Wow.. What a year for Rattraxs Pest Control. A year of opportunities, networking, growing and focus, however, I could not have had any of these without my customers. The people who put their trust in my company over all of the others out there.

Thank you So much. One of the best things about my line of work is that ‘Pests’ are fantastic levellers, they are completely indiscriminate. One job might be for a HMO for people who have found themselves on the rough side of life, the next call could be from someone i’ve just watched on the TV (This has happened).

I have found myself in sewers, basements, lift shafts, voids and loft spaces on a daily basis. Been surrounded by rats, stung, bitten and covered in things i’d rather not describe but I would not change a thing.

This year has been a year full of opportunities and experiences out of my comfort zone. I have spoken at many forums, seminars and breakfast meetings and on several I was noted as ‘Top Speaker’. I have been actively involved in training and presentations and already have several bookings for 2025 including PCC Live in Harrogate.

I have even wrote a article in our industry magazine, hey, it isn’t book signing material but it is something I am very proud of..

I am extremely grateful for these experiences and proud of what i have done in these areas in 2024, but my passion and main interest is still with the customers who pick Rattraxs. While my ‘Blog’ posts have been quiet for a while this doesn’t mean i’ve not been interested but there is only so many times i can post a NRV or a picture of a drain….

So, to all of those valuable, amazing people with impeccable taste whom chose ‘Rattraxs Pest Control’ over all of the other pest control companies…. Thank you so much for your custom, your stories, your laughter & tears, your patience and you trust in my little pest control company. When I first started up on my own I worked for the ‘Pest Control Taken Personally’ approach, I hope I have delivered.

Everyday is a School day so they say and we all know what we know. We all have our specialities within our chosen professions. Me, its Rats, Drains and Sewers.. Obviously as a pest controller I am qualified and have extensive experience and knowledge in dealing with other pests. Mice, Squirrels, Wasps, Ants, Fleas and Bed bugs are all a part of our working day.

There are some pests though which I still consider is best left to those who specialise in their control and environment. Today I had the pleasure of working alongside a fellow Pest Controller ‘Jo Cooke-Symak’ the owner of ‘Mozzymak’ Pest Control Services.

Again, Jo is a Pest Controller whom deals with all aspects of pest control but I was particularly interested in her Agricultural and Equestrian side of the industry. If you glance through my pages I have made it evident that I do not carry out works for Moles, the truth is I have very little success with Mole control. Its an area I have always considered left to those who specialise in them.

A Mole is 5 inches long and can destroy a perfectly manicured lawn in hours, it can have a extensive tunnel system that could cause havoc in places like Equestrian Centres, grazing fields and the sides of runways to name a few.

Jo from ‘Mozzymak‘ Pest Control Services is that specialist. In discussion she stated that one of her favorite works calls is a good Mole job amongst other pests she deals with, and working alongside her briefly today you can see why she is so successful in her approach and control methods.

Now to anyone outside of the industry this is nothing fantastic, to many in the industry whom treat Pest Control as a job and not a career may also not see what I’m crowing about… But… I made the industry Magazine… !! It’s not Autographs at Waterstones material, nonetheless it is something I am very proud of.

While being employed by a larger pest control company in the past came with certain benefits there were many restrictions, mainly you had to work the way they wanted you to work.. Every call, every customer was to be treated the same and ‘Out of the Box’ thinking was certainly not encouraged or even allowed through fear of complicating office staff’s lifes.

If it could not be solved in the contents of the tubs in the van it couldn’t be solved and I often walked away from site knowing the customers problem would return and I had merely provided a sticking plaster, a temporary pest removal. This genuinely played on my mind as I knew I was capable of providing a solution, a permanent fix if I was given the time and the tools.

Nobody but myself has paid for my qualifications, certification and my knowledge has been earned through over 30 years of working in the pest control and drainage industry. When I decided that I would ‘Go it alone’ I based ‘Rattraxs Pest Control’ on two main things.

1, Take pest control personal. Provided the service as if it were my house the pests had invaded.

2, Approach every call in it’s own right. The customer has called you to solve the issue, so solve it.

Since working for myself I have undertaken many ‘Updated’ courses and exams, been to many industry events and networked with many other companies… All of which I was not unable to do previously.

I am also being recognised within the industry by some larger organisations and associations where I have been asked to give talks privately and at forums outlining my specialties and provide advice.

