Rats, spiders and Halloween horrors to avoid this spooky season

To help prevent pest-related Halloween horrors, BPCA has set out some practical tips for residents this spooky season.

Niall Gallagher is Technical Manager at BPCA. He said: “We always advise simple steps such as ensuring outdoor bins are securely closed to avoid attracting rodents.

“At Halloween doorstep pumpkin displays and decorations can sometimes catch the attention of rats and mice, which may carry bacteria including Salmonella and Listeria which can cause illnesses.

“Pumpkins are also a tasty treat for foxes and for late season insects, so we do recommend householders take a couple of precautionary steps to avoid encouraging pests to their front door.”

BPCA’s top tips to prevent Halloween pests are:

1. Prime your pumpkin: Where possible, keep them off the ground entirely. Otherwise, put straw or crunched up newspaper beneath your pumpkin to keep it slightly off the ground and help avoid rot. Don’t leave pumpkins out for too long and remove them if they start to go squishy

2. Stow the sweeties: If you’re not going to be in on Halloween, think twice before leaving anything out for passing trick-or-treaters. If unattended sweeties attract the attention of a passing rodent, it’s possible they could become contaminated by bacteria, urine or droppings

3. Doorstep deterrents: If you’re planning a display of pumpkins or decorations around the threshold to your home, check for gaps around the frame and under the door, around cable or pipe entry points and under porch eaves. Fill gaps with wire wool and cement so if any rodents come near the doorway there are no easy routes for them to get inside

4. Bag and bin it: When pumpkins are past their best, put them in your compost, or into your council-provided food waste bins if you have them. If not, seal them in a biodegradable bag and put into an outside bin with a securely closed lid. Bin lids should be kept fully closed year-round to prevent access by rats, mice, foxes, birds and insects.

Niall added: “While we always advise against attracting pests near the home, it’s important to bear in mind the wildlife that may already be in the area.

“Pumpkins should be raised off the floor wherever possible as they can be detrimental to some wildlife species such as hedgehogs, causing stomach issues, dehydration and in some cases, death.

“October is often the peak time for spider mating activity and while false widow spiders can usually be safely left alone, they are often found in the eaves of porches or around doorways.

“If you’ve gone all-out and festooned your door with decorative cobwebs it’s a good idea to check carefully before removing it.

“False widows don’t launch unprovoked attacks but have been known to bite if accidental contact is made.

“Their venom causes a short-lived reaction and has been described as being similar to wasp sting but occasionally can be longer-lasting and extend beyond the site of the bite.

“Look out for a loose tangle of webbing with a tube of silk in one corner that leads towards a crevice. This could be a false widow spider web, so take extra care when removing decorations.

“Anyone concerned about pest activity should contact a BPCA member for advice.”

BPCA member businesses are endorsed by the Government via the TrustMark quality scheme as they must carry the correct insurances and are trained and qualified technicians who are assessed to the British Standard in pest management EN 16636 and follow BPCA’s Codes of Best Practice.

To find a BPCA member please click here.