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10 Reasons to Get Rid of your Rat Problem Now! Rats can be very destructive. Apart from the fact they can eat up to 15% of their body weight every day, they can cause harm to your property, pets and health. Top Ten Reasons to Get Rid of a Rat Problem without Delay Gnawing through electrical wires, causing a fire hazard. Gnawing through pipes, causing floods. Chewing through insulation, paper, books and other useful items with which to make their nests, causing expensive or irreversible damage. Infecting food supplies. Endangering your beloved pets: rats attack predators many times their size and your cat, when faced by a pack of rats, will almost certainly face death. They are also disease carriers and spread parasites to cats and dogs. Rats carry leptospirosis which can be fatal for humans. They can ruin your garden by eating seeds and bulbs. Norway rats can even damage the foundations of your property. Nesting in ducts (e.g. heating and cooling ducts) lowering the efficiency of your heating/cooling systems and exposing your family or business to harmful germs and bacteria. Many insurers won’t cover homeowners for damage caused by rodents. The photo below shows the damage that rats can, and will, do! Pest infestations can be a real nuisance and can cause serious health problems and property damage.  Whether you're dealing with a rat problem in your loft or a wasp nest in your garden, our award winning PGM and Son professional pest control technicians can identify and eliminate the source of the problem and provide you with long-term solutions to prevent future infestations.

Are you and your customers properly protected from pests? Pests can spread disease, damage products, foodstuffs and property. They can ruin your reputation, leading to potential loss of business or even prosecution. Failure to comply with legal requirements to provide a safe working environment can be costly. Food operators can face closure, fines and even prison for failing to put adequate pest prevention procedures in place. At PGM and Son we will help meet your ‘due diligence’ requirement. As fully insured members of BPCA (British Pest Control Association) we operate a safe system of work using Risk and COSHH assessments. Managing pest control is part of good business practice Is your business fully protected from the threats posed by public health pests? Pest control management involves identifying and dealing with potential risks from food pests before they turn into a major problem and contaminate food stuff. Good pest control should concentrate on preventing the pests gaining access to food stocks and food rooms in the first place. Even if you discover a pest problem before a customer's health is put at risk, having to throw stock away because of damage caused by pests can prove to be very expensive to any business. Our membership of BPCA is an assurance that we can keep it safe! Could your business have a pest problem? PGM & SON are professionals and trusted by BPCA to identify pests, provide treatment advice and eradicate issues in a safe and effective way. You may need to contract an outside company to help you deal with pests. Using a professional pest control company to help keep your premises pest-free or to get rid of a pest problem does not mean that you can pass all responsibility on to them. However, a contract with an outside company can be a vital part of your pest-control management system. This will not only help to keep your workplace healthy and prevent food from becoming contaminated, but it will also help prove a 'due diligence' (legal defence) if your business needs to show the authorities that you did all you could to prevent an infestation. A good pest controller is not just someone who turns up to put traps and poison down. They should inspect and monitor conditions, highlight problems advise you on how to prevent pests and suggest improvements where necessary. You should consider your pest control contractor to be part of the team whose role it is to keep food pests away from your premises. We believe in putting customers first Our membership of BPCA shows our commitment to delivering the highest standards of service. As members of BPCA, we follow industry Codes of Practice and are regularly audited against BS EN 16636 – the benchmark of quality for pest management operators across Europe. Inadequate pest control can have catastrophic effects on public health. As fully-qualified experts, we’ll do the job properly – and our membership of BPCA proves we’re up to the task! We're always on the 'phone for advice, so don't worry about your pest problems, give us a call now on 01981 540088 . If you run a business in Herefordshire or Worcestershire you can count on us for proactive commercial pest control services .

