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As the dark nights draw in and the temperature started to decline, we’re turning our attention to rodents. Yes, this week we’re looking at rats and mice. At this time of the year, we see a rapid increase in Rat and Mice call outs as Rodents like the warm just like us humans. Herefordshire residents should take the time now to pest proof their homes and businesses from Rats and Mice (and other pests for that matter) this Winter. Rats and Mice are adaptable, highly mobile and breed rapidly, this combination can make rodent control a difficult task for the untrained individual. For any Rodent infestation, we would always recommend contacting a professional pest control company. We are trained in Rodent control and will have access to a range of professional use rodenticides which are not available to the public. Why Pest Proofing is Essential Cost effective means of pest control Reduces the risk to non-target species & protects our wildlife Reduced impact on the Environment from use of chemicals keeping our planet clean Easier to identify and treat a pest problem before it becomes a significant infestation as pest infestations can quickly become established. RATS - What you should be looking out for NOISES – Scratching and crawling and gnawing MESS – Dropping which are spindle shaped and blunt around 1-2 cm long SMELLS - Rats have a strong, distinctive, musty and unpleasant urine odour EVIDENCE – Burrows, runways, scratch marks and nests are signs of rats as are rats themselves! MICE – What you should be looking out for NOISES – Scratching and gnawing MESS – Droppings which are thin and spindle shaped Around ½1-2 cm long EVIDENCE – Nests, gnaw marks, dark grey smears left by oily fur SIGHT - Mice breed rapidly so once you’ve seen one mouse you can be sure you’ll have a large family of them very soon if you don’t deal with the problem. If you’ve been hearing scratching or gnawing or other noises that go bump in the night in your kitchen, loft or attic, cellar or anywhere else don’t panic. Call in the professionals. At PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford we can identify your unwanted pests and offer solutions to your problem.

Are you worried about rats or mice? It is true that rodent numbers increase over the Winter as the cold weather sets in and rats and mice look for shelter, food, and water. Do not let a rodent problem add to your worries this winter. Take steps to rodent proof your property and keep the rats and mice at bay. Top 5 Tips to Rodent Proof Your Home Secure your property – fill in any holes and remove access points such as gaps around pipes Keep on top of essential maintenance jobs – clean out those gutters and drains, check your air bricks for damage. Don’t cover your airbricks (unless you use specially designed airbrick covers) as you will reduce your ventilation which is essential to reducing Covid particles Remove harbourage – clear any clutter and debris, cut back ivy and branches near to your property Remove accessible food sources – keep wildlife feeding to a minimum; make sure your bin lids are properly sealed Remove water sources – 70% of a rodent’s diet is water so check for dripping outside taps and hoses and make sure water butts are rodent proof Once you are on top of this STAY VIGILANT ! It is important to identify a rodent problem early on as rats and mice breed rapidly and can cause a significant infestation in a very short period of time. If you do find you have a rodent infestation give PGM & SON Rodent Control Hereford a call for advice and guidance. If you are having a problem with rats, if mice are causing you a concern, don’t delay call PGM & Son Pest Control today. For all your pest control needs, give PGM & Son Pest Control Herefordshire and Worcestershire a call on 01981 540088 or 07964 370480 for a free no-obligation chat. Email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk Use the live chat facility on our website Message us via social media @pgmpestcontrol

Page Navigation The One Thing That Can Close Your Restaurant Overnight The Restaurants that Thrive are those that understand a Fundamental Truth The Legal Reality: You Have No Choice Don’t Let One Pest Infestation Undo Years of Hard Work How Pest Contracts Safeguard Your FSA Rating The One Thing That Can Close Your Restaurant Overnight Picture this : It’s a busy Friday evening in your Herefordshire restaurant. Tables are full, the kitchen is firing on all cylinders, and then it happens. A diner spots a mouse scurrying along the skirting board. Within minutes, the photo is on social media.  By morning, your five-star rating has plummeted, Environmental Health has been notified, and bookings are being cancelled. This nightmare scenario is entirely preventable , yet I still encounter restaurant owners who view pest control as an optional expense rather than essential business protection. As an award-winning pest control expert with the RSPH Level 3 qualification , I’ve worked with countless food establishments across Herefordshire.  The restaurants that thrive are those that understand a fundamental truth A comprehensive pest control contract isn’t just about catching rats or setting traps. It’s about legal compliance , reputation management, and ultimately, business survival in one of the UK’s most competitive industries. Herefordshire presents unique challenges for restaurant operators. Our beautiful county, with its agricultural heartland and thriving food scene, sits at a rural-urban interface that creates the perfect storm for pest activity. Understanding these challenges and implementing professional, proactive pest management isn’t optional anymore— it’s absolutely essential . The Legal Reality: You Have No Choice Let’s start with the uncomfortable truth that many restaurant owners prefer to ignore: pest control isn’t optional under UK law .  The Food Safety Act 1990 and the Food Hygiene Regulations 2013 place explicit legal duties on food business operators to ensure premises are kept clean and maintained in good repair to avoid pest contamination.  This isn’t guidance or best practice—it’s the law. When Environmental Health Officers conduct inspections, they’re looking for evidence of effective pest management systems . They want to see documented proof of regular inspections, monitoring records, and treatment logs. A pest control contract provides this crucial paper trail .  Without it, you’re not just risking your reputation; you’re exposing yourself to prosecution, unlimited fines, and potentially closure orders. The Food Standards Agency hygiene rating scheme has transformed how customers choose where to eat. That sticker in your window isn’t just decorative—it’s often the deciding factor for diners choosing between your establishment and your competitor’s. A zero or one-star rating due to pest activity can be catastrophic for business and closure imminent. I’ve witnessed restaurants lose 60-70% of their trade within weeks of receiving a poor rating linked to pest issues! The legal concept of “due diligence” is particularly important. If pest issues arise despite your best efforts, you can mount a due diligence defense—but only if you can demonstrate you took all reasonable precautions. A professional pest control contract , with regular inspections and comprehensive documentation, provides exactly this defense. Without it, you’re legally exposed, and ignorance is never accepted as an excuse . Don’t Let One Pest Infestation Undo Years of Hard Work A pest control contract is genuine business insurance, not an optional expense. It protects your legal position, safeguards your reputation, maintains your Food Standards Agency rating, prevents catastrophic financial losses, and demonstrates professional commitment to your customers and staff. In an industry where margins are tight and competition is fierce, these protections aren’t luxuries— they’re business survival necessities . How Pest Contracts Safeguard Your FSA Rating The question isn’t whether you can afford a pest control contract. The question is whether you can afford to operate without one.  Every day without professional pest management is a day of unnecessary risk, gambling your business, your reputation, and your livelihood on hope rather than professional expertise. Don’t wait for a problem to become a crisis. The best time to implement professional pest control was when you opened your doors. The second-best time is right now.   Pest issues always get worse, never better, without intervention . The restaurant owner who says “ we’ve never had a problem ” is usually the one who calls me in a panic when their luck runs out, facing closure orders and destroyed reputations. Your restaurant represents years of hard work, significant investment, and passionate commitment to hospitality. Protect it with the same professionalism you bring to your food, your service, and your customer experience. Because in the restaurant business, what customers don’t see matters just as much as what they do—and making sure they never see pests is worth every penny . As an RSPH Level 3 qualified pest control expert serving Herefordshire’s food industry, I’ve seen firsthand how professional pest management protects businesses and builds customer confidence. Don’t leave your restaurant’s future to chance—invest in professional protection today, contact us on (01981) 540088 or email contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk

