The British Pest Control Association is urging householders to check for signs of pests around the home while getting ready for Christmas.
BPCA said old nests, droppings and gnaw marks are all indications that an unexpected visitor has been in your loft – and they could have left some nasty surprises behind.
John Horsley, professional development officer at BPCA, said: “If you’re going up into the loft to get your Christmas decorations down, it’s an ideal opportunity to check for any signs that pests have moved into your attic.
“Putting lights up outside the house is an excellent chance to look for any gaps under eaves, around windows or cable entry points where rats or mice could squeeze indoors looking for shelter and food.
“We’d also recommend making sure the treats stored away for Christmas are checked before the big day for any signs of damage to the packaging that could be caused by rats or mice.”
Droppings, urine odour and damage to Christmas decorations boxes are likely to indicate the presence of rats, mice or even squirrels. Rats and mice need to gnaw, so if droppings or gnaw marks are visible, check for potential damage to wood, pipes and cables too.
Mr Horsley added: “Some pests also bring other pests with them, for example if you’ve had birds in your loft that have since gone, bird mites and carpet beetles could still be present. So, it is vital to ensure that someone with the correct knowledge and training identifies whether an infestation is active or not – and how to deal with it.
“Discovering a pest presence – or worse, an established infestation – can be distressing and may pose a health risk to you and your guests, so it’s important that you get help from a pest professional such as a BPCA member.”
