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This week we’re looking at Pests in Historic Buildings whether the property is a Residential Home or a Charitable or Private Business Venture. We are asking ourselves: Why is prevention the key to Pest Control in listed buildings? Our Top 3 Answers to this question are: Prevent buildings and collections being damaged by pests Resolve any problems before they reach crisis point Target control measures to avoid wide-spread chemical treatments Our top tips for implementing a pest management program in a business or charity: Identify key staff Train your staff to recognise the signs of pests Make sure your key staff can prioritise areas that need addressing Establish preventative pest management systems and controls Know when to call in the professional pest controllers before a pest problem damages your building or collections Do you own or run an historic building whether as a residential, business or charitable entity? So what can listed building owners or managers do on a practical level? Keep pests out by proofing the property, for example by installing chimney cowls and bird spikes or mesh covers Deny pests harbourage, food and water Make sure you can recognise the main species of pest and be aware of the issues or damage they can cause Have in place a pest management programme which includes regular monitoring Improve your overall environment by carrying our regular maintenance Maintain good housekeeping and hygiene Review your strategies regularly to see how they can be improved PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE Seek advice and guidance from a professional pest controller – they’ve usually seen it all so will be best placed to advise you on what works and what doesn’t and, if they haven’t come across the problem before they will have access to expert knowledge and tried and tested solutions. What sort of pest issues do listed / historic buildings experience? Damage to materials including animal skins, fur, feathers, vellum, wool, parchment and hair. This may include items such as soft furnishings, furniture and collections that might include items such as costumes, dolls, rugs, curtains, taxidermy mounts, paintings and books to name just a few. Older buildings can contain dust and mildew which are ideal for some pests. Often, large historic buildings are difficult to keep clean which may also encourage pests. Older, larger listed buildings can be costly and difficult to maintain leaving them open to pests, particularly larger pests that can more easily access them such as birds and rats. Other problems that create ideal environments for pests include: Blocked chimneys and fireplaces Gaps between walls and ceilings Empty and unused spaces such as under storage or display cabinets Material linings on boxes and door strips such a felt and wool Old wasps’, bees’ and bird nests (often in attic spaces and eaves) Old ventilation and heating ducts Unused rooms, cellars, tunnels and secret spaces Furniture with hidden cracks and crevices A word on Bats Bats are quite often found in historic buildings. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides protection for all species of bat found in the UK. This means that it is ILLEGAL TO KILL OR DISTURB BATS IN THEIR ROOST. If you have bats in your property you must consult a professional pest controller or the Bat Conservation Trust for advice. To sum up, owning an historic building usually comes at a high price – don’t allow pests to increase your costs. Call in PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford for advice and solutions. Give us a call on 01981 241334 or 07964 370480 for a free no-obligation chat. If you prefer, you can email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk or you can use the live chat facility on our website.