One of the most popular creatures associated with Halloween is the Spider! A lot of people fear spiders but why? In the UK spiders are not normally dangerous so why are so many people scared of the tiny spider? To some it seems like an irrational fear after all a spider is a fraction of the size of a human. But spiders aren’t exactly lookers, and these creepy eight-legged insects are known for lurking in the dark, in corners or attics and cellars. They spin their webs in dark and abandoned places which relate to ghosts and ghouls. Spiders are also usually black or grey and these colours are associated with darkness and death. Spiders were historically believed to be a witches’ companion resulting in superstition about them. One superstition said that if a black spider found its way into your home, you were bound to have bad luck. Spiders have also long been associated with the supernatural due to their web-spinning abilities. In folklore, arachnids are described as using designs in their webs to tell stories or predict a person’s fate, future wealth and sometimes death. Why don’t Pest Controllers Eradicate Spiders? Most pest controllers won’t deal with a call out for spiders and for good reason; most spiders in the UK are not a public health issue and spiders are great for the environment. Spiders keep fly populations down for a start, so they are natural pest controllers! And spiders can mostly be dealt with by a home owner by moving them outside or hoovering them up and emptying the bag outside! Saving you cost and the need to unnecessarily eradicate the spider. Sometimes spiders can cause issues such as an infestation of false widow spiders. If you are experiencing a spider infestation and want some advice, get in contact with your local pest controller. PGM & Son Pest Control Herefordshire & Worcestershire www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk 01981 540088 OR contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk OUR FAMILY AND PET FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGIES HAVE MADE PGM & SON A LEADER IN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PEST CONTROL. 'WE ARE REDEFINING THE INDUSTRY'

One of the largest pest control companies in the UK featured on this week’s episode of Rip Off Britain, hosted by Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Jennie Bond. It comes not long after the news that city traders were predicting growth in Rentokil after reports that the firm was reshaping to focus on the higher-margin pest control business at a much faster rate than anticipated. It certainly seems that Rentokil is making a killing from its customers if the BBC report is anything to go by. Members of the public alleged that Rentokil was charging astronomical rates to carry out pest control treatments with one viewer reporting that Rentokil charged him well over £500 for a 3 visit mouse control job. With local pest controllers around the country quoting a fraction of the price (up to £190 in different regions across the UK) for the same job it does seem a little over-priced! To watch Rip Off Britain: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b7rsc5 At PGM & SON Pest Control Hereford we have a fair and transparent charging policy. A three visit rodent control job is normally priced at around £150 (subject to site survey), meaning Herefordshire residents requiring pest control services pay a fraction of the cost the big guys in the industry charge. PGM & Son is able to offer Hereford residents low rates because we are a local, family run business with low over heads. We’ll always give you a price up front, telling you if that price may change (for example, because there are access issues in your property) and, if we can’t give you a price up front, we’ll explain why. Rip Off Britain also made the point that members of the public should check a pest controller’s qualifications, experience and insurance. We regularly give advice to Herefordshire residents on the importance of checking who their local trader is and that they’re qualified to do the job. Check out our past blogs on this subject. Our website www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk clearly explains what qualifications, experience, insurance and other certification we hold. However, if you’re not sure please ask us as we’ll be happy to provide copies and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

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 .

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.

To protect your office from pests, you must focus on exclusion (sealing them out), sanitation (denying food and water), and proactive monitoring. Neglecting pest control can lead to property damage, health violations, or even forced closure by local authorities. 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 policies 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 Infestation 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 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 for a free no-obligation chat. If you prefer, you can email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk