Rodenticide Stewardship Policy

1.Our commitment

Urgent Pest Control Ltd uses rodenticides (rat and mouse poisons) only when they are needed, only in secured, tamper-resistant bait stations, and always in line with the UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime and the product label. The aim is to control rats and mice without harming children, pets or wildlife.

2.What is the UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime?

The regime is run by the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) UK and overseen by a government oversight group including the Health and Safety Executive. It was set up so that professional anticoagulant rodenticides could stay available while reducing the risk to non-target wildlife, especially birds of prey and other predators that can be poisoned by eating rodents that have taken bait.

Under the regime, professional rodenticides are only sold to people who can show they are competent to use them, for example through a stewardship-approved qualification. You can read more on the CRRU Think Wildlife website and the HSE’s biocides pages.

Professional rodenticides are only supplied to users who can show they are competent under the regime. Ask us if you need details of our technicians’ training.

3.Survey first, poison last

• Every rodent job starts with a survey: which species, how many, how they are getting in and what they are feeding on.
• We consider non-chemical options first, including trapping where appropriate, removing food sources and proofing entry points.
• Where rats are coming up through the drains, the cause is a drainage defect. Our sister company Urgent Drainage Solutions can carry out a CCTV drain survey and repair. See rats in drains.

4.Tamper-resistant bait stations

• Bait is placed inside lockable, tamper-resistant bait stations, secured so they can’t be moved, and never left loose.
• Stations are positioned where rodents run and where children, pets and other animals can’t get to the bait.
• We record the location of every bait station so it can be checked and recovered.
• Please don’t open, move or remove bait stations. If one is damaged or disturbed, call us.

5.Follow-up visits

• Follow-up visits are included for rats and mice. Most domestic rat treatments take two to three weeks, and mice one to three weeks, depending on the size of the infestation.
• On each visit we check bait take, top up only where needed, and look for and remove dead rodents.
• We don’t leave bait down indefinitely. When activity has stopped, we remove the remaining bait and the stations.

6.Protecting wildlife and pets

• Removing dead rodents promptly reduces the risk of predators and scavengers eating poisoned animals.
• Outdoor baiting is kept to what the label allows and what the infestation needs.
• If you think a pet has eaten rodenticide, contact your vet straight away and tell them the product name, which is on the bait station label or our treatment report.

7.Proofing stops the cycle

Poison alone doesn’t stop new rats or mice moving in. Long-term results depend on proofing and hygiene, so we show you how they are getting in and can quote separately for pest proofing with wire wool, mesh and cement.

8.Review

We review this policy at least once a year, and whenever the stewardship regime, product labels or the law change. Questions? Contact us using the details on this page.