Choose PGM & SON Pest Control your local Herefordshire based, award winning pest control company! Got Pests? We've Got It Covered! PGM & SON are your Local Herefordshire Pest Controllers. British Pest Management Sole Trader of the Year 2019 & Herefordshire Business Awards’ Family Business of the Year 2019 finalists PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford is a local, family run business providing a wide range of pest control solutions throughout the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. PGM & Son Pest Control provides Domestic / Residential Pest Control Services as well as Commercial Pest Management Programs. Our customers include Herefordshire residents and Herefordshire Businesses. We provide pest management to hospitality business such as cafes, theatres, restaurants, hotels, pubs and events management businesses as well public service business such as schools, churches and early years settings. We also provide pest management to agricultural businesses including farms and food suppliers, so we cater for a wide range of businesses across the county of Herefordshire. As well as pest treatments and solutions for rats, mice, bedbugs, wasps, hornets, moles, cockroaches, fleas, carpet moth, flies (including cluster flies and blue bottles), silverfish, pigeons and other birds, woodworm, ants, ladybirds, squirrels, and much more we offer pest related solutions such as: Pest waste cleaning and pest waste removal including loft clearance services Pest proofing and prevention Insect identification services Pest prevention, treatment and proofing advice and guidance End / Start of Tenancy fumigations, landlords ’health check and clean bill of health service Pest treatment certification, for example, certification of woodworm treatment in properties Bespoke pest control solutions, Environmentally friendly & non-toxic solutions Free, no obligation pricing / quotes PGM & Son Pest Control Herefordshire provide reliable, efficient and effective pest control services with transparent and competitive pricing. Look to PGM & Son Pest Control for: Fast call outs – same day service available Transparent, competitive pricing – there’s no hidden costs with us Professional trained to Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) Level 2 standard; fully qualified, member of the National Pest Technicians’ Association (NPTA) and ongoing continuing professional development with industry recognised BASIS Prompt Peace of mind public liability insurance Upper tier waste carrier PGM & Son Pest Control is a local business which genuinely cares about the community and the county. Residents of Herefordshire who deal with PGM & Son recognise this in their support of our business by coming back to us in future and referring us to others. The PGM & Son green pest control approach has its roots in prevention and monitoring with a minimum reliance on chemical treatments. We actively promote our environmentally friendly approach, regularly blog about sustainable pest control measures and put education above eradication. We don’t just offer pest control treatments, we offer preventative advice and solutions and, importantly, we give customers our time – a rare commodity in this day and age! PGM & Son Pest Control supports local charitable causes; some of our previous support has been given to the Hereford branch of SSAFA, C.A.R.E. (Herefordshire) CIC and the Pontrilas Young Farmers. DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT, CHECK OUT OUR REVIEWS: 100% Google reviews left by customers rated us as 5 Star! 100% of customers rates us as Excellent on Trustpilot! For all your pest control needs, give PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford a call on 01981 241334 or 07964 370480 for a free no-obligation chat. If you prefer, you can email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk or you can use the live chat facility on our website at www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk We’re always on the end of the ‘phone for advice so don’t worry about your pest problems, give us a call now.

Pest Advice, Support and Guidance from PGM & SON, Hereford Pest Control A is for ANTS which can cause a problem in kitchens where they seek sweet foodstuffs. FLYING ANTS have a nuptial swarming flight during July and August. B is for BEDBUGS which we see more often these days due to increased travel, use of second-hand furniture and multiple occupancy buildings with high turnover. B is also for BATS which are a protected species in the UK. Always seek expert advice if you have bats roosting in your property. C is for COCKROACHES which carry disease. C is also for CARPET MOTH whose larvae feeds on feathers, fur, hair or wool and can cause significant damage to woollen carpets. D is for the DEATH WATCH BEETLE often found in stately homes where their grubs eat timber structures. E is for EARWIGS often disliked but are harmless and a minor agricultural pest. F is for FLEAS the most common the cat flea. F is also for FLIES which can transmit food poisoning, dysentery, typhoid or cholera. G is for GRAIN BEETLE often found in larder cupboards in bags of flour. H is for HORNETS twice the size of the common wasp! Their super strength sting can cause significant pain – ouch! I is for INSECTS a common name for a group of species. If you’re unsure what insect