Old Bills Pest Control

02/08/2026

🐭 A Day in the Life of a Pest Controller

“Every night we hear something running across the loft…”

That was the concern shared by residents across five neighbouring terraced homes in Wendover.

When Jack arrived to investigate, it quickly became clear this wasn’t a typical rodent problem. The culprit was Glis glis (the edible dormouse)—a species well known throughout the Chilterns for taking up residence in loft spaces and travelling between neighbouring properties.

As Jack carried out his inspections, the evidence quickly began to build.

🐭 Fresh droppings throughout several loft spaces.

🐭 Well-established pheromone trails showing regular movement between the homes.

🐭 Previous trapping attempts that had failed to resolve the issue.

🐭 Potential entry points around fascia boards, air brick covers and overgrown hedgerows, giving the dormice easy access to the roofs.

Because these properties are connected, treating just one home would simply encourage the activity to move next door. A coordinated programme across all affected properties was the only effective solution.

Jack installed tamper-resistant trapping stations within the lofts of all affected properties, each housing two Solway traps. The programme will now be checked daily as part of a carefully managed treatment plan carried out under the appropriate Class 2 licence.

However, successful control doesn’t end with trapping.

To help prevent future activity, we’ve also recommended hedgerow clearance to reduce natural access routes and a comprehensive roof survey to identify and seal potential entry points before the dormice can return.

At Old Bills Pest Control, we believe successful pest management isn’t just about removing pests—it’s about understanding why they’re there, how they’re’re gaining access, and putting long-term measures in place to keep homes protected.

📸 Today’s photos show Jack carrying out the loft inspections and installing the monitoring programme that will now be reviewed daily as we work towards resolving the issue for every affected household.

📍 Today’s location: Wendover, Buckinghamshire.

💬 Question of the day: If you heard scratching in your loft every night, would you know the difference between mice, squirrels and Glis glis?

01/08/2026

🐀 A Day in the Life of a Pest Controller

“We’d only seen two rats…”

That was the call Brandon received from a homeowner in Aylesbury (HP21).

To many people, two sightings might not sound like a major problem. But Brandon knows that if you’re seeing rats during the day, there’s often far more activity hidden out of sight.

After carrying out a thorough inspection, Brandon traced two likely access routes: gaps hidden behind the kitchen skirting and a rear manhole providing an ideal route into the property.

Rather than simply placing bait and hoping for the best, he developed a targeted treatment plan.

✔️ A baited wire was installed within the rear manhole.

✔️ A second treatment point was placed discreetly behind the kitchen kickboards.

✔️ Two tamper-resistant monitoring stations were positioned in the garden to safely monitor activity and build a complete picture of the infestation.

Effective pest control is about far more than removing pests! it’s about understanding how they’re getting in, why they’re there, and how to stop them coming back.

This property will now be monitored over the coming weeks, allowing us to adapt the treatment as activity reduces and advise the homeowner on proofing measures to prevent future infestations.

📍 Today’s job: Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

💬 Question of the day: If you spotted a rat around your home, would you know where to start looking for the entry point?

31/07/2026

We have noticed a recent spate of rat activity in people gardens. This is mainly due to the hot and dry summer we are experiencing. Ponds and water sources are drying up which means rats and other animals come closer to other available water sources.

Have you noticed rat activity in your garden lately?

Give us a call 01494 581803

For more information visit our website

http://oldbillspestcontrol.com/

26/07/2026

Wasps are now extremely active throughout the summer, gathering food and building their nests. This means even more wasps! Whilst working on their nest and raising their young they are not a threat, unless the nest is disturbed.

The trouble starts when the queens begin to die and the workers have no more young to raise, that's the time they begin to fly closer to the ground in search of food, like rotting apples which naturally ferment. Consuming rotting fruit makes the wasp into little football hooligans and that's when people start getting stung!

22/07/2026

Did you know?

Correctly storing your food items on elevated shelving units will assist your kitchen in pest prevention?

Our technicians will assist our clients in the many aspects of pest prevention when carrying out inspections.

Do you have a commercial kitchen and need advice on pest prevention?

Give us a call 01494 581803

We also provide service agreements that involve regular inspections, preventative measures and reactive treatments to unexpected pest activity.

For more information visit our website

http://oldbillspestcontrol.com/

19/07/2026

Did you know?

Rodents have front teeth that never stop growing? In fact they have to chew and gnaw at things to keep these teeth filed down so as not to cause problems. The word "rodent" comes from the Latin "rodere" which means "to gnaw"

Below are some examples of rat gnawing through a threshold strip of a grain store in an attempt to access the cereals held inside.

If you suspect you might have rats give us a call

01494 581803

For more information visit our website

https://oldbillspestcontrol.com/service/rat-control/

16/07/2026

Noises in the loft? Visitors in the airing cupboard? Thieves in the fruit bowl?

Glis glis are like little ninjas able to climb up walls and can squeeze through 5mm gaps!

We are fully licensed to control Edible dormice and work closely with roofers who are experienced in finding entry points and sealing them up to prevent further ingress.

Give us a call 01494 581803

https://oldbillspestcontrol.com/service/glis-glis-control/

15/07/2026

Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more;

For there is none of you so mean and base,
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'

14/07/2026

12/07/2026

Some of the team have been relocating a honey bee colony this weekend, lifting the roof tiles as and safely removing the colony inside using the trusty bee hoover!

The colony is safe and healthy and we'll be moving them to an apiary on a small holding nearby

Well don't to Dave, Roy and Pete