Pest Controllers and Pest Control Companies whom attend these events are the serious ones, the ones who work to do everything correctly, the ones who provide the service which is to be expected in our ever changing industry and I feel privileged to be asked to stand up in front of them and am extremely grateful for their time given to listen to my talks.

The feed back I get back is excellent, 9.38 / 10.00 for my last one at Cardiff, so it wasn’t that boring by all accounts.

I like to think I approach all of my customers by my two rules, however, you are only as good as your last satisfied customer and your last Google Review, but every effort is put in to ensure that the problem gets solved.

Rattraxs Pest Control will always attend site with the two rules at the forefront of the service provided, to take your problem as a individual one and to control and manage that problem as if it was my own. For advice, to simply ask a question or to book a visit you can either contact me through the website contact form or 07969 883858

Email :- darron.pearce@rattraxspestcontrol.uk

The Common Rat, Brown Rat, aka the Sewer Rat lives in our sewer systems, breeding extensively in the larger mains they make their way into the sub mains then into the private areas of drainage, the drainage which connects directly to the house toilets and sinks.

All is well while they are out of sight tucked away under ground, other than the occasional very heavy rainfall which can flush rats to the surface they are more than happy to remain residing in our nations drainage systems.

The homes we live in are not built with rats in them, while they are naturally shy creatures which prefer to keep well away from us. They are creatures of habit and will take advantage of our environments, afterall they are a ‘Commensal’ Rodent

Commensal rodents live in our environments where they can find essentials like food, water, shelter and safe places to nest and breed.

It is estimated that around 90% of rat infestations within the home are caused by defects in drainage, these defects could be where a break has occurred over time, where pipework has been installed poorly or where drainage alterations have not been completed correctly. If you’ve had a extension where the toilet has been moved, or where utilities have been added on this is often where problems can arise.

Sometimes rat activity can be pinned down to ‘It all started after the builders left’ but in many cases it can take years before rats breach a property through incorrectly capped of drainage. To some a bucket full of extra rapid cement down a old drain is a solution, to rats its a challenge to be overcome.

In the last week I have had two virtually identical calls where builders have not correctly capped of a redundant section of drainage and rats have breached. One gentleman has had a issue for over 4 years and as many pest control companies whom just put poison baits down, knock down the current infestation for a new breach to take place several months later. This is where full inspections are so important from the first visit.

What makes both of these jobs so much more difficult is the fact that both properties have had brick built extensions with concrete floors build over the drainage. So it is not as simple a excavation down to the defect and correcting.

To add extra complications to both of these calls is the fact that to carry out any form of correction works will have to be done from a ‘public asset’ From October 1st 2011 the majority of private sewers and lateral drains in England and Wales were transferred into public ownership, Basically in brief, once a private drain either crosses a boundary or takes a feed from another property (Becomes Shared) then the drain becomes a sewer and is owned by the local water authority.

So from the customers and the pest controllers point of view we have a sense of urgency to solve the problem of stopping filthy, disease ridden sewer rats from invading your home nothing can be done quickly when dealing with local water authorities. Getting through to the right department is a challenge in itself.

Once a investigation is logged with the LWA schedulers quite often the wrong department is dispatched and quite often further investigations are carried out either not to completion of incorrectly in the mean time rats are in your biscuit cupboard.

Believe it or not, there is a major difference between a drain CCTV survey and a ‘Rat Specific Survey’. Personally I am not a fan of drain company surveys for rat infestations. There are some very good surveying companies which specialise in identifying the various possible points of entry into the property from drainage which many generic drain companies would not see.

I would always advise that in the event a CCTV Survey is required that a ‘Rodent Specific’ survey is requested and is carried out by a certified surveyor. In Pest Control certification and qualification is required to carry out our duties, In drainage such surveying qualifications are not mandatory. I would always advise a NADC (National Association of Drainage Contractors) operative is appointed.

Some Local Water Authorities do have contract companies who specialise in surveying for rats but again there is often a wait time. Often though It is a standard drain clearance and CCTV crew are dispatched whom often report back no defects.

On nearly all occasions a simple drain repair which if private could be done either within a week if not the next day can takes weeks and on occasion months before works are carried out if they are authorised at all.

Legislation is a grey area when it comes to public and private drain repairs. The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 and the Public Health Act 1961 with respect to disconnection and sealing of disused drains are both pieces that are to be observed by the homeowner, land owner, tenant or landlord and can be enforced by the local council. Neither can be observed when dealing with a private connection on a public sewer without authorisation from the LWA.