species you have, PGM & Son Pest Control offers an insect identification service. J is for jumping which FLEAS can do! K is for KNOWLEDGABLE which is what your PEST CONTROLLER should be! Always make sure your pest controller is fully qualified and a member of a recognised trade body. L is for LADYBIRDS which can cause problems in the Autumn when they can enter buildings in mass numbers, producing a foul-smelling liquid when disturbed which can cause staining to fabrics. The HARLEQUIN LADYBIRD is native to the Far East but has been spreading across Europe in recent years and is a predator of insects such as aphids. M is for MICE which can squeeze through a hole the size of a pen lid. They multiply rapidly and can cause damage to electrical wires in the home. M is also for MOLES which can cause major damage to gardens and grounds. M is also for MOSQUITOES which, in the topics, can transmit fatal diseases such as yellow fever and malaria. N is for the NATIONAL PEST TECHNICIAN’S ASSOCIATION, the trade body PGM & Son Pest Control is a member of O is for ORIENTAL COCKROACH, a species of COCKROACH P is for PROOFING and PREVENTION the key elements of keeping pests at bay. P is also for PIGEONS who foul buildings causing damage and their guano can cause health issues by spreading diseases such as Listeria and E-Coli. P is also for PGM & SON PEST CONTROL HEREFORD – THE AWARD WINNING LOCAL PEST CONTROL COMPANY IN HEREFORDSHIRE!! Q is for QUEEN BEE the leader of the hive. R is for RATS the pest most people dislike. They are disease carriers and they can gnaw through pipes. R is also for RABBITS which multiply quickly and cause damage to grounds. S is for SILVERFISH found in damp areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. S is for SQUIRRELS the grey variety has sadly all but decimated the native RED SQUIRREL species in the UK. T is for TICKS which transmit Lyme disease so long trousers and boots are essential when walking through the long Herefordshire grassy areas. U is for URBAN FOX opportunistic feeders that can be found in urban areas V is for VOLES also a protected species and not a pest but often mistaken by people for RODENTS. W is for WOODWORM often found in older style buildings they can wreak havoc to timbers. W is also for WASPS which can and do sting. X is for XYLODROMUS – AFFINIS a species of beetle that is found in Europe. Y is for YELLOW SWARMING FLY a species collectively known as the CLUSTER FLY which gather in huge numbers to invade attics and windows. Z is for ZORAPTERANS a termite which lives in small colonies beneath rotting wood. That’s our A-Z of Pests! If you have a problem with any of these pests and want more information, visit our website at www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk For all your pest control needs, give PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford a call on 01981 241334 or 07964 370480 for a free no-obligation chat. We Are The Specialists in Pest Control If you prefer, you can email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk, or you can use the live chat facility on our website at www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk. We’re always on the end of the ‘phone for advice so don’t worry about your pest problems, give us a call now.

PGM & Son Pest Control offer a number of solutions for those buying and selling property. Always make sure any properties you buy or let are pest-proofed and fully habitable for you, your family or your tenants. Pests and vermin can constitute a health hazard and they can cause damage to a property, so it is in your interest that any pest control problems are dealt with promptly and adequately before you buy or rent a property, whether it be residential or commercial. Did you know we provide: End of tenancy fumigation Pre-sale fumigation Landlord’s and Vendor’s Clean Bill of Health Check Pest waste cleaning and removal in properties, whether empty or occupied Pest proofing works Contaminated loft insulation and re-insulation services Insect identification service With Covid-19 restrictions lifting, the property market in Herefordshire is booming. The Government’s stamp duty holiday, in place until March 2021, appears to be giving the Herefordshire property market the boost it needs with many more properties coming onto the market and sales increasing. Over the period of lockdown, pest controllers saw an increase in pest activity for a number of reasons. Pests generally prefer to keep away from humans but with restaurants, pubs, cafes, schools, hotels and other public attractions being closed for long period or being used significantly less frequently, pests have found it easy to set up home and to get around unnoticed. Animals, like humans, are quick to adapt and pests have thrived during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many businesses and property owners have experienced pest problems, for example, birds nesting in empty properties and causing damage and significant amounts of mess. As people start to move property, they move furniture and carry out more thorough cleaning such as behind kitchen appliances and often, this is the time they will discover they have a pest problem. Bed bugs become active as human hosts take up residence, meaning that when you move into an empty property you may be disturbing dormant bed bugs. If you are moving