Latest news with #BPCA
Scotsman
2 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
Technician Takeover highlights careers in pest control
A national trade body is handing control of its social media platforms to five pest technicians from across the UK for World Pest Day (June 6). Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... BPCA members will be posting from the association's Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X accounts to highlight the benefits of a career in the pest control industry. Pest professionals have a key role to play in protecting public health, supporting businesses and safeguarding wildlife and natural environments. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The industry offers a variety of career opportunities and specialisms, such as working with birds of prey, field biologist and product development. Harry Leyland and Aislyn Risk Taking part in the technician takeover is: Aislyn Risk, Pest Solutions, Scotland Carl and Craig Hoult, Reaper Bird Solutions, Norfolk Elsie Anderson, Pest Solutions Scotland Harry Leyland, PestForce, Doncaster Karen Dawes, Training and Development Manager at BPCA, said: 'There are many routes to a successful career in professional pest management, from people leaving military service or looking for a career change, to young people and university graduates considering their next steps. 'BPCA membership encompasses a huge range of businesses operating in domestic, commercial and industrial sectors, using specialist techniques that protect the food chain, homes, businesses, wildlife and the environment from the potentially harmful impact of a pest infestation.' Carl Hoult, Elsie Anderson, Craig Hoult Visit the BPCA careers page ( or get in touch to find out more about careers in pest control. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad BPCA member businesses are endorsed by the Government via the TrustMark quality scheme as they must carry the correct insurances and are trained and qualified technicians who are assessed to the British Standard in pest management EN 16636 and follow BPCA's Codes of Best Practice.
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Vaseline can be used to keep rats away from gardens
Keeping them away in the first place can be difficult, but a pest control expert has shared a cheap hack that can make your property less appealing to them. While your first thought might be to put poison down, there are lots of ways you can keep rats away without harming them. The Sun reports that a pest control expert has shared a hack which costs £1.80 for a 50ml pot at Superdrug and will make rats think twice about entering your garden. Expert shares cheap hack to keep rats away from gardens Pest expert Marcus Mueller from Skedaddle shared that Vaseline can be used to keep rats away as it forms a slippery surface, making it harder for them to reach. He suggested adding Vaseline to garden fences so that rats find it difficult to enter your garden. Marcus added some further tips for homeowners, including cutting low-hanging tree branches. Native wild animals in the UK He said: 'Rats often enter gardens by climbing over fences [or] using low-hanging tree branches. You can deter rodents by properly maintaining the trees on your property. 'Trim back branches to keep rats from using them as highways. 'You should also collect and discard fallen fruit to prevent the rats from accessing an easy food source.' Really Wild Birdfood Co previously shared the Vaseline hack in 2022. It said that since rats look for food sources in our gardens, including bird feeders and tables, it's a good idea to use Vaseline to keep them away. You can do this by putting Vaseline on the pole of the bird feeding station to make it slippery and more difficult for rats to climb to the food source. It added that taller feeding stations are better as they make it more difficult for rats to climb compared to those that are at ground level. How to get rid of these common garden pests What to do if you've found rats in your house or garden To report a pest problem, the government website encourages you to get in touch with your council to see if they provide pest control services to get rid of rats. You can enter your postcode, and the website will match the postcode to a council and direct you to their website for more information. The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) recommends getting in touch with a professional pest management company that is a member of BPCA. Recommended reading: You'll need to enter your postcode and state whether your property is commercial or residential, and the service you'd like. Then, companies that are BPCA members and located in your area will be listed with contact details. The BPCA says all of its members have the correct insurance and use trained and qualified technicians. They all have to be audited to the British Standard in pest management EN 16636 and follow BPCA's Codes of Best Practice.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Homeowners can use this £1.80 hack to keep rats away from fences and gardens
