INTRODUCING HARVEYS PEST CONTROL
Always at Your Service
Reliable Pest Control Service Based In Kent And Sussex.
With 10 years experience in deer management, humane trapping and pest control we are able to provide a high level of quality service. With a focus on personalized service, competitive rates and customer satisfaction, we’re always striving to meet and exceed expectations. We have a wide range of services from home visits, to commercial and agricultural customers.
Our mission at Harvey's Pest Control is simple: to provide high-quality services in a timely manner. Our team caters to each project’s specific needs to ensure excellence. We hope you’ll find what you’re looking for. For more information or general inquiries, feel free to get in touch today.We ensure our prices are always kept low for our pest control services so why not find out how much it will cost to have your pests removed by calling us now.
What We Do
You can count on Harveys Pest Control to not only meet, but exceed all your needs and requests. Learn more about the services we provide below, and let us know if you’d like more information about a specific offering.
We Provide....
DEER
MANAGING DEER
Each of our six species of wild deer has expanded in numbers and distribution over the past 30 years, some massively and some modestly, but all with an impact on their environment or upon human endeavour.
As a prey species, deer breed more rapidly than is necessary simply to sustain their population. One hundred roe deer, for example, uncontrolled but allowing for known birth and mortality rates, can grow to as many as one thousand in just ten years.
Such a population can only be sustained by pioneering new territory, territory which is no longer available to them as distribution now covers every suitable county of the UK.
THE ROLE OF CULLINGPhoto by: PJ
Deer are an important species that contribute positively to our biodiversity. They are also much loved and valued for the pleasure they bring, even though the times of their activity means that many people are unaware of their close proximity and high numbers.
In the absence of natural predation it falls to people to manage the ever-growing deer populations, but to manage them with care, with respect and with deference to scientific knowledge and research.
While deer management usually means culling to a plan which replicates a similar impact to that of natural predation. Deer management is more than just culling and can take into account a number of factors and methods to ensure deer populations remain healthy and in balance with their environment.
HUMANE MANAGEMENT
Culling deer carries great responsibility and one of the British Deer Society’s founding principles is the promotion of humane control using the appropriate tools and within best practice guidelines.
We pioneered deer stalker training to ensure that all those involved in deer management had the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out the task with aptitude, respect and sensitivity.
Deer management should be seen as necessary, beneficial, environmentally responsible and a positive contribution to overall deer welfare.
Those who manage deer also love deer.
SQUIRRELS
The grey squirrel is recognized as being in the top worst 100 invasive pest species in the world by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Grey squirrels can cause damage when they enter roof spaces of houses and buildings. For example, they can:
Gnaw on woodwork and ceilings
Strip insulation from electrical wires
Tear up fibreglass insulation
Contaminate cold water tanks and attic space with urine and droppings.
People also report sleep issues due to the loud noises they make at night while they’re scuttling around your attic.
Squirrels are most active before sunrise, especially in winter. Their peak activity is activity is four-five hours before daybreak.
Preventing squirrels getting into your property or damaging your trees
Prevention is always better than cure.
Habitat management like as cutting back trees or branches that are overhanging a building, or trimming dense ivy can help prevent squirrels gaining access to a roof in the first place.
Next consider proofing entry points to your roof. For example, block the gaps and entrances holes with tightly wedged mesh or metal plates, wherever possible. A pest control professionalshould be able to help you with this.
Squirrels are fairly strong for their size and also persistent. If the proofing is not secure then the squirrels may be able to pull it out!
For tree protection, close fitting metal sleeves can protect them from the strong rodent incisors. This should be at least 0.75m deep, and the bottom edge should be at least 1.5m from the ground.
The metal should be a smooth surface to assist in preventing the squirrel from gaining a toehold.
DIY grey squirrel control
Although you can potentially do a lot of the proofing work to stop squirrels entering your property, DIY squirrel control is unlikely to be affective – and could potentially be very dangerous and illegal, as you must know the legislation around the control of squirrels.
Traps are available online, however not every rodent trap is authorised to control squirrels. Any squirrel you caught alive would have to be killed, as per the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Spring trap approval order).
Traps should never be used without adequate training.
Any squirrel that you kill would have to be done humanely and this can be very distressing. Some amateur attempts at squirrel control have resulted in people drowning the rodent which is against the law and can result in prosecution.
