As life begins to return to normal and we can finally meet friends and family for a drink or meal, Cleankill Pest Control is warning business owners to be on their guard against unwanted pests.
Managing Director Paul Bates has issued a reminder to pubs, restaurants and businesses with outside seating areas to be extra vigilant against pests.
“We’ve all seen the wonderful pictures of people enjoying themselves on the TV and in newspapers. It should be remembered, however, this surge in outdoor eating is also music to the ears of wildlife and public health pests.
“Dining outside provides rodents with the perfect opportunity to sneak around under our tables and find scraps of food. It’s vital that eating areas are kept clean and dropped food is quickly picked up off the floor. This will avoid your diners having an uninvited guest join their party, and there is nothing worse for a business than a guest screaming as a rat runs over their foot.”
Paul also notes that, while premises are currently off limits to guests, that won’t necessarily stop the pests:
“To make it easier for staff members to enter and exit the building with food and drinks, exterior doors are often being left open. This is the perfect opportunity for a pest to sneak into the premises and establish themselves.”
Paul’s warning doesn’t just cover rodents. “It’s important to remember not all pests come from the ground. Pigeons and seagulls are more than happy to grab leftover food that is left unattended on tables, and they are likely to leave a germ-laden calling card in return.”
The mobility of birds means they can’t simply be dealt with by cleaning surfaces and laying bait boxes.
“With pest birds, it’s a case of reducing the number of places that are available to nest and roost, especially at this time of year. Making sure your building is ‘proofed’ against birds is essential. This could mean netting, spikes, or a special gel that appears as flames to the bird. Cleankill also has its own team of falconers who will fly their Harris hawks around the problem areas which naturally displaces the pest birds. This approach is particularly effective because the mobility of the pest bird is matched, and exceeded, by the hawk and regular visits discourages pigeons and gulls from nesting and roosting. The main thing, however, is to check your netting and defences before nesting begins.”
Some businesses suspended their pest control contracts during the lockdowns and this has led to flurry of calls to Cleankill from panicked restaurant, hotel and social/leisure club owners as they discover pests have moved in while the staff and customers were away.
Paul adds: “The problem is that it takes much more time and effort to remove pests once they have a foothold in a property. That’s without considering the damage they will have done to the building and its electrics when they had free-range of the property. It’s far better and more cost-effective to have a preventive contract in place so any issues are spotted by an expert technician at an early stage.”
Cleankill experts advise that any buildings that have been left unoccupied are thoroughly checked before being opened-up again. This should include:
- Checking outside – look for new gaps and changes to the structure in case damage has occurred while the site was empty
- Checking inside – get your electrics checked by a professional electrician to ensure they are safe
- Checking for fresh evidence of rodent droppings
- Checking loft spaces for nesting birds and squirrels
- Checking inside storage cupboards for droppings and cockroaches
- Checking carpets, curtains and beds for moths and other signs of insect activity
- Cutting back any vegetation near to the property to reduce harbourage places for pests
About Cleankill
Following steady expansion, Cleankill now offers this high-class service to facilities managers across the whole of the South of England, from London and Kent to Bristol and Somerset. They were recognised at the last British Pest Management Awards as ‘Company of the Year’, and they have received multiple other business awards for customer service, staff development, and their commitment to the community and the environment.
Cleankill Pest Control deals with ‘distress’ pests such as wasps, fleas and bedbugs as well as preventative maintenance against public health pests such as mice, rats, cockroaches and pest birds such as pigeons and seagulls. The company prides itself on a fast and efficient service and aims to be recognised as a market leader for innovation, ‘green’ and new pest control techniques.
Cleankill is the only pest control company in England to achieve a Gold Investors in People accreditation.
ENDS
For more information, contact Suzi Christie 07590 591140 or e-mail suzi@blueberry-pr.co.uk