With more and more restaurants and food outlets in Herefordshire grabbing the headlines in the Hereford Times in recent months due to poor hygiene and housekeeping practices resulting in pest infestations and health and safety concerns to staff and the public, this week we’re letting local restaurant owners know why they should have in place a pest management program. Pest Control v Pest Management When you’ve got a pest infestation in your food business there’s no getting away from that fact that you’ll need to get the pest controller in. An infestation puts your staff, customers and reputation at risk. If you’re lucky enough to call pest control in yourself, you can quickly resolve a pest problem with little or no disruption to your business operations and reputation. However, many businesses are dealing with a pest infestation because either their customers complain or, Hereford Council inspectors have been in and issued a food hygiene safety report. Either way, you could be in for a lot of disruption, cost and damage to your business and reputation. Pest control is all very good and well when you’ve got a problem but why let it get that far? It’s quite simple and what we bang on about all the time – prevention is better than cure!! That’s why pest management is something restaurant owners should consider an essential part of their business All too often we get a call to go into a food business to deal with a pest issue. We always give advice on how to prevent pests in the future – that’s a key part of the PGM Pest Control service – but unfortunately, whilst there are lots of responsible restaurant owners out there in Herefordshire, there are also a lot of restaurant owners who aren’t. There are also those restaurant owners who, understandably, have commercial pressures and might be concerned about the costs of implementing a pest management program. It’s important to understand that pest prevention and management, over the longer term, is more cost effective than simply dealing with the same problem that arises time and time again because the root causes are not being dealt with properly to begin with. Top 3 Concerns from Businesses about Taking on a Pest Control Contract 1. Pest management programs are expensive You might think a pest management program is expensive but over the longer term, a contract is actually more cost effective. Pest control contracts are also designed to ensure that the risk of your business suffering an infestation is minimised through the regular monitoring by your pest controller. In fact, most pest management programs ensure you remain infestation-free throughout the contract term. Rats, mice and other pests can cause enormous damage to property and the cost of putting it right can be astronomical – paying for a pest management program is preferable to paying for costly repairs. And if you’re worrying about the one-off cost of a pest contract, at PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford we offer a number of payment plan options so that businesses can spread the cost of their pest control. Give us a call today and we can talk you through the options. 2. Customers will be concerned if they see pest controllers in our business Actually, in our experience, most people are comforted by the fact that businesses are being proactive to keep out the pests. However, our pest management service is discrete; we’re flexible in visiting times so that your customers don’t even have to know we’ve been in. And, if we have to be on site when your business is open, that’s okay too – we have removable signs on our vehicle and our staff will cover up uniforms if asked to do so. 3. A pest control contract isn’t necessary, we can just call a pest controller if we get a problem Well, it’s true you can simply call a pest controller when you find yourself experiencing a problem. However, in our experience, there isn’t usually a one-off problem in a food business. Unless you find the root causes of your problem and deal with those too, you’ll be finding that your problem comes back time and again. And, that’s when you start paying the price – both in terms of the monetary cost of treating your pest problem and the reputational damage and operational disruption to your business.

After another miserable week of heavy rainfall, Herefordshire residents are continuing the clean-up task. As the flood waters flush out significant numbers of rats, Herefordshire home and business owners are advised to take steps to stop rats from entering their properties. As their burrows are destroyed, and water levels have risen, rats will be seeking new places to set up home. The rising water levels mean that rats are flushed out to higher ground and, being strong swimmers, they can travel great distances to find new locations for homes. Herefordshire residents and business owners are advised to take steps to: Block up / seal holes Carry out any repairs to property Clear up waste foods Ensure drains are clear from fallen leaves and debris and in good working order Remove all debris and other harbourage from your premises Rodent Health Risks Rodents can pose a serious health risk to humans. Business owners , particularly those operating in the food and hospitality sector are strongly advised to consider a regular pest management program to ensure that they mitigate the risk of rodents spreading infection to customers / the general public. Rats carry diseases such as Leptospirosis or Weil's disease, Salmonella, Listeria, Toxoplasma gondii and Hantavirus which can be passed onto humans. The HSS report around 40 cases of Weil’s disease every year. Two types of rat tapeworm spread to humans though eggs found in rat faeces. If you suspect you have a problem with rats, don’t panic. Call PGM & Son Pest Control Herefordshire on 01981 540088 or out of office hours call our emergency call-out number 07964 370480. For advice and solutions or drop us an email to: contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk Don’t let a rodent problem get worse – rats breed rapidly, becoming sexually mature in around 3 months. Females may produce 3 to 12 litters of between 6 and 8 young in a year so what may start as a small problem can quickly escalate – call in the professionals today to sort out a rodent infestation.

Today’s Pest Quiz Question: Which Pest is NOT Considered a Public Health Risk? Rat Mouse Clothes Moth Cockroach Flea Answer: The Clothes Moth Moths do not spread disease or bite humans but they are still considered a pest as they can cause significant damage to property including clothes, carpets, curtains and other textiles. Find out more about Eco-Friendly Ways to Tackle Clothes Moths ↗ Rats and mice carry some nasty diseases and urinate wherever they go which presents a significant risk to public health. Find out more about Rat and Rodent Removal ↗ Cockroaches are vectors of some serious diseases and contaminate everything they come into contact with. Find out more about Cockroach Control ↗ Fleas don’t commonly spread disease they bite, and flea bites can cause irritation and infection. Recent studies suggest that the Black Death was caused not by rats but fleas. Find out more about Flea Control ↗ PGM & SON Pest Prevention Tips Inspect the home for entry points Pests can enter a home through the smallest of cracks and crevices, so it is important to inspect your home carefully for any potential entry points. Check around windows and doors, as well as in any areas where plumbing or wiring enters the home. Seal cracks and crevices Once you have identified any potential entry points, take steps to seal them up with caulk or other appropriate materials. This will help prevent pests from entering your home. Store food properly To discourage pests from entering your home, make sure all food is stored properly. This means keeping all food items in tightly sealed containers, and making sure all surfaces are wiped down after cooking or eating.

