So, It's 4am and you're fast asleep. Your snug as a bug in a rug then all of a sudden you hear a noise that resembles a sort of scratching sound. You slowly wake up and wonder was that noise in your dream? You convince yourself it was as you drift off back to sleep.
The following night you definitely hear it again, but this time it ten times louder. As you lie their the noise gets even louder. Before you know it, it goes from a tapping to a pitter patter into extremely loud gnawing. A few nights later it sounds like whatever it is, is having a party in your loft and they have invited all of their friends along to join in the fun! As you lie there you start to imagine what the noise could be and question is it ever going to stop. As the sun starts to rise and as your imagination runs wild you come up with the conclusion it has to be either Birds, Mice, Rats, or Squirrels? Ethierway, you'll go up in the attic on Saturday morning to investigate. Saturday morning arrives and you get out the old step ladders. Armed with only a torch, you begin your investigation to start and look for clues to whos been making all of the noise and the cause of your lack of sleep. After short while the only evidence you could gather is a few dark coloured droppings which look very similar to burnt rice but only bigger? So now you know its not Birds (because everyone knows what that looks like). The down side to this is, it's definitely Rats, Mice, or Squirrels. The thought of any of these in your home can be truly terrifying. The human mind will instinctively give you three options to carry out. Option One: To get in your car and drive straight to the supermarket and purchase some rodent traps and over priced poison. Put them in your loft and wait for the rodents to return and hopefully let mother nature do the rest. Option Two: Is to get your phone out and Google search "What Pests Live in Your Loft" the results are frightening. You will see around 1.3 million results (and hopefully this blog post is one of them). Even more frightening is some of the possibilities which may include a wide range of insects and rodents, and many many more depending on the country you live in. Option Three: Google your local pest control company. This way you will receive expert advice and a professional service with less stress which will enable you to get your sleep pattern back to normal in no time at all. Most people will take up the so called cheaper option of the option one. This is a very common option. Unfortunately, option two always comes into play immediately afterwards. Some of the horror stories you can read could keep you awake for days or even nights. Its very common for some company websites and blog posts to scare monger you into going straight to option three. Sayinging that its all about face value and following your own intuition when deciding which company is right for you and your budget. So, to recap option one can work, as long as you don't have a problem with squirrels. Because squirrels aren't keen on rodent bait and will only eat it if nothing else is available, it's also illegal for a pest control company to treat squirrels with rat bait. Which leaves us with option three, and if you're reading this, then welcome to our blog about what pests live in your loft.
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Springtime is a very transitional period within the pest control industry. Whilst most pest control companies are dealing with the remainder of winters rodent problems, new insect pests are starting to appear. The mild springtime weather can have a huge effect on the rest of the years pest population. If we have a warm March and April this will boost the countries insects. Which is fantastic for the garden and the countryside, as well as the entire environment. There's nothing better than a colourful garden in bloom and the smell of freshly cut grass. Ants - It's around this time of the year that we start to notice the odd ant foraging for food in the kitchen or may be climbing around the window (probably trying to get outside). However, it's important to point out one or two ants are not classed as a problem or infestation. At this point most people will try and monitor situation or try and resolve the smaller issues themselves. Bees and Wasp nests - Usually we will see queen bumble bees feeding on plants and flowers in the garden, if you are very lucky you we see a swarm of honey bees looking for a safe place to rest or even nest. If this happens to you, please be patient as in most cases the queen may change her mind and decide that the location is not for her and then move on. If this happens all of the workers will also follow her, please do not call a pest control company, as some pest controllers will treat them and will not relocate them. Please consider calling a beekeeper to relocate them, they will keep them safe. It's also around this point that a queen wasp will choose a location to build her nest. If a queen wasp picks your property or garden shed please take into consideration that a wasp nest can grow to a very large size and can very dangerous if located in an area that children and family pets are going to come in contact with.
Cluster flies - Its also around this time of the year that cluster flies will wake up from their long hibernation period. It's not unusual to find them around windows and in loft and attics. You will however notice less of them as the weather gets warmer as we move into the warmer summer months. It's not until autumn that you may see them again as they return to hibernate again. Recommendations - All of the above springtime pests can become worse over a warm spring and summertime. It's always down to personal preference whether or not a pest control problem should be treated or removed. Its always advised to contact your local pest control company if you require any pest control information. Every once in a while a homeowner will hear their home make some strange noises. From shudders to creeks, these noises come and go with the wind. That is until you start to hear scurrying and gnawing coming from your loft space at 5 am. If this sounds familiar, then you've probably got a problem with rodents. Rodents such as mice rats and squirrels are attracted to a warm and quiet loft, where no one really goes that much. It's these places that the majority of rodent infestations tend to start. Some problems that are located in a well-insulated loft can go completely unnoticed for months at a time. That is until the noises become loud enough to hear from one side of the property to the other. It's at this point the rodents in the loft have reproduced and have become a real problem.
Apart from being extremely noisy, rodents can also make a lot of mess. Rats and mice are known for being incontinent and leave a trail of urine behind them. In some cases, rats can carry a bacterial infection called Weil's disease. It can have detrimental consequences to anyone who comes in contact with it or touches it. Their droppings can also carry pheromones that will attract other rodents for years to come. With this in mind, it's important to have a rodent problem eradicated as soon as possible. With large infestations, it is recommended that the homeowner requires the services of a professional pest control company. A pest controller will be able to identify the infestation and remove it safely. Once the infestation is fully eradicated, one of the most important things to do after a rodent infestation is to make sure that another problem doesn't happen again. The easiest way to prevent this is to block any holes or entry points, this can also be carried out and completed by a pest control company. This will ensure the loft is safe all year round. Other precautionary measures include fumigating the loft, this will remove other pests such as tick and fleas. If these insects find their way into the main part of the property they can spread throughout the house. They will also bite people and pets that live there. So the next time you hear noises coming from your loft, always remember to take a quick look. You never know it might be the start of a problem or just the wind. |
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