Pest Species Controlled

Brown rats are for good reason the number one enemy of most farmers.  Their urine and faeces have the potential to spread decease to humans and livestock. Rats have to continually gnaw to keep their teeth from over growing, they can gnaw through timber building frames, doors, plastics, water pipes, gas pipes and have a liking for the insulation on electrical wiring, especially the wiring harnesses on farm vehicles. Although occurring in farms all year round it is the end of harvesting season and first frosts that can significantly increase their numbers within farm out buildings.  Once moved in they soon take advantage of the warmth, shelter and winter feed that can usually be found in a farming environment. Breeding can be continuous under such conditions which if left unchecked can cause a very dramatic population rise. Rats can have 6 to 8 pups every 6 weeks, they can become pregnant within 10 to 24 hours after giving birth and those pups can breed themselves at 5 weeks old.  So just one pair of rats could produce over 2,000 descendants in just one year! (Rattled by rats pest advice sheet BPCA January 2020) 

Squirrels will feed on almost anything including crops, insects, nuts, grains, birds eggs and their young, in fact any types of food they can get, being very similar to rats in that respect.  They are extremely destructive with chisel like teeth that easily chew through electrical cables, water pipes, roof flashings and various farming equipment. They can also foul water tanks and contaminate livestock feeds. They damage trees and often find their way into farmhouse lofts where they can be a real nuisance causing disturbance during the night and sometimes damaging electrics and ceilings.

Although rabbits are a common sight in our countryside,  all landowners are obliged by law (Section One of the pests Act 1954) to control rabbits on their land (except for the City of London and a couple of small coastal islands). Landowners are responsible for destroying wild rabbits on his/her land or for taking steps to prevent them causing damage. This is a continuing obligation. 

Rabbit damage is a major economic problem for British agriculture. Their grazing can cut new shoots down to ground level seriously damaging crops, vegetation, trees and grassland.       Their habitual digging of burrows can cause the ground to be weakened which in turn can collapse when large agricultural machinery is being used above warrens possibly causing damage to machinery or injury to operators.

Mink are an occasional demand usually involving poultry or pheasant rearing facilities, where they can kill large numbers of birds in a very short time. However they are a major pest where other wildlife is concerned. Usually occurring around or close to rivers their predation of birds, mammals and aquatic wildlife can have a devastating effect.  Water voles being particularly at risk.