into a rental property, you may find your tenancy agreement contains terms making the tenant responsible for dealing with pests / vermin before you move, and this may also mean ensuring that the property is free from any defects that may allow access for pests. If you are a Landlord and let a furnished property and the problem with pests was there when your tenant moved in, then it’s likely that you and not the tenant is responsible regardless of what the tenancy agreement says. Moving home can be an exciting time, many people have plans to carry out works to improve or change the property. Carrying out building, electrical and plumbing works can disturb pests. For example, rodents in the loft; birds nesting in the roof; wasps in the eaves; pigeon guano on the exterior surfaces. Rest assured, your trades people will most likely refuse to carry out the works until you have dealt with a pest problem. To avoid pest problems when you rent or sell your property or to deal with any pest problems you may have when you move, rent or buy a new property in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, call PGM & Son Pest Control. So whatever your pest problem, give PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford a call. We deal with: Rats Mice Bed bugs Cockroaches Pigeons and other birds Flies Woodworm Moles Squirrels And many more! Call us now on 01981 241 3345 or 07964 370480 or email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk

Having a problem with pests? We’ve got it covered! Call in PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford for all your pest needs. If you’re having a problem with rats, mice, wasps, hornets, bed bugs, fleas, bird mite, cockroaches, ants, flies, carpet moth, moles, squirrels, woodworm or any other pest we can give you advice and solutions. A bit about us PGM & SON Pest Control is a local, award winning family run business. We handle all sorts of pest problems efficiently, effectively and in a cost-effective way. 10 Reasons why you should choose PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford We’re fully qualified and hold the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) Level 2 Award in Pest Management. We fully trained in the application of pesticides and competent to purchase and use professional products and equipment. We are members of BASIS Prompt – an independent industry and Government recognised register for professional pest controllers. This evidences that we keep our knowledge, training and skills up to date. We’re local, we understand the local community and we give back to the community through fundraising and charitable giving. As a local firm we can offer faster response times and we have a better understanding of the issues facing our area and community. As a local firm we also have a great local network so can help with connected issues such as when pests damage your plumbing, electrics or cause damage to your buildings. PGM & Son Pest Control is an accredited member of the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA), the pest industry’s recognised trade body. Check us out here: http://www.npta.org.uk/member-search/ PGM & Son Pest Control carries comprehensive public and products liability insurance. We also hold an Upper Tier Waste Carrier Licence. PGM & Son Pest Control offers a wide range of pest control services, We handle most pest problems, offer both residential and commercial services and additional services such as pest waste cleaning, pest waste removal and insect identification At PGM & Son Pest Control, the environment is important to us, we’re always happy to share our views on preventative pest control measures. Managing the risk to non-target species is top priority. We educate through working with individuals and businesses and through our regular weekly blogs. We’re happy to discuss environmentally friendly solutions with you and explain how we try to reduce our own carbon footprint. At PGM & Son Pest Control we know people want quality services at reasonable cost. We will always give you a quote for services in advance and explain clearly to you what the service will entail and what the cost will be. There’s no hidden charges with us! We’re award winning! PGM & Son Pest Control was crowned Sole Trader of the Year 2019 at the British Pest Management Awards (BPMA) and Family Business of the Year 2019 finalist in the Herefordshire Business Awards. What better accolade than being recognised by your industry peers and local businesses in this way! Almost half of all our business is through word of mouth referrals or returning customers (with different pest problems of course!). This is testament to how highly our customers value our services. Check out our reviews on our website at https://www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk/reviews or look up our reviews on Google by typing in PGM Pest Control and clicking on Google reviews. Read our feedback on Trustpilot at https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk If you have a pest problem today call in Herefordshire’s Pest Control Company PGM & Son Pest Control Give PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford a call today to book your appointment Call us on 01981 241334 or 07964 370480 Email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk YOUR SATISFACTION IS OUR PRIORITY!

