A house by the river and fields has more wildlife on its doorstep than most. A short seasonal checklist keeps the visitors outside where they belong.
Stoke Bardolph is a small village by the River Trent in Gedling borough, surrounded by farmland and riverside land. That setting is lovely, but it means rats and mice live close by in hedgerows, ditches and field edges, and flies, wasps and midges are plentiful in warm months. The aim of prevention is to make your property the least interesting one on the lane.
Keep bins sealed and wash them out, as flies and wasps are drawn to waste. Fruit that falls from garden trees should be cleared quickly. If you keep chickens or horses, store feed in metal bins with lids, as grain is a magnet for rats. In early autumn, walk around the house and seal gaps around pipes, doors and air bricks before rodents look for winter quarters.
Rural properties often have log stores, stacked pallets and old farm buildings nearby. These are comfortable homes for rodents, so keep them away from the walls and tidy them regularly.
Pay attention to water too. Leaking taps, standing water in buckets and blocked gutters provide drinking water for rodents and breeding places for flies, and the riverside setting means there is already plenty of dampness around.
Finally, write the checklist on a card and keep it in the kitchen drawer. A seasonal reminder is more effective than a good intention.
Tackle one item each weekend rather than everything at once. A short, regular routine, such as checking the shed on Saturday and the loft in October, is more likely to happen than a big annual blitz, and it spots changes while they are still small.
Check the loft for droppings, scratching or chewed insulation, and look at the garage and shed for nesting material. Flooding or high water on the riverside can push rodents towards houses, so after any floods inspect the property. Store wool garments in sealed containers to deter fabric pests, which are active in warm, dry indoor spaces over winter.
If you ever see signs, such as droppings, noises at night or a trail of insects, do not wait for the problem to settle in. Quick action keeps the job small. Leaving traps or poison in the open puts pets and wildlife at risk, so take advice first.
We offer a free pest prevention survey and free advice with all treatments. We can visit at a time that suits you. Call 0115 937 5117.
Often they are, because rats and mice live in nearby fields, hedges and ditches. Outbuildings, feed stores and log piles add shelter and food, so careful storage and sealing are worth the effort.
Do a quick check each season, with a thorough one in early autumn before rodents move indoors. If you notice droppings, damage or unusual noises, check straight away.
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. Prices are fixed and there is no call-out charge.
