Vermin alert: Warning as lockdown sees surge in rodent invasions in Kilkenny

Kilkenny home and business owners have been urged to beware from the growing threats from rodents and cockroaches as the winter sets in.

It comes as pest controller Rentokil recorded a 37% increase in callouts for rodents and a 26% increase in total callouts for pest insects in October, when compared to the previous month. And Rentokil believes callouts for rodents, cockroaches, and fleas will rise sharply in the coming months as these pests move indoors to seek shelter from the cold weather.

Dublin accounted for the highest number of rodent callouts and insect callouts in October, with 24% of total rodent callouts and 41% of insect callouts taking place in the county. Cork accounted for the second highest number of rodent callouts (15%) and insect callouts (12%).

Kerry accounted for the third most rodent callouts in the month (10% of callouts) and Kildare accounted for the fourth most (7%). Limerick accounted for the third most insect callouts (6%) and Mayo accounted for the fourth most (5%).

Rentokil’s experts believe that premises lying vacant as a result of the Level 5 restrictions will be particularly vulnerable to pests who may enter them in search of food and shelter. Vacant buildings will offer pests a warm, sheltered environment where they will be undisturbed by human activity and predators.

Richard Faulkner, Advanced Technical Field Consultant with Rentokil, said: “As the temperature continues to drop during the winter period, many pests will begin to move indoors in search of food and shelter. This year is exceptional given that many business premises are lying vacant as a result of Covid-19 restrictions. We would advise home and business owners to practice some simple steps which will help to protects their premises from pest activity”.

Rentokil’s top tips for preventing the presence of pests are:

• Clear away any crumbs or spillages and don’t leave discarded food lying around.
• Clean up all pet trays every night.
• Keep your property tidy. Pests seek refuge in clutter, such as stacks of newspapers and discarded boxes.
• De-clutter your basement and attic, and store boxes on shelves.
• Carefully store away food. Pests will hunt out food, so don’t make it easy for them.
• Seal any cracks or holes in your property using steel wool or caulk.