If you want to open up your business pest free in Hereford as the lockdown restrictions ease check out our handy guide below. Whether you closed your business voluntarily prior to the lockdown or whether the Government’s rules forced you to close, the checklist below will help you to open up your business safely. ARE YOUR PEST READY? See our handy checklist below for tips on how to open your business pest-free. Visit your business to check for pest activity:- Inspect the interior and exterior of the premises for signs of pests or pest activity which may include the smell of urine; droppings; damage to the property or packaging and products; gnaw marks; eggs; shed skin; track marks; insect excrement and webbing. If you see a pest you know you have a problem! If you left food items behind when you closed your business you may have attracted pests even if food stuffs were in sealed containers. Rodents can gnaw through packaging quite easily with their strong teeth so don’t assume your stored food is safe Check for access points – mice can get through gaps as small as the end of a bic biro so keep your eyes peeled! Look to see whether your neighbouring properties may have any visible evidence of pest activity Make sure all routine maintenance jobs are carried out:- Check for damage to property – rodents can gnaw through wood, cables and soft metals. Check your water pipes and electricals. Check your cold water tank for contamination from squirrel droppings and urine. Carry out thorough cleaning and hygiene throughout site / premises:- Thoroughly clean your premises to the required standards Remove all waste and ensure it is collected or taken to a refuse site Ensure all food sources are safely secured Replace any damaged containers Dispose of any contaminated foodstuffs or foodstuffs in damaged containers Position containers off the ground Check the condition of your pest management equipment:- Bait boxes are in good condition and secured to the property where appropriate Traps are in good working order Check fly screens are secure and carry out repairs if damaged Check electric fly killer machines are in working order and change bulbs if needed Arrange for your electric fly machines to be serviced Remember – carcasses must be disposed of safely If you identify pest activity or a pest infestation, make sure you deal with it quickly and safely A PROFESSIONAL PEST CONTROLLER CAN SPOT THE SIGNS FOR YOU Do you have a pest controller? If your business kept its pest management programme going during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown period, then your business should already be well prepared to re-open this month. Food businesses – know the law! As a food business, the law says that you must keep your premises pest free. There are some key pieces of legislation that you need to be aware of: Food Safety Act 1990 Food Hygiene Regulations 2006 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Opening your business to the public with a pest problem could land you in hot water! Environmental Health Officers can issue you with an enforcement notice, your business can be shut down temporarily, or for good. If you do not comply with enforcement orders you may be fined or even end up with a prison sentence. CALL PGM & SON PEST CONTROL HEREFORD TO CHECK YOUR BUSINESS IS PEST READY At PGM & Son Pest Control we carry out health checks all the time so we’ll come into your business and check your premises for any signs of pests and, if we find any activity, we’ll deal with it for you so that you can re-open in the knowledge that your business, employees and customers are safely protected from pests. IF YOU HAVE A PEST PROBLEM CALL PGM & SON PEST CONTROL – WE’VE GOT IT COVERED! Unlike humans, the spread of pests cannot be controlled through social distancing measures and so pest controllers must balance public health against safeguarding of their employees, families and customers. At PGM & Son Pest Control we are employing additional measures to ensure the safety of our team and customers during the pandemic. Please check out our Covid-19 page on our website for more information: https://www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk/coronavirus-covid19 Call PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford for all your pest needs on 01981 241334 / 07964 370480. Or, email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk Check out our website at www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk for more information about our services. And, if you want to know what our customers think about us, check out our reviews on https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk - HEREFORD AWARD WINNING PEST CONTROL SOLUTIONS -