Why businesses should consider engaging a regular pest control professional How Pest Infestations Can Impact Office Businesses Unhappy staff! Costs to repair damage caused by pests such as chewed pipes and cables Disruption to the business if you must close to carry out a pest treatment Complaints and claims from employees or the public Loss of income from un-rentable or unsaleable office space Damage to your reputation Disputes with your neighbouring businesses if pests transfer to their offices Termination of rental contracts if your landlord considers you have encouraged or not prevented or removed a pest problem Practical Tips for Office Pest Control Clean your kitchen areas properly and frequently. Instil in your employees the importance of good hygiene by making sure they clean up spills and crumbs and dispose of their rubbish and leftover food and drink Check your bins are emptied regularly and external bins taken away for disposal. Make sure bins have tight fitting lids and consider investing in external pest proof bins Clear desk policie s are easier to implement in our connected world so there’s no excuse for employees to create pest harbourage and food sources on their desks anymore! Pest proof your office . Make sure regular maintenance jobs are completed by blocking holes and sealing gaps. Pay attention to the high-risk areas such as window frames and doors, pipes and air vents. Fix leaks as soon as you spot them, pests need water as well as a food source Train your staff to spot a potential or actual pest problem. For example, make sure your maintenance staff are actively looking for access points and pest harbourage. Ask your cleaners and other office staff to look out for signs of pests such as droppings, strong smells and insects on plants Make sure your caretakers or building maintenance staff pay attention to the external permitter keeping shrubs and trees cut back and preferably away from the building, clearing piles of leaves and keeping window and door frames clean and clear All of these things will help you to minimise your risk of experiencing a pest problem in your office business. Top Five Pests Found in Offices Rats Mice Ants Flies Cockroaches How to Deal with an Office Pest Problem The first thing to do is not panic. Make sure your staff report any problems as soon as they are spotted and explain they should not try to handle a pest problem themselves for their own and others’ health and safety. Call a professional pest controller, they have access to solutions not available to the general public and they are trained to deal with pests in a safe and effective manner. If you have got a pest problem, it’s usually best to call in the professionals. For all your office pest problems in Herefordshire or Worcestershire give PGM & Son Pest Control Services a call on our local number 01981 540088 or 07964 370480 for a free no-obligation chat. If you prefer, you can email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk or use the live chat facility on our website and if we’re not available on the live chat for any reason then there’s a handy message service for you to leave your details so we can call you back.

To finish off the month we thought we’d share a passage from Bernadine Evaristo’s Booker Prize winning book ‘Girl, Woman, Other’ that we thought really summed up pest control. “Daddy worked in Pest Control for the council, which gave him great job satisfaction, no two days are ever the same, he’d say, as they sat around the kitchen table eating their tea of fish fingers and salad, it’s my role to kill the devilish vermin who plague people’s properties and give them nightmares, and then to heal their trauma with reassuring words it’s a vocation, a calling, my contribution to the world , y’unnderstan?" Apart from the “kill the devilish vermin” (as responsible pest controllers, this should always be a last resort), the words “great job satisfaction”; “no two days are the same”; “heal their trauma with reassuring words” and “it’s a vocation, a calling” really resonated with us. The Definition of a Pest Controller Pest Control is all about helping people, finding solutions to problems and commitment. We thought Bernadine Evaristo summed this up brilliantly in her magnificent literary piece. For all your pest control services contact PGM & Son Herefordshire and Worcestershire on 01981 540088 or drop us an email at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk About PGM Pest Control PGM & Son is an Award-Winning service that provide pest control solutions to individuals and businesses across all locations in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. We offer a variety of techniques, including pesticide free and organic solutions, preventative and proofing works and more traditional methods. We are available 7 days a week to eradicate your pest problems - rats , mice , cluster flies , fleas , squirrels , moles , cockroaches , insect control , carpet beetles , bed bugs , wasps , bees , hornets , and bird proofing works .

