Pest Control in Wylam

Wylam is a pretty village on the north bank of the River Tyne, about ten miles west of Newcastle. It is best known as the birthplace of railway pioneer George Stephenson, but for pest control purposes it is the combination of river, woodland and older houses that defines the work we do here. The River Tyne runs right along the southern edge of the village and the damp, wooded banks provide ideal cover for rats. Properties along the riverside and on the streets closest to the water see the most rat activity, with the animals moving between the riverbank and gardens, especially when river levels rise and push them onto higher ground.

The village is largely made up of stone and brick houses built from the Victorian era through to the mid-twentieth century, with some newer development on the fringes. The older homes have solid walls with lime mortar pointing that wears away over time, leaving gaps just big enough for mice to squeeze through. Gardens in Wylam tend to be long-standing with mature trees and dense hedgerows and these give mice and other small animals plenty of cover right up to the walls of houses. Grey squirrels are common throughout the village and regularly get into loft spaces by gnawing at softwood fascia boards or finding gaps where rooflines meet.

The woodland along the Tyne and the old Wylam Waggonway path creates a green corridor that is wonderful for walking but also brings wildlife close to homes. Wasp nests are a regular feature of summer in Wylam, often tucked into roof spaces, behind barge boards or in the cavities of the older stone walls. The rural character of the village means that pests like moles can also cause trouble in the larger lawns and paddocks around the edges of the settlement.