Find where to get help and advice about types of home and garden pests that the council does not deal with.
We receive many enquiries about various animals, birds and insects which we do not offer pest control visits for, including bees, foxes, pigeons and seagulls:
You can download advice leaflets about other pests that we do not deal with, including ants, flies, bed bugs, brown tail moths, cockroaches and many more:
Squirrels
Squirrels can be controlled by proofing buildings - the most successful long term solution to control grey squirrels is to deny them access to roof spaces. If they get into roof voids to use as harbourage, nest and play sites, they can often cause considerable and very expensive damage.
If you have a problem with squirrels inside your property, contact a local private pest control company using the BPCA link from this page.
You can download an advice leaflet on urban grey squirrels from the Natural England website by following our link.
Badgers
Badgers are protected animals. You should notify Sussex Police if a person is seen digging at badger sets or badger baiting. If you find an injured badger at the side of the road, contact the RSPCA or a local vet - for contact details go to our Wildlife Protection page.
You can report a dead animal on the road using the East Sussex Fault Reporting Service website via the link from this page.
You can download a leaflet Badger Problems - Advice for Householders from the Natural England website by following our link.
Bats
Bats rarely cause a problem and all bats and their roost sites are protected by law, even if bats are not present all the time. If you have bats in your roof, their access must not be impeded, so you must seek expert advice before having building work done.
Never touch or handle bats without expert advice – there is a risk they are infected with the killer disease Rabies.
For advice go to the Bat Conservation Trust website using the link from this page, or call their helpline on 0845 1300 228.
Snakes
Snakes are protected species and cannot be killed. Grass snakes are harmless should cause no problems.
The adder is the UK’s only venomous snake, but because the venom is designed to kill only small animals like voles it is not particularly potent. Although adders should always be treated with respect, the danger of an adder bite is often exaggerated. Adders are only very occasionally found in gardens.
For advice about snakes go to the Froglife website using the link from this page.
Slugs and Snails
Slugs and snails are not a public health risk. Various treatments are available in shops. Always read manufacturers' labels. For more advice go to the Gardening Which A-Z of Garden Pests using the link from this page, or download our leaflet below.