As the UK slowly starts to emerge from lockdown, this week we look at the potential pest problems faced by businesses as they start to think about re-opening to the public. Pests generally prefer to keep away from humans but with restaurants, pubs, cafes, schools, hotels and other public attractions closed or being used significantly less frequently, pests are finding easy places to set up home. When owners, employees and the public are on site infestations can be spotted more easily and dealt with quickly. With many small businesses shut for weeks on end pest infestations can easily take hold and go unnoticed. With access to water and food sources, populations can quickly and significantly increase. Where businesses had pest management in place previously, their pest control may have been put on hold or their pest controller may not have been able to gain access to the premises to carry out routine visits. Animals, like humans, are quick to adapt and pests are thriving during the Covid-19 pandemic. What pest issues are emerging as businesses look forward to re-opening? Rodents - the industry has seen a rise in rat and mice activity both on domestic and residential premises in recent weeks. Birds – many businesses and property owners have experienced birds nesting in empty properties and causing damage and significant amounts of mess. Pigeon guano, in particular, is causing a problem. Crawling insects – we’ve seen a rise in crawling particularly in food businesses, for example ants and cockroaches. Bed bugs and carpet moth – as people are being more vigilant moving furniture and cleaning more often, they are finding these pests. Bed bugs become active as human hosts take up residence – this is an issue as rental properties, hotels and B&Bs start to open up again. As lockdown measures ease and businesses start to re-open, they should consider calling in pest control in advance to carry out an inspection of their site and to give them a clean bill of pest health. Consider the situation where you’re ready to open your business again only to find you have a significant pest infestation that keeps the business closed for another few weeks! At PGM & Son Pest Control we carry out health checks all the time so we’ll come into your business and check your premises for any signs of pests and, if we find any activity, we’ll deal with it for you so that you can re-open in the knowledge that your business, employees and customers are safely protected from pests. Unlike humans, the spread of pests cannot be controlled through social distancing measures and so pest controllers must balance public health against safeguarding of their employees, families and customers. At PGM & Son Pest Control we are employing additional measures to ensure the safety of our team and customers during the pandemic. Please check out our Covid-19 page on our website for more information: https://www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk/coronavirus-covid19 Call PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford for all your pest needs on 01981 241334 / 07964 370480. Or, email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk Check out our website at www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk for more information about our services. And, if you want to know what our customers think about us, Check out our reviews on https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk

Call PGM & Son, Hereford Pest Control – We’ve got it covered! Lockdown is proving difficult for everyone but one thing we can be happy about is the, mostly, good weather we’ve had over the last couple of months. Spring is mostly definitely in the air and it’s been lovely to see the gardens full of blooming flowers, green grass and lambs in the fields (on the daily exercise of course!). As always, when the good weather comes in along comes the flies. And, with famers starting to spread muck on the fields the fly population is on the increase. Why are flies a problem? Whilst most of us can put up with a fly or two having hoards of flies in your home or business can start to cause problems. Apart from being a real nuisance, the main problem is cross-contamination that can lead to some serious illnesses. Flies feed by vomiting onto the food surface and sucking up the resultant liquid. Meaning that the fly contaminates the food with bacteria from its gut and feet and this is how flies transmit food poisoning, typhoid or cholera. Also, eggs of parasitic worms may be carried by flies. Good housekeeping and regular hygiene is essential, particularly in homes and businesses serving food. We’re all having to employ additional hygiene measures with Covid-19 in the community so the good news is those measures may help to keep your fly problem down. As a reminder of some easy steps to keep the flies out: Try to dispose of the recycling and rubbish quickly Make sure rubbish bins are clean with tight fitting lids Fit windows and doors with fly screens Keep food covered and preferably in cupboards and fridges Sticky fly papers can be used, which may help. Change them regularly Businesses which serve food on the premises can install ultra-violet electric fly killing machines – ask our advice for the best placement of such machines Wipe down surfaces and keep dish cloths clean with disinfectant Pick up pet waste as soon as possible and dispose of safely Make sure pet food is not left down after meal times Cluster flies can cause a particular problem as the weather warms up. They’ve spent the Autumn and Winter hibernating and emerge in Spring seeking out egg laying sites outside. You may notice the characteristic smell of a mass of cluster flies. They are sluggish in flight and a nuisance in the house. There is one species of cluster fly which is far more prevalent in rural areas such as Herefordshire due to the fact