Pests

Owners and occupiers of land have a responsibility to keep the land substantially free from rats and mice. Traps may be bought from hardware stores. If numbers are large, professional treatment is advised. Our Pest Control team investigates and, where necessary, treats premises and dwellings infested with rats and mice.

Bats are a protected species. For more information visit Nature Scot.

Foxes are not known to pose any major threat to public health. It is not council policy to control foxes in any way. Our foxes factsheet contains more information.

The council has no statutory duty to take action against gulls.

Do not encourage gulls by feeding them or dropping food scraps. Dropping litter or food scraps is an offence. You may be liable to a penalty. See our living with gulls page.

We recognise that wild birds can cause nuisance from noise and fouling when their natural habitats impact on ours. Wild birds are protected under the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Ensure that birds are not encouraged to multiply where we live by:

• not feeding them
• properly disposing of litter and food waste

The council does not help to get rid of rabbits and birds. A private pest controller may be able to help. In some cases, we will provide treatment for squirrels inside buildings.

Insect infestations tend to be seasonal, for example wasp nests. We receive, year round, complaints about other pests such as:

• fleas
• flies
• cockroaches
• beetles
• mites
• bedbugs
• silverfish
• other species which impact on public health

Some infestations can be treated with insecticides available from hardware stores, garden centres and so on. Always follow the instructions and health and safety advice on the label.

Pest Control Officers can carry out treatments, at a cost, or may be contacted for advice.

We don't provide ant powder.

Beekeepers are volunteers offering a free service to residents and are not affiliated with the council. They are solely independent and have no requirement to provide any service but will offer advice. Email North Ayrshire Beekeepers for advice.

Your landlord may agree to pay the charge, so they should be contacted first.

We will not enter a property without the householder, or their representative, present. Before treatment begins, we need a signed authorisation from you.

The time taken to treat insects can take a few minutes. Locating where rodents are coming from and laying poison traps will take longer and includes return visits.

All the poisons we use are approved by the Health and Safety Executive. If you have pets, we will only use poison bait where the pets cannot get at it. We will provide a factsheet and return to remove any uneaten bait.

Pesticides are used in a form that minimises impact on the environment.

Please contact us for advice, or to request an investigation or treatment.