Pest Control
Environmental Health
Council Pest Control Officers will deal with pests that are harmful to public health and well being at homes and businesses. Rodents, that is Rats and Mice, can be particularly unsettling due to their possible transmission of diseases.
| Service ID: | 431 |
|---|---|
| email: | ehadmin@staffordbc.gov.uk |
| telephone: | 01785 619402 |
| sms: | 07781 471023 |
| fax: | 01785 619319 |
| complaints: | welcome.asp?id=2505 |
To make an online request for information please click here
Council's pest control services
What pest control services does Stafford Borough Council provide?
Flies
Does the Council treat for flies?
I'm getting lots of bluebottle flies in my house - where are they coming from?
There are lots of flies in my loft and some are in my rooms below - what are they?
Bees
What action will the Council take to control bees?
Wasps
Will the Council treat a wasp nest on my property?
Can I treat a wasp nest myself, and how would you recommend I go about it?
Ants
How would you treat for red ants in my lawn?
How would you treat for black ants in and around my home?
Moths
Something is eating my carpets - what is it? How can it be treated?
Carpet Beetles
Something is eating my carpets - what is it? How can it be treated?
Insects - general
About how long will it take to treat my insect problem?
How long does the insecticide take to kill the infestation?
Moles, Rabbits, Foxes & Squirrels
Moles are damaging my lawn - what can I do?
Does the Council treat for rabbits?
Does the Council treat for foxes?
Does the Council treat for squirrels?
Are squirrels likely to cause a problem in my loft?
What is the best action to take to control squirrels in my loft?
Rodents
How long will it take to treat my infestation?
Why do you use poisons to kill rodents?
Are there any alternatives to using poisons?
How do you protect children and/or pets from poisons?
Pigeons
Does the Council take action to control pigeons?
Bats
I have Bats in my property what can I do?
FAQ
Council's pest control services
What pest control services does Stafford Borough Council provide?
The Council provides a range of pest control services for both commercial and domestic residents of the Borough. These are summarised below:-
Domestic premises
-
Rats treated free of charge in dwelling and associated garden/outbuildings
-
Pest identification and advice is given free of charge
-
Fleas/lice }
-
Ants } Standard call out charge of £47.00 inclusive for up to 1 hour
-
Wasps } (the charge is £23.50 if in receipt of a means tested benefit)
-
Mice }
-
Cockroaches}
-
Bedbugs }
-
Moles }
Pestport - an insurance style scheme costing £35.00 per year covering ants, fleas, cockroaches, bedbugs and wasps, or
Pestport Plus costing £40 - adds mice to the above
Commercial premises
The Council provides a range of competitively priced services to local businesses including 12 month contracts ( predominantly for rodent control) plus one-off jobs such as dealing with fleas, ants or wasps. Contact us for a free quotation. We also provide a free pest identification and advice service. TOP
Flies
Does the Council treat for flies?
No. We would recommend that openable windows and doors be fitted with suitable screens to prevent access. TOP
I'm getting lots of bluebottle flies in my house - where are they coming from?
Bluebottles lay their eggs on dead carcases - perhaps a bird or rodent. The eggs hatch to maggots which consume the carcase, then after pupation the adult flies emerge. If possible locate and remove any such carcase. Either allow the flies to escape or, indoors, use a fly spray to kill them. TOP
There are lots of flies in my loft and some are in my rooms below - what are they?
Probably cluster flies. They 'hibernate' in roof voids over winter. They are attracted to light so if there is any hole in a ceiling below the loft (where light cables or plumbing pipes pass through). Seal up any such gaps to prevent migration. They do no harm in the loft and will leave in the spring. Make sure any water tanks are covered and store articles you may want during the winter months (Xmas decorations) elsewhere than the loft. We are able to supply electronic fly killers, for a fee, if required. TOP
Bees
What action will the Council take to control bees?
This depends on the variety of bee:-
- Honey Bees Description:- wasp-like in size and shape, but more olive coloured, with hairy thorax. These are beneficial insects. If a swarm or nest is a threat to a household then our Pest Control Officer will visit to determine if it is likely that a Bee Keeper could capture the bees. If so a Bee Keeper will be called out. The Council does not charge for this service. However, if it is not possible to capture the bees and the householder wants the nest destroyed, then if the Pest Control Officer believes the bees pose a threat to the occupiers we will destroy the nest - but there is a charge for this service.