With bonfire night here once again PGM pest control are urging Herefordshire and Worcestershire residents to take care of one of nature’s most loved pest controllers, The Hedgehog. Hedgehogs are great natural pest control in the garden as they eat slugs, snails and insects saving your much-loved flowers and plants from destruction. Hedgehog's are natures pest controller Advice this 5th November is to check and re-check your bonfire stack before lighting it to make sure there are no hedgehogs hiding inside. As the leaves are falling from the trees in abundance, check piles of leaves for hedgehogs. How to Make a Cheap Hedgehog Temporary Home If you find a hedgehog in your bonfire, make a nice cozy hedgehog home from a cardboard box, some piles of leaves or straw leaving a good size entry gap for the hedgehog to get in. Put the box in a safe, quiet place such as a shed or garage well away from the festivities and offer the hedgehog some meaty cat or dog food and water. Once the embers are totally dampened down, release the hedgehog under a hedge, bush or behind a stack of logs near where it was found, with its original nesting materials. Read more about how to keep hedgehogs safe this bonfire night at The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) If you come across rats whilst making your garden hedgehog safe Call PGM & Son Rodent Control Herefordshire and Worcestershire on 01981 540088 or drop us an email at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk

Protect your business with effective commercial pest control Are you starting a food or drinks business in Herefordshire or Worcestershire? In this blog post, we'll explore the key reasons why you should prioritise commercial pest control , the types of pests commonly found in Herefordshire and Worcestershire , and the best strategies to keep them out of your commercial space. Legal Obligations for Employers Meet your requirements under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to provide a safe working environment for your staff – this means FREE OF PESTS! Under The Food Safety Act 1990 and The Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 you must ensure you have adequate procedures in place for pests. Why you need to comply with the law on managing pests in your hospitality business The penalties for failure to comply can be severe – complete and immediate closure of premises; fines of up to £20,000 or up to six months in prison! How to comply with the law The best way to comply with the law is to engage the services of a professional pest controller. This week we take a look at PGM & Son Pest Control’s Rodent Control Service for Hereford and Worcester hospitality businesses. PGM & SON Pest Control – Rodent Control Services for Businesses PGM adopts an integrated approach which considers non-chemical, biological and cultural methods as well as customer education, habitat modification and physical methods. We offer advice and support in this regard. It is not PGM policy to simply kill pests with a pesticide and we will do our utmost to prevent unnecessary suffering and to protect non-target species. We support the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) We provide all our commercial customers with a pest control management manual which sets out: The history of PGM’s visits to your site; Copies of the reports we will provide you with at each visit; A copy of your site plan and the monitoring and control points; Reference material and other important information, which includes the availability of our: Professional qualifications. Membership of professional bodies. Our Terms of Business. Public Liability Insurance. Material hazards information. Risk Assessments. We will ask you to provide a plan of your site or we may arrange to visit your site to prepare a plan. We supply and install suitable bait boxes for your site, the number being dependent on the size and nature of your site and the existing pest activity. We carry out routine inspections of your site to identify rodent activity and / or issues and risks likely to attract or influence pests. Treatments are carried out where infestations are identified, in line with your contract for services. Routine visits will normally be scheduled at regular intervals, e.g. monthly and will consist of inspecting the site, checking bait stations and replacing bait, or re-setting traps as required. If you have any problems in between routine visits and your contract includes call outs, we’ll be straight out to check on any issues you may have. Otherwise, a call out service is also available. We provide guidance and advice to clients on staying pest free. As a business owner in the food or drinks industry, you know how important it is to maintain a clean and hygienic environment to keep your customers happy and your business running smoothly. However, even the best cleaning practices can fall short if pests find their way into your commercial space. Rodents, cockroaches, flies, and other pests can cause damage to your products, contaminate your work areas, and pose serious health risks to your customers and staff. That's why it's essential to have effective commercial pest control measures in place to protect your business from infestations. For information on our services, please go to our website: www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk For further information, or if you would like us to quote for our rodent control service, please contact us on 01981 540088 or email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk Frequently asked Questions about Commercial Pest Control Q: What is commercial pest control? A: Commercial pest control is the management and control of pests, such as insects, rodents, and birds, in commercial or business settings, such as office buildings, warehouses, food establishments, restaurants, and hotels. Q: Why is commercial pest control important? A: Commercial pest control is important for several reasons, including ensuring the health and safety of employees and customers, protecting the integrity of the business and its products, and complying with legal requirements. Q: What kind of pests can be found in commercial settings? A: Common pests found in commercial settings include mice, rats, cockroaches, bed bugs, wasps, and birds. Q: How do pests enter commercial buildings? A: Pests can enter commercial buildings through various means, such as open doors and windows, cracks and crevices in the building's structure, and through deliveries and shipments. Q: How can businesses prevent pest infestations? A: Businesses can prevent pest infestations by implementing good sanitation practices, maintaining a clean and clutter-free environment, sealing cracks and gaps in the building's structure, and using pest control products and professional services. Q: What should businesses look for when choosing a pest control service? A: When choosing a pest control service, businesses should look for a company that is licensed and insured, has experience in commercial pest control, uses environmentally friendly pest control products and practices, and offers ongoing pest control maintenance and support. Q: How often should businesses have pest control treatments done? A: The frequency of pest control treatments depends on the type and severity of the pest problem, as well as the type of business and industry. A pest control professional can recommend a treatment schedule based on these factors. Q: Is pest control safe for employees and customers? A: Yes, pest control is safe for employees and customers when it is carried out by a licensed and experienced pest control professional using safe and environmentally friendly products and practices. Q: What legal requirements are there for commercial pest control in the UK? A: The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 require businesses to ensure the health and safety of employees and others who may be affected by their work, including managing pests in the workplace.