they are parasitic on earthworms. If you had a cluster fly problem treated previously, unfortunately you are more likely to suffer from the problem again because cluster flies are known to return to the same location year after year. We’re a local run family pest control business serving Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Call us today for all your pest control needs. If you’re having a problem with house flies, cluster flies, blue bottles or any other pests call PGM & Son Hereford for advice and solutions. Call PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford on 01981 241334 or 07964 370480. Email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk or visit our website at www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk To find out more about how we keep you and our team safe when delivering our pest control services, please visit: https://www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk/coronavirus-covid19

We’re hearing about, and seeing, an increase in rodent infestations so this week we’re looking at the possible reasons for this. The continued restrictions imposed on the general public by the Government due to the Covid-19 pandemic are having a knock-on effect on many other areas of life and pest control is no different. We’ve looked at the reasons for the rise in rodent activity. With more people staying home to protect the NHS and save lives: Householders are carrying out long over-due spring cleaning and DIY jobs but unfortunately as there are restrictions on movement the unwanted items, rubbish and debris cannot easily be disposed of at the local tip, charity shops or car boot sales. Often people are piling the waste up in the back garden which provides perfect harbourage for rodents. More people at home all day creates more waste and particularly more food waste. We’ve all seen the tweets by frustrated parents of teenagers who seem to emerge only from their rooms to raid the fridge! Food waste can build up quickly and sit around for two weeks plus waiting for the local authority bin collections. This provides an ideal food source for rodents. The weather has been great hasn’t it and we’re all grateful for the lovely sunshine but it has come off the back of weeks of appalling weather. Across Herefordshire flood waters were just starting to reduce when the good weather came in and the rodents were already being flushed out of the flood waters. Now householders are spending more time outside in the garden there’s a risk of allowing easy access for rodents into properties. As the bins start to fill quickly, it doesn’t leave much space for garden waste and tips are closed so people are starting to compost more. And, compost provides an ideal environment for rodents. Densely populated areas can quickly spread a rodent infestation. If one household in a street has a rodent infestation it can very quickly become a major problem for the rest of the householders in the street. We reported recently that pest industry bodies are lobbying the Government to designate pest controllers are key workers. Until this happens, pest controllers are being very cautious about carrying out pest control and particularly pest management visits. Some pest control firms have temporarily shut up shop and this presents a significant problem in controlling rodent activity at key sites. Essential food suppliers and services run the risk of a rodent infestation that could present a public health issue without ongoing preventative pest control measures. PGM & SON Pest Control Hereford is aware of the importance of protecting public health. It is our job to protect homes and businesses from public health pests. Covid-19 presents a very real threat to public health and the most vulnerable in our community. Everyone has a responsibility to help protect the nation from the spread of the virus by following Government guidance; in particular, avoiding all unnecessary contact and practising social distancing. Pest control is a critical service supporting public health, however, the risks of spreading the virus need to be weighed against the risk of inadequate control and management of pest species. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns either by emailing us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk or telephoning us on 01981 241334 / 07964 370480 so that we can help you to find a solution to your rodent problems. Please note we will not carry out any non-essential visits during this period, however, we will treat pest problems that present a risk to public health and we are always on the end of the ‘phone to discuss a pest problem, so please give us a call or email us! PGM Pest Control - Looking After Your World🌍 #MakePestControlGreenAgain #HerefordKeepSafe #HerefordshireCommunityFirst #Herefordshire #Worcestershire