There are no amateur use products for poisoning squirrels available to the public. Pest professionals used to have access to legally authorised grey squirrel poisons (Warfarin only) that are only for use inside buildings. However, this product is due to be discontinued in February 2023.
Things you can do:
Trim tree branches that overhang your roof
Rove anything stacked up against the side of your building
Seal all entry points (proofing).
Professional grey squirrel control
It’s important with squirrels (as with all pest species) that a pest professional assesses whether lethal control is necessary.
In the first instance, proofing such as the guidance in the previous section should be put into place. If this is unsuccessful calling a professional should be your next action.
To control squirrels, professionals might use:
Spring traps
Live capture traps
Drey poking
Other shooting methods.
It’s important to know the law surrounding control of any pest species, which is where a pest management professional comes in.
MOLES
Moles can cause significant damage to your garden or land because they tunnel through soil. Not only does this look incredibly unsightly and cause damage to lawns, flower beds and vegetable gardens, if the infestation is severe enough, the ground can become unstable – damaging the foundations of your land and creating safety risks.
Other problems caused by moles include:
• Contamination of silage with soil particles. This is a particularly big problem for farmers because it makes the soil unpalatable for livestock
• The covering of pasture with fresh soil can reduce its size and yield
• Damage can be caused to agricultural machinery because by turning up the soil, this can lead to the exposure of stones
• Damage to young plants thanks to the disturbance of the soil
• Weed invasion of pasture through exposure of fresh tilled soil
• Damage to drainage systems and watercourses As you can see, moles can cause many problems so how can you prevent an infestation from occurring in the first place?
Trapping is the best and most effective way of solving your mole problem.
FERAL & WOOD PIGEON
Birds such as Pigeons carry a variety of diseases such as Ornithosis, Listeria and E-coli that can be transmitted to man not only from the droppings but also the birds themselves. When dry, pigeon droppings can become airborne in small particles, which can lead to respiratory complaints such as psittacosis.
Pigeon droppings are acidic and can corrode/erode metals, stonework and brickwork. Nesting materials birds use can block chimneys, flues and guttering, causing possible issues with carbon monoxide and damage to buildings as water overflows from blocked gutters.
Buildings covered in fouling looks unpleasant can smell, and projects a poor image of business, potentially ruining an organisation's reputation. If customers spot evidence of a heavy Pigeon infestation on premises, they may not want to do business with you.
To control and deter feral pigeons on buildings, there are several pest control methods that can be used.
Physical barriers
: Installing physical barriers, such as bird spikes or netting, can prevent pigeons from landing on ledges and other surfaces.
Repellents
: There are a number of chemical and visual repellents that can be used to deter pigeons, such as bird repellent gel or bird distress calls.
Habitat modification
: Reducing the availability of food, water, and shelter for pigeons can help to reduce their populations and deter them from roosting on buildings.
Trapping and removal
: In some cases, trapping and removal of pigeons may be necessary, especially in situations where there are large numbers of birds causing significant damage or health concerns.
FOX
HABITAT
The red fox is found in rural, urban and suburban areas throughout mainland Britain, making the fox a familiar sighting, for many.
The red fox is mostly nocturnal although they may still be seen in the daytime if not laid up in suitable covers such as overgrown bushes, cemeteries, railway lines or other similar undisturbed areas.
Foxes may go to ground in earths or dens.
Earths may be specifically dug, taken over and enlarged rabbit holes, or may even be part of a badger sett. A makeshift den can be created by a fox underneath a shed or even a buildings floor cavity. This latter activity is what usually spurs the public to get in touch with a pest management company to advise on control.
Many pest companies do not have the in-house resources or knowledge to carry out fox control in a legal, effective and socially acceptable way. In my opinion - the social issues are the trickiest to overcome.
The control of majestic Mr Fox can certainly upset the neighbours, with many people in the UK having a particular affection for the red fox.
WHY CONTROL FOXES?
With greater availability of food in urban areas, the ever-cunning fox has moved closer and closer to human habitation, bringing with it a host of health concerns.
Foxes might kill small domestic pets, however, this is rare. Often foxes are chased off by a pet.
