Sonville Pest Control Edinburgh
& Lothians

With its centuries-old closes, shared stairwells, and basement kitchens, the Old Town is particularly susceptible to rodents.

• Rats and mice: Aged infrastructure and older buildings with open eaves and compromised brickwork provide easy entry for rodents.

• Bed bugs: The high density of shared accommodation and tourist activity means bed bugs can easily spread from one property to another.

• Cockroaches: Damp and warm conditions in basements and shared kitchens make older properties a prime breeding ground for cockroaches.

• Pest birds: Pigeons and gulls often roost on historic buildings, with their droppings carrying disease and causing damage to stonework.

Structural issues in historic buildings

• Interconnected structures: Older tenement buildings are often connected, allowing pests to move freely between properties through tiny gaps in walls and flooring.

• Vulnerability to entry: The old stone and wooden structures have cracks, crevices, and other entry points that are easy for small pests to navigate, especially for mice that can get through a hole as narrow as 6mm6 m m 6𝑚𝑚.

• Harborage areas: The design of these buildings, with many gaps and hidden spaces, provides ideal locations for pests to nest and hide.

Urban environment factors

• Abundant food sources: The city's numerous restaurants, markets, and residential areas create many opportunities for pests to find food if waste management is not strict.

• Waste management challenges: Improperly managed waste can quickly lead to overflowing bins and food waste on streets, attracting and sustaining pest populations, especially during periods like bin strikes,

Pests found in the Old Town

Sonville Pest Control Edinburgh operates in Edinburgh Old Town and commonly deals with these pest issues:

• Rats and mice: These are frequent problems due to the old buildings and dense environment.

• Bed bugs: The large number of tourists staying in hotels and hostels can contribute to the spread of bed bugs.

• Insects: Other insects, including wasps, flies, and moths, can also become established in homes and businesses

Experiencing pest issues for a same day response contact Sonville Pest Control Edinburgh here today for a Free Pest Control Quote.

Leith, especially its older tenement buildings, is known for significant rodent problems.

• Mice: Properties with interconnected flats can allow mice to move undetected throughout a building. This has led to Leith being identified as an area with a high concentration of rodents.

• Rats: Brown rats are common in UK urban areas, including homes and businesses in Leith. Their gnawing can cause damage to properties, and they can spread diseases. Older tenement buildings and the proximity of the Water of Leith contribute to the issue.

• Squirrels: Grey squirrels are a frequent problem, particularly when they infest lofts. They can cause damage to insulation and wiring.

Insects

Certain insects are also a common problem within properties in Leith, particularly in areas with a high density of restaurants and cafes.

• Wasps: Wasp nests are often found in attics and under roof edges during warmer months.

• Bed bugs: As an unsettling pest, bed bugs can spread quickly in residential properties, hotels, and student accommodations.

• Cockroaches: In addition to businesses, cockroaches can infest residential homes. The German cockroach is a common type found in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

• Moths: Clothes moths and brown house moths can damage fabrics and contaminate stored food.

• Fleas: Pets can introduce fleas into a home, causing irritation and requiring professional treatment.

Other issues

• Black mould: Some residents of older properties, such as the Cables Wynd "banana flats," have reported problems with dampness and black mould in recent years.

Pest control services

Local pest control companies, such as Sonville Pest Control Edinburgh, offer services to manage these issues in Leith, ranging from inspection and eradication to long-term pest prevention.

East Lothian's pest issues stem from a combination of its diverse environment (mixing countryside, towns, and coastline), climate, human activity, and building types.

Environmental and Geographic Factors

• Mixed Environment: The county's mix of agricultural land, villages, towns, and coastline provides a variety of habitats and food sources, allowing pests like rodents (rats and mice) and gulls to thrive in different areas.

• Coastal Location: As a coastal district, East Lothian has a significant gull population that often nests on roofs and can become a nuisance, particularly during breeding season.

• Water Bodies: The presence of rivers and other water bodies, similar to Leith, contributes to an environment conducive to rodent populations.

Climate and Seasonal Factors

• Damp Climate: Scotland's high rainfall creates damp conditions, which encourage pests that thrive in moisture-rich environments, such as silverfish, woodlice, slugs, and certain insects that are attracted to fungal growth.

• Milder Winters: Increasingly milder winters due to climate change mean that rats and mice are more likely to remain active year-round rather than dying off or hibernating, which can lead to escalating infestations if not managed.

• Warmer Summers: Warmer, humid summers lead to a boom in insect populations, including wasps, ants, and flies. Warmer temperatures can also allow non-native species to establish a foothold.

Human Activity Factors

• Food and Waste Management: A significant cause of rodent infestations is the availability of easy food sources. Poor waste management, fly-tipping, fast-food litter, and even bird feeding can inadvertently provide a "buffet" for rats and mice, drawing them to properties.

• Older Buildings: The region has many older buildings, including magnificent Victorian structures and homes, which provide numerous entry points like small cracks and voids that allow pests, especially mice and bed bugs, to move between properties.

• Urbanisation and Development: As human populations increase and new properties are built, pests have more opportunities to find shelter and food, leading to increased interaction and conflict with humans.

East Lothian pest control service provides advice and support for residents dealing with these common pest issues.