contact Steve at Pest Bee Gone now, and of course if you have a rabbit problem in the Newbury area, contact us now! Also, if you want to try your hand at ferreting, why not give me a call and we can sort something out – I am always looking to pass on these skills and willing students are always welcome – just call me – maybe a birthday present with a difference for a loved one??

Here is a few pictures of the day:

Filed Under: Agricultural pests, Ferrets and Ferreting, pest control, Pest Prevention, Rabbit Control, Vermin control Tagged With: Agricultural pests, Berkshire, Ferrets, Newbury, pest control, Rabbit Control

Strange things happening out there

January 14, 2012 By GrahamChapple 1 Comment

This has got to be one of the strangest winters we have had in a long while.

Nature is all over the place. All indications earlier in the year were pointing to a harsh winter – loads of fruit on the trees and berries on bush – a real bumper crop. Our plum tree was so full this year we just did not know what to do with the fruit and the hawthorn bush down the garden is still plastered in berries (the birds are having a field day at the moment!).

This week, I found daffodils in flower in our local wood and the bluebells are already shooting up, but the most odd thing I saw was yesterday.

I was down in Chichester for the day on a course and during the break, I took a walk around the gardens, only to see the most enormous Bumble Bee going from flower to flower on the Jasmine and Heather! I have never seen one in January, and I do feel a bit sad as I am pretty sure that today’s frost will have killed it.

Of all insects, the Bumble Bee has got to be my favourite and I do look forward to seeing them each year. quite a lot of people are frightened of them but they are pretty harmless – so just leave them alone and they are just fine.

All indications are now pointing towards harsh weather later in the month, especially the number of mice coming into houses at the moment, so I guess winter will hit soon.

If you hear noises in the loft, it most probably is mice and you really need to get them sorted as they do love to chew cables for some reason – the biggest cause of house fires is from chewed cables – so call Rapid Pest Control now so we can sort your mouse in the loft problem.

Filed Under: Bees, Flies in the Loft, Mice Control, Newbury, pest control, Pest Prevention, Rat Control, Rat Problem, Vermin control Tagged With: Berkshire, Mice problem, Newbury, pest control, Rats and Mice in Loft

How avoid attracting rats to your property

January 3, 2012 By GrahamChapple Leave a Comment

As the weather is getting colder and natural cover is starting die off, rats will look to move to more suitable accommodation. Rapid Pest Control has put together a list of do’s and don’ts to minimise the possibility of your property becoming a rat heaven and their winter residence.

Make sure your dustbin lid fits firmly. Most bins are wheelie bin types these days so make sure you do not over fill them and leave any gaps that a rodent might get in to it. Be selective in what you put inside the bin, making sure all food stuffs are wrapped up in plastic bags if possible to stop the smell attracting unwanted guests.
If you have filled the bin, try not to put additional bin bags out until the morning of collection – especially if there are any food scraps in them.
Most gardens have that corner where all the brick rubble, old bikes and stuff is piled. Try to dispose of this at the local tip etc as this is an ideal habitat for rats. You may not really notice the evidence, but they will be in there.
Clear up any fallen fruit from apple trees etc. Whilst this is not a great job, this is a valuable food source and attracts rats from far and wide to your garden.
Place your mulch heap on top of concrete slabs. Most people now have plastic mulchers and so it is easy to place them on top of slab. Rats love these heaps and will do anything to get inside them, so make sure the trap door fits snugly.
Inspect sheds and outbuilding. Make sure the door fits properly and that there are no holes in the skirting area. If the shed is not placed on concrete or slabs, it will almost certainly be home for a family of rats. If possible, re-site it on a slab of concrete.
Make sure bushes and trees are trimmed so they do not over hang flat roofs of sheds or conservatories, garages etc. Rats will use this as a pathway to your loft if they can.
Do not put loose food out for the birds – especially on the ground. If you have a bird table, rats will easily climb onto them to eat any food left out. If you want to put loose food out, make sure you take it away after a few hours. Better still, use a fat ball and hang from a suitable point so rats cannot get to it.

Finally, if you are in any doubt of what to do or suspect you may have rats, contact your local professional pest control experts, Newbury based Rapid Pest Control. We will be able to offer advice on prevention and deal with any rats you may have.