Rats can be a nuisance, especially when they aren't afraid to make themselves comfortable in our homes and gardens. Keeping them away in the first place can be difficult, but a pest control expert has shared a cheap hack that can make your property less appealing to them. While your first thought might be to put poison down, there are lots of ways you can keep rats away without harming them. The Sun reports that a pest control expert has shared a hack which costs £1.80 for a 50ml pot at Superdrug and will make rats think twice about entering your garden. Pest expert Marcus Mueller from Skedaddle shared that Vaseline can be used to keep rats away as it forms a slippery surface, making it harder for them to reach. He suggested adding Vaseline to garden fences so that rats find it difficult to enter your garden. Marcus added some further tips for homeowners, including cutting low-hanging tree branches. He said: 'Rats often enter gardens by climbing over fences [or] using low-hanging tree branches. You can deter rodents by properly maintaining the trees on your property. 'Trim back branches to keep rats from using them as highways. 'You should also collect and discard fallen fruit to prevent the rats from accessing an easy food source.' Really Wild Birdfood Co previously shared the Vaseline hack in 2022. It said that since rats look for food sources in our gardens, including bird feeders and tables, it's a good idea to use Vaseline to keep them away. You can do this by putting Vaseline on the pole of the bird feeding station to make it slippery and more difficult for rats to climb to the food source. It added that taller feeding stations are better as they make it more difficult for rats to climb compared to those that are at ground level. To report a pest problem, the government website encourages you to get in touch with your council to see if they provide pest control services to get rid of rats. You can enter your postcode, and the website will match the postcode to a council and direct you to their website for more information. The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) recommends getting in touch with a professional pest management company that is a member of BPCA. Recommended reading: Have you found rats in your house or garden? What to do if you see rodents RSPCA shares how to get rid of rats in your home or garden without harming them When are rats and mice most active? How living near humans affects their plans You'll need to enter your postcode and state whether your property is commercial or residential, and the service you'd like. Then, companies that are BPCA members and located in your area will be listed with contact details. The BPCA says all of its members have the correct insurance and use trained and qualified technicians. They all have to be audited to the British Standard in pest management EN 16636 and follow BPCA's Codes of Best Practice.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How to get rid of mosquitoes in the house as West Nile virus found
The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) has given advice to help people in the South West avoid mosquito problems. This comes after the West Nile virus was found in UK mosquitoes for the first time. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that the risk to the public is "very low" and there is no evidence of the virus spreading among birds or mosquitoes in the country. Niall Gallagher, technical manager at the BPCA, said: "According to UKHSA, West Nile virus is endemic in various regions across the globe, including Europe and in recent years has expanded to more northerly and western regions of mainland Europe." READ MORE: West Nile virus identified in UK mosquitoes for first time He added: "In the UK, the main issue with mosquito bites is that they can cause swelling and itchiness. "Usually, this causes some discomfort, but in some cases a reaction to the bite, or infection caused by scratching, can require further action and we would recommend checking advice on insect bites and stings at He advised people to keep windows and doors shut at dawn and dusk, use fly screens, fit lids to water butts and empty outdoor containers to prevent mosquitoes. Anyone who suspects a mosquito infestation should seek professional help. He said: "BPCA members are trained, experienced professionals with access to a range of specialist products."
