TECHNICAL | PPC112 September 2023
Who you gonna call?
The members of our technical team are happy to come out to visit sites with BPCA members who are struggling with a tough infestation and need hands-on advice. Get in touch!
Can we use deterrent systems to prevent nesting gulls from feeding in outside dining areas?
Remember that all birds, their eggs and nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and can only be controlled under licence.
Gulls can cause significant problems in general, like noise, damage to property, drainage blockages due to nesting, and a serious health risk from their droppings. But outdoor dining areas are a particular target for gulls, and they have a fierce reputation for diving and swooping on people to steal food.
As long as you don’t disturb a nest or prevent the gulls from accessing their nests, deterrent systems for this scenario are likely to be okay and you won’t need to apply for licences.
But you need to make sure you don’t do anything that causes undue stress that may result in the gulls leaving their nests. Select your treatments carefully. And, if in doubt - ask!
Can horseflies be controlled?
Horseflies are commonly found in rural areas with damp woodlands, rivers and lakes nearby.
Unlike mosquitoes, which extract blood through a needle-like tube, horseflies have well-developed mouth parts that are designed to rip flesh apart to gain access to a blood meal. As this can be particularly painful and become infected, you may get asked if you can treat horseflies that cause problems for members of the public.
As horsefly eggs are fixed to leaves and the larva drop off into damp soil of waterlogged areas, controlling them on large areas of land and woodland is almost impossible.
You can advise customers to try and protect themselves from bites when outdoors, by wearing baggy clothing and covering all exposed skin, or by using an insect spray suitable for use on the skin. These are only a deterrent and won’t necessarily be 100% effective.
If they are having problems in gardens, removing standing water (like with mosquitoes) could reduce numbers.
If indoor areas experience horsefly activity, the usual fly deterrent measures may help, such as EFKs, fly screen and /fly tape. However, this isn’t as likely, as horseflies prefer to be around cattle, horses and other large animals.
I’m struggling to dispose of rodent carcasses - do you have any tips?
In recent years we have seen a reduction in options for rodent carcass disposal, with hospital and local authorities removing their inhouse incinerators.
In waste terms, rodent carcasses are not classed as hazardous, regardless of the cause of death (rodenticide, trapping etc). It’s important to have a procedure in place to dispose of these carcasses to prevent accidental ingestion by a non-target species.
For residential premises, disposal of low numbers in an onsite general waste bin is okay if the customer permits it. But be mindful, as this can create a bad smell if bins are not emptied regularly, leading to a perception of poor customer service, or even a secondary infestation of flies.
For commercial sites, you must take the carcasses away and dispose of them via a licensed waste handler/incinerator. There are some BPCA member benefits available in that regard, which you can find in the member benefits section of the BPCA website.
bpca.org.uk/benefits
What do I do if I come across oak processionary moths?
The oak processionary moth (OPM) was first found in the UK in 2007 in London, but has spread over the south east of England and was recently found in the midlands. The chances are that you may come across these more frequently.
For identification purposes, they have the classic caterpillar look with a long black/grey body completely covered in sharp-looking white hairs. They move in clusters and are normally found in early summer, on trunks and branches of oak trees.
Critically, this is a specialist area of work and should only be done by those who are well versed in their treatment, and only after you’ve reported any activity to the relevant authorities, as they may want to set up an OPM management zone gov.uk/guidance/managing-oak-processionary-moth-in-england
If you find OPMs, it’s important to report any sightings to Forest Research, the research branch of the Forestry Commission (pun intended) via the Tree Alert online form.
You can also contact them on 0300 067 4442 or OPM@forestrycommission.gov.uk
Are you a BPCA member with a technical question? Get in touch...
technical@bpca.org.uk
01332 294 288
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