Council opening hours throughout Christmas
Some Westmorland and Furness Council offices will be closed over the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays. Read the full list of Council opening hours during the festive period.
Mice, rats and other pests
What to do if you have an infestation and how to prevent pests entering your home.
If there's an infestation of pests in your home, you're advised to contact a private company to arrange treatment.
If you live in the Eden area you can contact us to book a treatment (which you'll be charged for) to treat:
- cockroaches
- wasps
- fleas
- rats
- mice
Eden area only: Make a pest control request
For further advice about pests, or if the pests are in a neighbouring property, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page.
Report an insect infestation on commercial premises
Preventing infestations
To prevent infestations of pests like ants, rats and mice:
- remove all food sources or make sure food is kept in sealed containers, ideally rodent-proof ones
- regularly wipe out cupboards and remove spillages on surfaces or floors
- remove sources of water such as dripping taps and leaky pipes
- repair drain breaks to prevent rats from the sewers getting into your private drains
- block holes where service pipes enter your home
- block holes behind kitchen cupboards
- make sure there are no gaps between floors and floorboards
- make sure that doors fit properly or have bristle strips or steel plates fitted
- cover air vents with a metal mesh to stop rodents getting in but still allow air through
- fill holes under the eaves
- repoint missing mortar on brickwork to stop wasps nesting in your home
- cover compost heaps or use purpose-built containers to prevent rats breeding and fly larvae emerging
Bats
All bat species, their breeding sites and resting places are fully protected by law.
Visit GOV.UK for advice on what you should and should not do if you have bats on your property
Seagulls
Seagulls can be a nuisance due to the noise, mess and droppings they generate. They have also been known to attack when protecting their young. This may constitute a direct public health issue and officers can give suitable advice to homeowners and businesses to:
- bird proof their premises to reduce or stop nesting activities
- seek a suitably qualified pest controller
- apply to Natural England for an A08 license to control wild birds
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects gulls and their nests, so it's illegal to intentionally injure or kill them, or damage their nests. If you need further advice, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page.
Contact us
Contact the environmental protection team for your local area.