The LWA state their asset is defect free so no works are required, but the private drain owner can not correct the defect without working from the public asset. So no works are undertaken and the rats are now onto the cake cupboard.

Private connections in Inspection Chambers are a breeze compared to defects on or around pre-formed Junctions. Again though, concrete is not the answer. It is advised that the correct methods are used at all times to avoid further investigations in the future.

The importance of ensuring that ALL redundant drainage is either removed completely or capped correctly can not be understated especially when building over the drainage and even more so when there is a public aspect associated.

Rattraxs, where accessible will carry out a full rodent survey investigation as part of our inspections for rat infestations. To discuss concerns, ask advice or book a visit please contact us direct.

Well, I either did alright on my first forum last November or the BPCA were struggling to fill a slot because i was invited to do another talk, this time in Glasgow. Turns out they were very happy with my first one..!!

I have even made Youtube..

Being a member of the BPCA (British Pest Control Association) is not a mandatory requirement for any pest control technician, but to become a member not only shows how serious you are about the industry workings and politics of pest control but also allows you to experience industry events such as networking forums.

These forums are invaluable not only with regards to ‘networking, Industry updates and marketing’ but personal knowledge gains. Up until last week I had no idea that there is a species specific ‘Bed Bug’ that lives on a Bat or that there is a specialist that identifies SPI’s (Store Product Insects) based on Starwars characters, A very effective method i must say.

I am still finding my feet as regards to standing in front of a packed room of knowledgable pest controllers, industry experts and some very important organisation and association members but i am thankful for the experience and I am looking less like a lego man and a bit more relaxed.

Feedback is mixed but on the whole very positive, Glasgow were a tough crowd.

I must have made some kind of impact though as I have now been approached by a several company’s enquiring about smaller talks to employees which for me is fantastic.

I’ve been booked for several more talks going forward by the BPCA and I thank them for allowing me the opportunity to speak about my specialties within our industry.

In the United Kingdom we are graced with both the ‘Black Rat’ (Rattus rattus) and the ‘Norwegian Rat’ (Rattus norvegicus). The Black Rat or (Ship) rat are now one of the rarest mammals in Britian, their numbers are diminishing as places like docks and dockyards are being modernised.

They are the smaller of the two commensal rats within Britain and do not come inland or co-habit with its larger cousin. While the ‘Common Rat‘ is omnivorous the Black Rat feed mainly on seed and grains, they tend to live in large packs with a dominant male. They are skilled climbers, can use telephone cables to move between buildings and are comfortable at heights, hence ‘Roof Rat’

It is thought that there are no longer any permanent black rat populations within Great Britain, smaller populations often frequent places like Southwark, London and Avonmouth but are quickly eradicated.

Did you Know..??

The Black Rat was blamed for the ‘Black Death’ plague which killed around 40% of the people in Europe in the 14th Century. The disease is caused by a bacterium and was spread largely by being bitten by the fleas hosted by the rats, however recent studies indicates that is was not in fact the rats that carried the fleas but gerbils. After six centuries could the black rat have its name cleared..??

Nearly every rat call i attend the target is the common rat, AKA the Brown rat or Sewer rat. Despite its name, it being heavier, larger and not as good a climber as the roof rat the common rat can hold its own when it comes to breaching properties through higher points of entry. In this last week alone i have been called to three properties where it is confirmed roof entry.

Just like lower entry points and drainage entry the rat is only taking advantage of something that is not right or where a opportunity is to be taken advantage of. Apart from ensuring that your roof is in good condition with no broken tiles, missing cement or dislodged lead flashing it is important that you are not providing a ‘ladder’ or a way to the roof guttering.

Ensure that tree branches are cut away from the roof line, ivy growth is restricted to remain below the gutter, while the common rat will not necessarily walk a tight rope it can impressively jump from a fence or wall to a close point on the roof. Once access to the gutter is gained then rats can breach under tiles where there is no bird proofing grills, where roof tiles are raised or damaged or where concrete has become dislodged.

When carrying out a site inspection it is important that a survey at gutter height is carried out as well as lifting inspection chambers and loft surveys. Quite often roof access points are easy to correct and infestations can be controlled quickly.

In the event that you suspect you have a rat issue please feel free to contact us for advice, a conversation of to book a site inspection.