Livestock such as chickens can be targeted by foxes. They regularly kill the entire population, which is perceived as far more than they actually need to. In reality, the fox intends to return for the extra corpses later. We usually discover the massacre before this happens and therefore wrongfully assume it was a random act of brutality!
Nevertheless, the destruction of livestock can be incredibly distressing for the owner.
Livestock aside, foxes raid bins, spreading mess and disease. The mess they make encourage other pests to take up residences such as rats and some fly species.
Even their mating calls (screams) can be very distressing to the average person. It can often be likened to the sound of a screaming woman in utter distress and this can then instigate calls to the police from concerned residents.
Like any other mammal, foxes often carry a range of parasites and diseases that can be passed on to humans and domestic pets. Cats and dogs are far more likely than humans to pick up something nasty from a fox, but the risk of exposure to rabies, leptospirosis, salmonella, campylobacter, e.coli or bovine tuberculosis (TB) from direct contact with a fox cannot be discounted.
Roundworm (Toxocara canis) may be another consideration. The organism can cause blindness in children, although there are no known cases of children contracting this from foxes in the UK.
Foxes will eat virtually anything, from rodents to amphibians to leftovers scavenged from humans. It’s this latter food source that brings them closer to us, seeking the much-desired take away discarded on the floor from the night before or, ransacking the waste bins scattered over most cities and towns. This easy food source is an example of how pest species take advantage of our haphazard food containment!
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
Fencing may also be an option in smaller areas such as domestic garden, but foxes are cunning and the design should take their climbing skill into consideration! The barrier should be at least 2m high with an overhang of about 30cm, as well as the foundation being buried to 30cm for those digging issues!
Ensuring food sources are not available and bins are protected can help reduce the presence of foxes. Speak to your suppliers about fox repellents.
Once you’ve exhausted the prevention/exclusion route, we may then need to consider lethal control.
Legal options for the lethal control of foxes.SHOOTING
This is not usually applicable in urban areas for obvious reasons. When it is considered, it should only be done by an experienced and appropriately skilled individual with proper licences for the firearm.
SNARING
Snaring is a very emotive subject and you must always ensure you are working within legal parameters.
LIVE TRAPPING
Live cage trapping is a skill to behold as foxes have certainly earned the label ‘sly’. Captured foxes should be humanely dispatched. It may be unlawful under animal welfare legislation to release a fox into unfamiliar surroundings.
RABBITS
Even though you might find the sight of rabbits nibbling away on your premises, they are also one of the top pest species in the country. It is all too easy to underestimate their capabilities to reproduce at an alarming rate as well as, chew, eat and dig through most landscapes is second to none.
By allowing a rabbit population to remain on your land you will eventually fall victim to the destruction caused by rabbits in a variety of ways. The problems will get worse if the rabbit population ignored.
One of the main reasons why rabbits are considered to be agricultural pests is because they’re herbivores. This means that they’re in direct competition with livestock for pasture and end up consuming a lot of food that wasn’t intended for them.
What’s more, burrowing and scrapes can cause extensive damage on erosion-prone soils – so much so that land can be rendered useless. It’s not unheard of for rabbit-infested farms to be abandoned because owners simply can’t make a living anymore.
• Make your land or garden less inviting – rabbits will only live somewhere that provides cover from predators. They’re particularly drawn to low-growing shrubs, in brush piles, tall grasses and under porches, sheds and other structures. Clean up brush piles, keep your grass mowed and block access points under structures.
• You can add collars around the trunk of young trees to prevent rabbit damage and add a fence around vegetable gardens
• There are a number of scare tactics you can use to prevent rabbits coming onto your land. These include water scarecrows, fake snakes and owls, aluminium pie pans and ultrasonic devices. Beware however that rabbits will get used to these tactics and their effectiveness will therefore wear off.
WASPS
Information and control advice
As the wasp season nears its end in late summer, the worker wasps become more aggressive. This is due to the queen ceasing to lay eggs. With no larvae to feed the worker wasps seek sweet substances on which to feed themselves. A favoured source of food is fallen, over ripe fruit. It is the ingesting of the often-fermenting juices that contribute greatly to the worker wasps’ increasingly aggressive behaviour. It is also at this time of year that they more frequently come into contact with humans either looking for food indoors or attracted by heat or more often by light emanating from your home.