This week we’re looking at squirrels. Here’s our pointers for checking whether you have a squirrel problem: Noise – scratching, rustling in attic and wall cavities Urine – a smelly loft could indicate a squirrel infestation has set in Doppings – pest controllers can tell the difference between rat, mice and squirrel droppings for you Damage to your property – holes in vents; torn insulation; problems with electrical wires Other squirrels in the vicinity – near roofs or high fences Evidence in the garden – bird feeders knocked over, damaged or disturbed or trees stripped of bark Gnaw marks on ceilings or woodwork. Contaminated cold water tanks and loft spaces. Stripped insulation on electrical wiring. What can you do to avoid a squirrel problem in your home or business? Block gaps and entrance holes Trim trees back especially over hanging branches Seal entry points Remove items stacked against the side of the property Trim dense ivy Squirrels are fairly strong for their size and also persistent. If the proofing is not secure, then the squirrels may be able to pull it out! For tree protection, close fitting metal sleeves can protect them from the strong rodent incisors. A bit about squirrels: Grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) are invasive pests, not native to the UK. Because grey squirrels are an invasive pest species, it is against the law to re-release a grey squirrel if it’s been caught alive. This means that any person who catches a grey squirrel alive is legally obliged to humanely dispatch it. As their numbers have increased in the UK, so has the damage they cause. This is where professional pest control comes in. The grey squirrel is recognised as being in the top worst 100 invasive pest species in the world by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Here in Britain and Europe, is classed as an Invasive Alien Species (IAS) which is any animal that is not native to the UK. 3 Reasons to Control Grey Squirrels Potential to damage to your home, business and health The destruction of UK forests The impact on our native wildlife, in particular the red squirrel Did You Know? Squirrels are rodents, which means they need to gnaw to wear down their continuously growing incisors. They can, and do, cause significant damage to property including pipes, insulation and electrical cables. Do Squirrels Damage The Environment? Squirrels strip bark at the base of trees which causes them to weaken and eventually to die. They also damage orchards and gardens, destroying bulbs and other plant life. They wreak havoc on historic and ancient woodlands. The European Squirrel Initiative (ESI) point out that around 12% of England is covered by trees and this is set to rise. ESI are concerned, unless something is done, there will be no oak, beech, or sweet chestnut mature trees left in the years to come. Are Squirrels a Threat to Native Wildlife? Grey squirrels also raid birds’ nests to prey on eggs and fledglings (figures from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust suggest fledgling rates reduced by 15% due to predation by grey squirrels). They eat tree nuts and recently sown seeds depriving native wildlife of food sources. The grey squirrel was deliberately introduced to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from North America in the Victorian era. Since then, it’s colonised 90% of England and Wales and is becoming a problem in Scotland. Grey squirrels are responsible for the decline in native red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) numbers. The Wildlife Trusts estimates there are only around 140,000 native red squirrels left in the UK, compared to 2.5 million grey squirrels. Grey squirrels can transmit the squirrelpox virus to red squirrels, to which they themselves are immune but red squirrels are not. Once a red squirrel has squirrelpox, it’ll usually die of dehydration within 2 weeks. Our Squirrel Control and Proofing Service  provides effective solutions for dealing with nuisance squirrels in lofts, roof spaces, and other areas of your property. We begin by inspecting your home to identify signs of squirrel activity, entry points, and potential risks. Using humane and professional control methods, we safely remove squirrels and minimise further disruption. To ensure long-term protection, we carry out proofing works such as sealing access points and reinforcing vulnerable areas. Our approach not only resolves current infestations but also prevents future squirrel problems, protecting your property from damage and disturbance. If you're worried about squirrels entering your property then call us on 01981 540088 for help, support and guidance. We cover all local areas across the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire .