How tiny openings let big pests in.

When it comes to pest control, size really does matter. Even the smallest gap around a property can be an open invitation for unwanted visitors. From house sparrows squeezing through 32mm spaces to mice slipping in through a crack as small as 6mm, this infographic shows just how little room pests need to get inside. Understanding these entry points is the first step in protecting homes and businesses from infestations.

Take this on board…. A rat needs 15mm only to invade your house..!!

Courtesy of the BPCA

Every home has its quirks – creaky floorboards, the odd drafty window… but a rat sneaking in through the drains? That’s taking things a bit too far.

Recently, I was called out to investigate a infestation where rats had somehow gained access to a property and were merrily exploring every corner of the house. Not exactly the kind of house guests you want hanging around.

Full detective hat donned for this one. Entry point, a damaged drain blanking cap that had been gnawed straight through. To the rats, it must have looked like a welcome mat!

The challenge? The faulty drain was hidden away behind a studded partition wall. With the aid of the CCTV drain camera and Sonar Tracing equipment, I found it. The customer was so impressed I’d located the exact entry point, however the entire contents of the wall need removing due to the extensive activity spanning back many months. The Radiator had to come off and the wall come down.

Once exposed, I fitted a 100mm Copper / Steel Bung to block the access route and gave the affected areas a thorough sanitise and Powair deodorizer after removal of waste. Problem solved, no use of rodenticides, no costly re-visits to monitor baits.

I could have used baits or traps and i many occasions these are important options for us, but with experience alone It was obvious this defect was internal, it was just locating it. The customer has no history of the property as the alterations, extensions were pre his residency.

The Takeaway

If you’re noticing signs of rats in your home, don’t just assume they’re coming through the loft or under the door. Rats are extremely intelligent animals, but they are also opportunists. They will take advantage of any defect and maximise their opportunities from these defects.

These rats had nested in a dry line within the drainage system allowing them quick and undisturbed access to both the dwelling for warmth and the drainage for food and water.

That’s where Rattraxs comes in – with over 34 years’ experience in drainage and pest control, plus the latest camera and tracing technology, I know exactly how to track down and stop them in their tracks.

👉 No more guessing. No more uninvited guests. Just a clear solution and peace of mind.

Can i be of assistance..?

If you suspect rats are making themselves at home in your property, give us a call. At Rattraxs Pest Control, I’ll find the problem, fix it, and make sure your unwanted visitors don’t come back.

For years the ‘Go to…’ treatment application for wasps entering a part of the building where there was no access to gain direct access onto the nest was ‘Ficam D’ – Active Ingredient ‘Bendiocarb 1.285%. it was brilliant, but it was highly toxic.

This years Wasp season will be the first without this active ingredient and for those of us whom treat nests are going to find it more challenging than previous years. With Bendiocarb a pest controller could just contaminate the point of entrance with the correct applicator for the job and within a few hours the nest would be dead.

You would get a gathering of wasps at the point of entrance but the activity would slow down quickly and you would be out in the garden having your BBQ in no time. In 2025 this is going to change, especially with large nests where there is no direct access.

When we used Bendiocarb the wasps would literally do the work for us, they would unknowingly walk the product into the nest infecting it quickly. The new actives of use are ‘Pyrethroid’ based dusts like permethrin. Ultimately they are faster acting which sounds good you may think..

The truth is that because they are faster acting they are more repellant, so infected wasps may not make it into the nest in time to infect it before they die. They will also display a much more defensive behaviour. Once treated they will become more aggressive.

Previously when arriving on site to treat a nest I would always ask the customer if they have attempted control before my arrival, if the answer was yes then I knew to expect extra aggression as permethrin would have normally been used.

I use LEGAL, approved products to protect you, your family and the environment….

Expectation Management.

This year and going forward there is no more spray and walk away treatments. While all applications will be the results of risk assessments, environmental assessments, nest location, product selection and application selection every effort will be made to ensure that treatments where there is no direct access to the nest will result in complete eradication with a single application.

However, this cannot be guaranteed… if I can get directly onto the nest then I will treat it directly thus minimising product use and ensuring complete eradication first time around i will.

If the point of entrance is into a cavity wall, a roof void or other areas where there is no access then single treatment applications may not work. Unfortunately charges will reflect for the second visit risk… I’m just being honest from the outset.

So, if after 48 hours of the treatment you still have wasps.. it will need a second application. Sorry..

While Honey Bees are considered a pest by customers they are not actually classified as pests. In Fact in March through to June a great percentage of phone calls i receive from customers are complaints of wasps which are actually swarming bees that a simply moving around.

While wasps can gather in masses around their nests why do not swarm in communal groups… granted, when a nest is being treated and you’ve got several got several hundred extremely annoyed wasps wanting revenge then it feels like a swam. However, what is seen swarming over rooftops in their thousands is in fact bees.

I specialise in rats, rats getting into your home, Rats in Drains, in the loft space, in the kitchen, in the dwelling in its entirety and in your garden. If a rat(s) get into your private space then thats for me.. Bee’s, Nope.

Now I’m not going to lie, Human life comes before all others, I have in my past actively treated and destroyed bees when no other option was available. Bee Keepers will come and collect in certain situations but they will not remove the side elevation of a property to gain access to the colony / colonies of bees within the wall, neither would I for that fact.

So I have in accordance with previous guidance treated for honey bees and blocked points of entry to deter ‘Robber Bee’s’ and contaminated bes from leaving the location. This has always sat wrong with me and when I set up ‘Rattraxs’ it was a area of the industry I tried to stay away from.

At the recent PPC Live in Harrogate where I had a small talk to give on my specialist subject I sat in in the audience where Clive Stewart, the owner of Westart Apiaries gave his presentation. Now he is a Specialist in Bee’s, every aspect of them, all done with the utmost respect to the bees themselves.