It is not unusual to get large numbers congregating around any light source from any nest within eyesight. This usually occurs in the early morning or late evening.
Control
Firstly consider whether or not it is absolutely necessary to destroy a nest, how much of a problem is it causing? Could you safely leave it alone? Remember wasps are beneficial to your garden helping with pollination and keeping other garden pests under control. The nest will die off naturally, even if left alone.
In late spring and early summer, wasp nests can often be successfully treated using proprietary brands of insecticide for the specific control of wasps' nests.
As the summer progresses and the nests become larger, it may be wiser to seek professional help. We offer a service to destroy active wasp nests in any property. A competitive charge will be made and the work is guaranteed.
Before booking a treatment you must ensure that the nest is on your property. If it is not, you will have to speak to the occupiers of the property concerned so they can make their own arrangements.
Larger wasps seen from mid spring are most likely to be recently emerged young queens seeking a new nest site. We can not treat these wasps. We can not treat until there is an active nest, usually from late May.
Worker wasps seen entering and emerging from a specific point on a building or in a garden is the most reliable indication of the presence of a wasp nest. This activity should become more apparent as time goes on and should be spotted by a quick survey of the outside of the property.
Wasp nests are used for one season only and therefore do not need to be physically removed following treatment. Removal will not affect the chances of future problems. We do not remove inactive nests as part of our service.
With the exception of the hibernating queens (that leave the nest late summer) all wasps die off.
As the days become shorter, wasps are often attracted to the artificial light showing from the inside of buildings, particularly at dusk and dawn. They perceive the light as natural sunlight, become confused, and are attracted towards it. This can result in wasps finding their way inside. However, it does not necessarily indicate the presence of a wasp nest on the affected property. This can be combated by keeping windows shut; limiting the amount of light that can be seen from outside and even taping an old net curtain over the window when open will help.
Please remember that wasp stings are unpleasant and can be dangerous, so if you are concerned seek professional advice
MICE
The house mouse is a small, slender rodent that has a slightly pointed nose; small, black, somewhat protruding eyes; large, sparsely haired ears; and a nearly hairless tail with scale rings. House mice are considered among the most troublesome and economically damaging rodents in Britain. Adult house mice weigh from 1/2 to 1 ounce. They are generally greyish brown with a grey or buff belly. The house mouse is very adaptable and often lives in close association with humans. Therefore it is known as a “commensal” rodent as are Brown rats. House mice are much more common in residences and commercial structures than are rats. Next to humans, it is regarded to be the most common mammal in cities.
Where do they live?
House mice live in and around homes, farms, commercial establishments, and in open fields and agricultural lands. At times they may be found living far from human settlements, particularly where climates are moderate. House mice eat many types of food but prefer seeds and grain. They are not hesitant to eat new foods and are considered “nibblers,” sampling many kinds of items that may exist in their environment. Foods high in fat, protein, or sugar may be preferred even when grain and seed are present. Such items include bacon, sweets, and butter. Unlike brown rats, house mice can survive with little or no free water obtaining their water from the food they eat. House mice are mainly nocturnal, although in some areas a lot of daytime activity may be seen. Seeing mice during the day does not necessarily mean that a high population is present, although this is usually true for rats. They may nest in the ground or in any protected location. Nests are constructed of shredded fibrous materials such as paper, or other similar items, and generally have the appearance of a “ball” of material loosely woven together. Nests are usually 4 to 6 inches in diameter. Litters of 5 or 6 young are born 19 to 21 days after mating, although females that conceive while still nursing may have a slightly longer gestation period. Mice are born hairless and with their eyes closed. They grow rapidly, and after 2 weeks their eyes and ears open and they are covered with hair. They begin to make short excursions from the nest and eat solid food at 3 weeks. Weaning soon follows, and mice are sexually mature at 6 to 10 weeks of age.
Why are there so many?
Mice may breed year-round. The female has 5 to 10 litters per year. Mouse populations can therefore grow rapidly under good conditions. Studies indicate that during its daily activities, a mouse normally travels an area averaging 10 to 30 feet in diameter. Mice seldom travel farther than this to obtain food or water. Because of their limited movement and feeding behaviour they are much more difficult to control in some situations.
Do they do any harm?
