A range of pest control products readily available for 'private use'.

Professional pest control is a highly evolved task and unless it is the only thing you think about, it’s not hard to get confused. 

In the interests of offering a clear prescription (and running significant risk of being far too general!), here are three things that you can do to protect your property this winter, without having to re-train as a pest specialist.

Of the hundreds of methods we use, these three are arguably the most straight forward to apply and cover three of the most common pest problems we face during winter on rural properties.

Rodents in and around buildings

Ground based bait stations seldom fail to deal with rats and mice provided you have enough of them and that they are full of a toxin that rodents simply can’t resist.

‘Protecta Sidekick’ bait stations supplied by Pest Management Services Ltd are a tough and economical unit that last for years.  Place stations against edges and walls where rodents will run, at the rate of 1-4 per building. A good starting point is to place one on each edge of the building and it is often worth putting 1-2 in ceiling cavities also. 

Fill with Ditrac rodent blocks and replace bait when it has been eaten throughout the winter months. I like to smear a spoonful of crunchy peanut butter inside the station to get rodents started. Always use a lockable station that stops pets and children from accessing the bait.

Birds using rafters & beams on verandas & out buildings

Bird control can be a fickle exercise and keeping them out is not always possible. J.T. Eatons bird repellent gel and liquid is a fast and easy to use method that once applied often continues to work for 3-5 years. 

Clean dust and loose material from the surface that birds are using and apply a thin coat of the gel using a mastic gun. This product is non toxic and works on the simple principle that birds don’t like standing in it.

Available from Pest Management Services Ltd.

Possum Control

There are simply dozens of methods available for possum control but if what you need is something that can be applied by pretty much anyone and requires as little time as possible you can’t go past a basic bait station regime.

The following is an industry standard prescription and is probably the most widely applied method across the country. 

Philproof mini bait stations  nailed to trees or fence posts at 100m spacings around the boundary and/or at the rate of 2 per hectare in bush. 

Fill stations with 500 grams of Pest-Off possum pellets three times at one month intervals commencing in autumn. This deals with possums during an important part of their breeding cycle, and again three times at one month intervals concluding in spring as this further reduces the population prior to the bush bird breeding season.

For best results mix standard flour with a small amount of icing sugar and cinnamon and smear a handfull of this in a short line below the station to attract possums; repeat annually. As with all poisons, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines carefully.

I hope these methods are of some use to you all. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you require more detailed information.

Please help us to provide the advice you require by sending all pest animal questions to: info@coastalpestsolutions.co.nz