One valuable piece of information walking away afterwards what that I am not going to get involved in bees in any way, shape, form or method. I am simply not qualified. I did however purchase his book which is simply amazing which also reinforced the fact that this part of the industry, the bit which Clive does is so specialist it really should be left to the likes of him and persons of the same calibre.

I will however be signing onto his five day course in September if there is space. To further my knowledge and learn from Clive.

Mark Wenman, NPTA (Bees COBP) technical manager and board member, highlighted that honey bees are not classified as pests.

“In fact, they are among the most beneficial insects in our ecosystem, playing a vital role in pollination and biodiversity,” Mr Wenman said. “However, colonies that establish themselves in chimneys, wall cavities, or other hard-to-reach places can sometimes cause concern, distress, or even present a health and safety risk.

“In these circumstances, pest controllers are often called upon to respond. It is essential that we act with professionalism and care, ensuring that any intervention is both ethically sound and legally compliant.”

What the Code Includes

The new Code of Practice provides a clear and methodical approach to handling honey bee situations, focusing on:

• Initial evaluation and risk consideration
  Assessing the situation to determine whether action is needed, with consideration for the safety of people, animals, and the bees themselves.
• Ethical methods for removal and relocation
  Encouraging humane techniques such as cut-outs or trap-outs, with the goal of safely moving the colony to a suitable location.
• Use of specialised tools and training
  Recommending the use of equipment like thermal imaging cameras and stressing the importance of appropriate training, especially in high-risk environments.
• Legal compliance and environmental care
  Addressing relevant legislation and promoting best practices that align with health and safety laws and ecological responsibility.
• Knowing when to consult experts
  Advising members to reach out to experienced bee removal specialists when necessary, to ensure ethical treatment and protection of bee populations.

So I for one welcome this code of best practice and if anything it will make me direct the customer call to the right specialist. For me, I’m going to let them Bee…

2025 has got off to a flying start. We are just leaving March and i’ve already presented at Milton Keynes Forum then this wonderful opportunity by the BPCA (British Pest Control Association) to present a practical demonstration outdoors. Again some excellent feedback.

Next month I have my very first training day courtesy of 1Env where is will be teaching fellow Pest Controllers the importance of drainage and rat control. Drainage legislation, health and safety and what to look for in the drainage that can assist technicians in identifying rat ingress issues.

I am extremely grateful to my customers who employ me to control and solve their rodent problems, to the BPCA for allowing me to demonstrate my knowledge and experiences in my field of expertise and to 1Env for allowing me this amazing opportunity to pass on my 34 years of gained knowledge to the pest control industry.

I would also like to thank Ratgate for providing me with some demonstration equipment and Minicam for the loan of one of their new mini cams which are ideal for our industry. Both of these items are invaluable for the surveying and prevention of rats in the home.

Rattraxs Pest Control are qualified and certified to carry out CCTV Surveys to identify Rat issues within drains and to deal with the issue to full control ensuring that once treatments have been carried out you remain rodent free.

Rats are attracted to gardens for a few reasons:

1. Food sources: Gardens often have a variety of plants, fruits, vegetables, and seeds that can be appealing to rats. If you have compost, fallen fruit, or bird feeders, these can be easy food sources for rats.
2. Shelter: Gardens provide rats with cover, such as dense plants, tall grass, shrubs, or garden sheds. These areas give them a place to hide from predators and nest.
3. Water: Gardens may have sources of water, such as ponds, fountains, or even water left out for plants. Rats need water, and gardens are a convenient spot for them to find it.
4. Warmth: During colder months, rats may come into gardens seeking warmth, especially if they can find sheltered places like sheds, greenhouses, or piles of leaves and garden debris.
5. Proximity to urban areas: Gardens near homes, particularly in urban or suburban areas, may be part of the rats’ natural foraging range. If there’s food or shelter near the house, they might move in from nearby buildings or sewers.

If you’re having trouble with rats in your garden, it might help to remove food sources, keep the garden tidy, and seal any entry points to sheds or buildings.

While all of the above is completely true on many occasions rat issues in gardens can originate from defective and open drainage. A kitchen gully without a grid, a hole at the side of a Inspection Chamber or a old and dry line within the drainage system can all be the source of repeated rat issues within your garden.

Quite often Pest Controllers arrive on site and inspect the compost bin, the bird feeders, under sheds and other areas of harbourage yet walk straight past the actual source of the infestation, a open drain.

Having rats running around your garden is never nice, for lots of people their garden is a place of sanctuary and peace which often involves the feeding of birds and it is not rare for the attending pest controller to advise that the birds are not to be fed for the period of the treatment or worse still advised that the birds are no longer fed.

What has not been factored into the treatment program is the chance that the invading rats are actually entering the garden from the drainage system where they have food and water in abundance. So even when baits are placed control can not be gained from rodenticide feeding as the rats are feeding from the sewers.

Yet the attending pest controller will lay the blame at the bird feeder. While the bird feeder is a reliable food source for the rats it may not be the source for the infestation.

Quite often manhole covers and inspection chambers are covered by decking and slabs, so if you notice a burrow from either yet no obvious runs to and from maybe the source is from underground upwards rather than burrowing downwards. Again the rats may be noticed in the garden but this does not mean they are nesting within the garden.

Rats can have a large touring and foraging area, so the rats you are seeing in your garden could be surfacing from your neighbours drainage. All of these things have to be factored into our surveys as pest controllers.

BPCA Forum Milton Keynes

My most recent forum for the BPCA (British Pest Control Association) was to address the issue with rats in gardens originating from drainage defects.

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.