- Masonry Bees Description:- slightly smaller than honey bees but similar appearance. These insects are solitary. A single female will tunnel into soft mortar or sandstone to lay her eggs in 6 or so small chambers she builds off the tunnel. Each chamber is packed with food then sealed. Once complete the adults die off. 2 broods are produced each year - in April and July. These insects are incapable of stinging us, thus the Council will not destroy them. As these bees do dig into soft building materials, their presence is indicative of a structural problem - it is probable that soft mortar needs raking out and repointing - a job for a builder. Note that though solitary, if a wall offers a suitable site for tunnelling then it may attract many individual bees to tunnel - thus increasing the rate of damage.
- Mining Bees Description:- smaller than honey bees with hairy rump. This variety make their individual tunnels in the ground so property is not at risk. They are incapable of stinging humans. Thus no action will be taken by the Council to destroy these beneficial insects.
- Bumble Bees:- These beneficial insects are disappearing so in an effort to enhance their survival the Council would encourage householders to tolerate nests in their garden. Their nests have much fewer individuals than wasp nests or honey bees and though capable of stinging humans, bumble bees are the least aggressive of the stinging insects. If a nest does pose a threat to a household then, if possible, our Pest Control Officer may attempt to relocate the nest. If the householder wants the nest destroyed or moved then there would be a charge for this service. TOP
Wasps
Will the Council treat a wasp nest on my property?
Yes - domestic or commercial properties within Stafford Borough.
Domestic Premises
The Council charge £47.00 for this service, unless you are in receipt of a means tested benefit in which case there is a charge of £23.50.
Commercial Premises
The council charges businesses £67.60 per hour for this treatment.
Can I treat a wasp nest myself, and how would you recommend I go about it?
Yes - but it is important to plan the job carefully and pay attention to safety. Where is the nest located and can you get to it? Buy a proprietary insecticide for wasps - a powder formulation is what the Council mostly use - in a puffer pack. Read the instructions carefully. When treating outside it is best done at dusk - when most of the wasps will be in the nest (not creeping up behind you!) Before you tackle the nest make sure all the house windows are closed (inform your neighbours too); that your exit route back to your door is clear and that you are wearing good protective clothing - our staff wear beekeepers jackets with a hood (particularly important if you are using a ladder). When treating the nest it will be best to do so when the weather is dry and not windy. Apply the insecticide powder directly into the entrance hole used by the wasps, then immediately but carefully return indoors. If you have been successful then wasp activity at the nest should have ceased within 24 hours. If there is still wasp activity after 48 hours then repeat the procedure, or call us! TOP
Ants
How would you treat for red ants in my lawn?
The Council does not treat ants outside. We would recommend treating each nest directly with 'Ant Stop'. This ready to use liquid insecticide is particularly good in dirty places like in soil. Ant Stop is sold in DIY shops, garden centres and some supermarkets. TOP
How would you treat for black ants in and around my home?
The Council will treat for ants when indoors, but not outside - and there is a charge. If you wish to do the work yourself then pay attention to see where the ants are coming and going, and use a pesticide for 'crawling insects' along all these routes plus the whole wall/floor junction in each room with ants. It is worth trying to seal up all the cracks and crevices used by ants to minimise risk of future problems. TOP
Moths
Something is eating my carpets - what is it? How can it be treated?
Female moths (and carpet beetles) lay their eggs on suitable natural materials - wool, cotton etc. Eggs hatch to maggots, which feed on the carpets. The larvae shun light so are most often under furniture. Badly affected carpets should be destroyed. To protect carpets it is recommended to lift the carpet and underlay. Thoroughly vacuum the floorboards and the gaps between, under skirtings etc. Then treat by applying an insecticide powder for crawling insects to the floor and all gaps. Then underlay should be very carefully rolled out over the floor (to avoid disturbing the insecticide powder) and the upper surface treated with the insecticide before carefully rolling out the carpet. TOP
Carpet Beetles
Something is eating my carpets - what is it? How can it be treated?
See moths. Carpet beetles commonly lay their eggs in bird nests in house roofs. When the food material runs out the larvae migrate into the roof and commonly follow the heat source and end up in first floor airing cupboards - then spread out from there. It is thus worth removing accessible bird nests as soon as the fledglings have fled. TOP
Insects - general
About how long will it take to treat my insect problem?