Western Telegraph
12-05-2025
- General
- Western Telegraph
Asian Hornet warning issued amid confirmed 2025 sightings
So far, 13 sightings of the invasive species have been recorded in 2025. Formerly known as the Asian hornet, Yellow-legged hornets are a "highly aggressive" predator of native insects and pose a "significant threat" to honeybees and other pollinators in the UK. Native wild animals in the UK Confirmed sightings of Yellow-legged (Asian) Hornets in 2025 The confirmed sightings of Yellow-legged (Asian) Hornets in 2025 (at the time of writing), according to the National Bee Unit (NBU) website, are: January 23 - Oswestry, Shropshire : Single Yellow-legged Hornet found in imported shallots : Single Yellow-legged Hornet found in imported shallots March 17 - Canterbury, Kent : Dead hornet found by member of the public : Dead hornet found by member of the public April 8 - Marchwood, Hampshire : Yellow-legged Hornet found in a rotary washing line : Yellow-legged Hornet found in a rotary washing line April 12 - Deal, Kent : Hornet flew into a conservatory : Hornet flew into a conservatory April 14 - Applwdore, Kent : Single Yellow-legged Hornet spotted in a greenhouse : Single Yellow-legged Hornet spotted in a greenhouse April 14 - Ramsgate, Kent : Another hornet found in a conservatory : Another hornet found in a conservatory April 16 - Langley, Kent : An embryo nest (later destroyed) and a single hornet were discovered : An embryo nest (later destroyed) and a single hornet were discovered April 17 - Hythe, Southampton : A Yellow-legged Hornet was discovered trying to build a nest in a playhouse : A Yellow-legged Hornet was discovered trying to build a nest in a playhouse April 19 - Folkestone, Kent : A householder found a Yellow-legged Hornet in their conservatory : A householder found a Yellow-legged Hornet in their conservatory April 23 - Marchwood, Hampshire : A local bee inspector found a Yellow-legged Hornet in a National Bee Unit trap (just 200m away from the sighting on April 8) : A local bee inspector found a Yellow-legged Hornet in a National Bee Unit trap (just 200m away from the sighting on April 8) April 28 - Sandwich, Kent : A Yellow-legged Hornet was spotted foraging in a garden : A Yellow-legged Hornet was spotted foraging in a garden April 29 - Broad Oak, Kent : Another hornet was captured in a NBU trap : Another hornet was captured in a NBU trap April 30 - Nonington, Kent: A Yellow-legged Hornet flew into a house British Pest Control Association supports calls to report Yellow-legged (Asian) Hornet sightings Experts at the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) have backed calls for Brits to report sightings of the aggressive Yellow-legged Hornets. BPCA is shining a spotlight on the hornets this week (May 12 to 18) as part of Invasive Species Week, as work continues to prevent them becoming established in the UK. Readers vote Have you seen any Yellow-legged (Asian) Hornets in 2025? Yes No Unsure Vote now BPCA technical manager, Nial Gallagher, said: 'These invaders are a predator of honeybees and could disrupt our native eco-systems and impact crop production. 'Any sightings should be reported to the Non-Native Species Secretariat and we'd advise getting help from a member of the National Bee Unit or a member of the British Beekeepers Association. 'If you discover a European hornet nest, we always recommend seeking help from a BPCA member, especially if it is indoors, or in a difficult place to access. 'Anyone tempted to try a DIY treatment must be certain any product they choose is licensed for use in the UK and must always strictly adhere to the instructions on the label.' Some recent media reports have suggested that pest controllers may be able to help with yellow-legged Asian hornets Currently the only organisation with authority to track & eradicate is the National Bee Unit. All sightings should be reported using the Asian Hornet Watch app — BBKA (@britishbee) May 11, 2025 How to spot and report a Yellow-legged (Asian) Hornet There are three ways to report a possible sighting of the Yellow-legged (Asian) Hornet: Download the Asian Hornet Watch app Via the Non-Native Species website Email alertnonnative@ Mr Gallagher added: 'Since 2016 a number of sightings have been recorded in the UK, and anyone who thinks they've spotted a Yellow-legged hornet should report it as soon as possible. RECOMMENDED READING: 'The Yellow-legged hornet is smaller than our native species. It has an orange head, and its entire body is almost entirely dark. 'The abdomen has fine yellow stripes and a yellow or orange segment near the base. Their legs are dark and have yellow tips, where our native hornet has entirely dark legs. 'Yellow-legged hornets may sting, so it's important not to disturb an active nest and to seek help.' Have you seen any Yellow-legged (Asian) Hornets this year? Let us know in our poll above or the comments section below.