When house mice live in or around structures, they almost always cause some degree of economic damage. In homes and commercial buildings, they may feed on various stored food items or pet foods. In addition, they usually contaminate foodstuffs with their urine, droppings, and hair. A single mouse eats only about 8 pounds of food per year but destroys considerably more food than it consumes because of its habit of nibbling on many foods and discarding partially eaten items.
House mice cause damage to buildings by their gnawing and nest-building activities. House mice often make homes in large electrical appliances, and here they may chew up wiring as well as insulation, resulting in short circuits which create fire hazards or expensive damage. Mice may also damage stored items in attics, basements, garages, or museums. Damaged family heirlooms, paintings, books, documents, and other such items may be impossible to replace. Among the diseases mice or their parasites may transmit to humans are salmonellosis (food poisoning), rickett-sialpox, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis. Mice may also carry leptospirosis, ratbite fever, tapeworms, and organisms that can cause ringworm (a fungal skin disease) in humans.
RATS
Brown Rats carry many nasty diseases which they can spread to humans, normally through their urine. including; Leptospirosis or Weil's disease, Salmonella, Listeria, Toxoplasma gondii and Hantavirus.
Brown Rats can inflict a great amount of structural damage. They can cause serious fires by gnawing away the insulation around electrical cables, floods by puncturing pipes and even death by chewing through gas pipes. The insurance sector have estimated that rodent damage to wiring is responsible for 25% of all electrical fires in buildings.
Brown Rats can ruin an organisation's reputation. If clients and customers spot evidence of rodent infestation in the premises you manage, they are unlikely to want to do business with you.
Property owners have a legal obligation under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 to keep premises rat and mice free, or, if Brown Rats pose a threat to health or property, to report infestations to the local authority.
How to spot a rat problem
It can be difficult to detect a rat or rats if you’ve never dealt with them before and aren’t sure of the signs. If you think you may have a rat infestation in your building, look for the following signs:
Look for rat droppings, these are distinctive and are on average (1/2 inch) long. These can be described as ‘spindle shaped’, commonly tapering to a point on either or both ends. Normal mouse droppings are one-third to half the size.
Look for grease marks from the rat’s body as they brush or rub past objects.
Look for gnaw marks where rats may have bitten wires, cabling or your possessions (particularly in loft or storage spaces).
Rat smell is quite distinct, if there is a new or unusual smell to your property, it may be a sign of an infestation.
Can you see any rat holes? These indicate that rats have been in the property burrowing and nesting.
Check for footprints where rats may be treading; these are easiest to spot in dusty areas of a property.
Rats produce about 40 droppings each day, with a mouse producing about twice as many. The most likely rats for an infestation in the UK are the Brown Rat (Norway Rat) and the Black Rat (Roof Rat).
If you spot any of the above signs, call us today or contact us for a free no-obligation quote or site visit.
Rats spread damage and disease
A rodent increase can be a cause for concern as rodents are particularly dangerous due to their ability to spread human pathogens and disease among the population, including residents and workers.
Rats can spread diseases including Weils disease, Salmonellosis, rat bite fever, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis and murine typhus.
Rats cause damage to stock and buildings. Rodent’s sharp teeth can gnaw through cables, plastic, wooden doors and even mild steel.
Rats contaminate foodstuffs and goods. Rat droppings, hairs, and urine can be found in foodstuffs, resulting in high costs in cleaning and in the repackaging of commodities.
In recent times rats have become more of a problem across the South of England. In some areas, we’re seeing the rat population reaching record levels.
Threats from rats and rodents
It is important to contact a specialist rat or professional pest control company as quickly as possible to investigate the source of your rats to both eradicate them and prevent a further infestation.
Leaving the issue can contribute to a number of issues for companies, which is why we act quickly and effectively:
Hygiene rating
rats can infiltrate both goods and foodstuffs, and impact on your health and hygiene rating. Any pest control issues will have a negative effect on your restaurant food hygiene rating.
Environmental health cost
Temporary business closure may be necessary.
Bad press and media coverage
This is troubling for eateries and restaurants.
Fire risk and structural damage
These results can lead to expensive repair bills. Left to their own devices, rats will gnaw and burrow.
GET IN TOUCH
Questions, comments or requests? Feel free to reach out, we’d love to hear from you.
07725945892