Looking after your world - Hereford Pest Control #StopTheSpread 🌈 The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) and the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) are lobbying the Government to have professional pest controllers formally recognised as key workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. As it stands, pest controllers are permitted to continue working under the current Government guidelines. However, should the restrictions become more stringent it is absolutely imperative that pest controllers are designated key workers as the pest management sector in the UK has a critical role to play in: Protecting our nation’s food from farm to fork Protecting other essential workers in hospitals and supermarkets Protecting the vulnerable and sick from further exposure to diseases Protecting the distressed from the mental anguish of an infestation For these reasons, the BPCA and NPTA have written to the Government asking: For the Government to recognise that pest management work is critical The Government to acknowledge pest control and pest management cannot stop during the pandemic At PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford we have also written to our MP Jesse Norman to express our concerns, particularly as we have seen a RISE in calls about pest issues during this period. Mr Norman has kindly agreed to take up this issue with the Prime Minister. Why do we think pest issues are rising during this pandemic? We consider this is for two key reasons: Lots of businesses are shutting down and empty properties welcome pest guests; As people are staying at home more they are noticing pest issues much more quickly and worrying about them more. As people are at home more they are generating more waste and this, in turn, can encourage pests. Shouldn’t pest controllers also be staying at home? Yes, of course, pest controllers should observe the social distancing rules and also stay at home as much as possible as well as everyone else. And, at PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford we are also doing this. We will not carry out any non-essential visits during this period. What is PGM & Son Pest Control specifically doing to comply with the measures? As pest controllers, we are well versed in risk control. Some of the Government's measures are quite normal in our business. For example: We use personal protective equipment (PPE) normally. However, during this period we are increasing our use of PPE. You can expect us to arrive at a visit in PPE. We carry out risk assessments as part of our normal business activities. During this period, we are adopting additional measures and spending longer discussing issues with customers prior to any visit. Distancing measures are employed normally, for example, customers will normally be expected to vacate a property if we are using a certain type of chemical. Often we will be Able to carry out visits to our commercial customers without even seeing a member of staff as rodent stations are sited externally and away from the general public. We always travel to and from visits alone and in our own vehicle/s. We use industrial sanitizers and wipes and we change / replace PPE regularly. Additional measures are: Asking customers to move to separate rooms or to the garden or to take their daily exercise whilst treatments / monitoring is carried out. Asking customers to email us photographs of pest issues so that we can see whether a face to face visit is critical. Ceasing all non-essential visits. So, if you have a rat or mice issue at this time and are worried about the impact of Covid-19 please give us a call so that we can discuss how best to resolve your problem whilst keeping you, your family and our team safe. A reminder to customers what to look for if you think you have a pest problem: RATS What do they sound like? Scratching Crawling What do their droppings / mess look like? Spindle shaped & blunt for the Brown rat; 1½-2cm long Pointed for the black rat and Around 1.½ cm long MICE What do they sound like? Scratching Gnawing What do their droppings / mess look like? Thin, spindle shaped Around ½cm long BIRDS What do they sound like? Flapping Vocal – squawks & chirps What do their droppings / mess look like? Depends on the species of bird but common ones are dark brown or green sometimes with white Size of droppings depend on type of bird SQUIRRELS What do they sound like? Scratching Vocals Squirrels are very noisy! What do their droppings / mess look like? Similar to brown rat droppings but rounder 1½-2cm BATS What do they sound like? Sharp vocal at night What do their droppings / mess look like? Dark brown or black 4-8mm long, crumbling into a fine powder when crushed A note on bats: The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides protection for all species of bat found in the United Kingdom. It is illegal to kill, or even disturb, bats in their roosts. FLIES What do they sound like? Buzzing What do their droppings / mess look like? Depends on type but often there are visible sightings of insects or masses of insect bodies in windows / floors / door frames So, 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 solution to your problem. Whether that’s rat removal; mouse control; squirrel removal; bird control; fly control or advice on bats give us a call on 01981 241 334 or 07964 370480. Or, drop us an email at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk We’re a local Hereford based family run pest control firm. We’re friendly, trustworthy and reliable. We offer fair and transparent prices, fast call outs and advice and guidance. Call us today – you won’t be disappointed. #makepestcontrolgreenagain #keepitlocal #herefordpestcontrol #stopthespread