Most infestations will be dealt with in 1 visit and most houses can be treated in an hour or less. TOP
How long does the insecticide take to kill the infestation?
It depends on the insect species. If we can get direct access to the nest it will be dead within hours. Otherwise it may take longer - for example controlling ants can take a long time (2-3 weeks) as the pesticide cannot often be applied to the nest and only those ants that walk over the treated areas will be killed. In other cases, such as fleas, control will be delayed as stages in the life cycle such as eggs and cocoons will not be destroyed - until the insect or larvae emerges. TOP
Moles
Moles are damaging my lawn - what can I do?
The Council now provides treatment for moles - £47 inc VAT for up to 1 hour.
It is said that an effective control available to the householder is to regularly bang the lawn using the flat of a spade - as it disturbs and deters the mole from that location - try it as a cheap and environmentally friendly option!
Commercial - A Pest Officer will carry out a site survey and give a quotation (free survey)
Rabbits
Does the Council treat for rabbits?
No. This is a job for a specialist. TOP
Foxes
Does the Council treat for foxes?
No. This is a job for a specialist. TOP
Incidents involving fox attacks on people are known to be extremely rare nationally and none have occurred in the Staffordshire area.
Foxes in the urban area can cause some nuisance issues and if residents have concerns about fox activities in their neighbourhood they can help themselves
- firstly by ensuring that no foodstuffs are left out where it may be accessible to wildlife, that waste food is placed in sealed bags inside their waste bin and
-secondly by avoiding the creation of sites that foxes would find attractive at their property.
Stafford Borough Council's pest control team can give further advice on this subject but any fox control would be referred to a specialist contractor.
Squirrels
Does the Council treat for squirrels?
Yes, for a fee of £47.00 a Pest Control Officer will visit and confirm identification and advise on the recommended action and overall costs. TOP
Are squirrels likely to cause a problem in my loft?
Yes - they are likely to cause noise disturbance and damage. TOP
What is the best action to take to control squirrels in my loft?
As soon as squirrels are suspected look carefully in the loft for signs of entry. As soon as the squirrel(s) is out of the loft immediately block any hole used for entry - hammering chicken wire into the gap is often effective. Then quickly get a builder to carry out a proper repair to the roof or wall as necessary. If allowed to build a dray and breed the squirrels would then be highly motivated to get back into the roof, if excluded, and can cause considerable damage in their attempt. TOP
Rodents
How long will it take to treat my infestation?
To ensure the whole population present is destroyed will normally take 3 or 4 visits - usually about 1 week apart. TOP
Why do you use poisons to kill rodents?
Anti coagulant poisons have been in use for over 50 years and have proved to be very safe and the most efficient means to control a population of rats or mice. TOP
Are there any alternatives to using poisons?
In practise no. It is illegal for us to release rats or mice that have been caught in a live catch trap. Break back traps tend only to catch immature rodents - others learn the danger posed and will then avoid traps. Anticoagulant poisons are most efficient because they are slow acting and provided in a good food source to which the rodents will keep returning to feed. In this way even a large population can be destroyed. It does help speed up the process if alternative sources of food are carefully removed. TOP
How do you protect children and/or pets from poisons?
Modern rodenticides contain a very bitter tasting substance, rodents cannot taste, but children will not like. We can also use a range of lockable containers to exclude pets or youngsters. We also tell householders where bait is put so they can assist it controlling access. TOP
Pigeons
Does the Council take action to control pigeons?
We are very aware of the problems pigeons can cause - noise and faecal contamination in particular. We thus discourage anyone from feeding pigeons, and put up signs in the town centre to that effect. We encourage anyone who's property is blighted by pigeons to have suitable proofing applied to prevent them roosting or nesting on their building. TOP
Bats
I have Bats in my property what can I do?
All bats are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is illegal intentionally to kill, injure or take any bat; to disturb roosting bats; or to damage, destroy or obstruct access to any place used by bats for roosting. This applies to householders and to the Council's Pest Control Officers.
Where it is suspected that bats may be roosting the advice of English Nature must be sought before any work is carried out near to the roosting area. Thus if bats are suspected, or known to be present, the householder should advise us at the time of requesting a pest control service - so we are able to seek the appropriate guidance. Unfortunately, it is likely to add a delay to any service we are able to provide.