Pest Control in Chepstow

Chepstow sits on the cliffs above the River Wye where it meets the Severn Estuary and the dramatic tidal river that rushes through the centre of town creates a unique pest control landscape. The Wye has one of the biggest tidal ranges in Britain and as the water level drops it exposes mudbanks and debris that provide feeding and shelter for rats. The steep wooded cliffs on both sides of the river give rats cover to move between the waterside and the town above and properties along Bridge Street and the streets that drop down toward the river see regular rat activity. The old stone walls of the town, including sections near the castle, are riddled with gaps that rats and mice use to navigate the hillside.

The historic centre of Chepstow is a tangle of narrow streets lined with stone and rendered buildings, many dating back several hundred years. These properties have thick walls with voids, old cellars and uneven floors that make them vulnerable to mouse problems. The pubs, restaurants and food shops along the High Street and St Mary Street create food sources that attract rodents to the town centre and managing waste in these tight medieval streets where bin storage is limited is always a challenge.

Beyond the old town, newer housing has spread up the hill toward Hardwick and Bulwark and these estates see a different pattern of pest activity. Mice and wasps are more common than rats in these areas, with wasp nests turning up in roof spaces and cavity walls through summer. The racecourse and the woods around Piercefield Park bring wildlife close to the northern edge of town and grey squirrels are a frequent problem in the loft spaces of houses that border these green areas. Chepstow's position on the edge of the Wye Valley means the surrounding woodland is never far from any part of town.