Par, St Austell, CornwallOpen 24 hours, 7 days a week p.clarkey84@gmail.com07974 278830 AboutServices Areas ContactCall 07974 278830Call - Home/ - Pest control services/ - Rats, Mice & Rodents # Rat & Mouse ControlFor Cornish Homes, Farms & Holiday Lets A proofing-and-trapping led service from a Par-based pest controller who spent years in restoration building before pest control — meaning entry points get found, not just guessed at. Call 07974 278830Request an estimate Describe what you're seeing and where, and you'll get honest advice on what's actually needed before anything is booked. - 15 years' hands-on experience◆ - Bees rehomed — never exterminated◆ - Poison-free methods used wherever possible◆ - Humane & legal techniques — live-trapping specialists◆ - Rats, mice, wasps, moles, squirrels, rabbits & pigeons◆ - Sub-12 ft/lb air rifle control on grounds, farms & estates◆ - Gull & bird proofing — netting, spikes & deterrents◆ - Homes & businesses — pubs, restaurants, farms, holiday lets & landlords◆ - One-off call-outs & ongoing prevention plans◆ - Locally owned & run by Paul Clarke◆ - Covering St Austell, Truro, Newquay, Bodmin, Fowey & across mid-Cornwall◆ - 15 years' hands-on experience◆ - Bees rehomed — never exterminated◆ - Poison-free methods used wherever possible◆ - Humane & legal techniques — live-trapping specialists◆ - Rats, mice, wasps, moles, squirrels, rabbits & pigeons◆ - Sub-12 ft/lb air rifle control on grounds, farms & estates◆ - Gull & bird proofing — netting, spikes & deterrents◆ - Homes & businesses — pubs, restaurants, farms, holiday lets & landlords◆ - One-off call-outs & ongoing prevention plans◆ - Locally owned & run by Paul Clarke◆ - Covering St Austell, Truro, Newquay, Bodmin, Fowey & across mid-Cornwall◆ ## Experience 15 years on Cornish properties ## Availability Open 24 hours, 7 days ## Approach Proofing and trapping first, bait only when needed ## Coverage St Austell to Truro and Newquay ## Background Restoration building experience reading roofs and cavities The service ## Rat and mouse control across Cornwall Rats and mice don't respect the difference between a granite cottage in Fowey, a farm building outside Bodmin, or a holiday let in Mevagissey — they'll exploit whatever gaps a building offers, and Cornwall's older housing stock, with its granite walls, cob construction, slate roofs and stone outbuildings, offers plenty. Paul Clarke has spent 15 years working on Cornish properties, and before that spent years in restoration building, which means he reads a roofline, a cavity wall or an old cob extension the way most pest controllers read a bait station report — he's usually already spotted where the problem is coming from before a trap goes down. The approach here is proofing and trapping first. Bait blocks have their place, and they're used where they're genuinely needed or where a landlord, food business or farm specifically wants them as part of an ongoing programme, but they're not the default. A rat that's poisoned inside a wall cavity in an old granite building can die somewhere you'll never reach, and the resulting smell and fly problem is often worse than the original infestation. Trapping and proofing solves the problem at the entry point, not just the population. Cornwall's damp coastal climate and mild winters mean rodent activity rarely stops completely, but it does have clear seasonal patterns. Autumn is the busiest time of year, as falling temperatures and wetter weather push rats and mice out of hedgerows, farmland and coastal scrub and into roof spaces, garages, static caravans and outbuildings looking for warmth and shelter. Holiday lets and second homes left empty over winter are particularly vulnerable, because a rodent problem can establish itself for months before anyone notices. ### Who it's for - Homeowners hearing scratching in the loft, walls or under floors, especially from autumn onwards - Holiday let owners and managers needing a property checked and proofed between guest changeovers - Farms with feed stores, grain stores or outbuildings attracting rats - Pubs, restaurants and food businesses needing rodent control that fits around trading hours - Landlords with recurring tenant reports of droppings, gnaw marks or noise - Anyone who has found droppings, gnawed packaging, greasy smear marks or burrows and wants it dealt with properlyCall 07974 278830 Left alone ## Why a quick bait-and-leave visit often doesn't fix it A common pattern is a well-meaning attempt to solve a rat or mouse problem with a bag of shop-bought bait, or a single visit from someone who scatters blocks and doesn't come back. The rodents that survive learn to avoid the bait station, the entry point they came in through is never found, and within weeks — often around the next cold snap — they're back. In old Cornish buildings with cavity walls, suspended floors and multiple roof voids, there can be more than one way in, and missing even one means the problem never really goes away. There's also a welfare and practical argument against reaching straight for poison. Secondary poisoning of owls, buzzards and domestic pets that eat a poisoned rodent is a real risk, and a rat that dies inside a wall or under a floor in a granite or cob building can be almost impossible to retrieve — the smell can last for weeks. That's why the approach here starts with working out how they're getting in and stopping that, alongside trapping to remove the animals already inside. ### Structural gnaw damage Rats and mice gnaw constantly to keep their incisors worn down, and they'll go through timber, plasterboard, pipework and electrical cabling. Left unchecked, this is a genuine fire and structural risk, not just a nuisance. ### Contamination of food and surfaces Droppings and urine contaminate kitchens, food stores and worksurfaces, which is a serious problem for households and a compliance risk for pubs, restaurants and food businesses. ### Rapid breeding A mouse population can grow very quickly once established indoors, since breeding continues year-round in a warm building — a small problem in October can be a significant one by Christmas. ### Recurring, worsening problem Bait without proofing tends to knock a population back temporarily rather than solve it — the entry points remain and the cycle restarts with the next cold snap. ### Common mistakes worth avoiding - Using bait alone without ever finding or sealing the entry point - Assuming a single visit will solve an established infestation - Leaving bait accessible to pets or wildlife - Ignoring loft, roof void and cavity wall access points because they're hard to see - Ignoring a problem in an empty holiday let over winter because 'no one's staying there' Our process ## How a rat or mouse job is handled Every property is different, but the approach follows the same logic every time: work out how they're getting in, remove what's already inside, and leave the building harder to re-enter. - 1 ### Call and initial conversation A call to 07974 278830, any time, to describe what's been seen or heard — droppings, noises, gnawing, timing — so the visit can be prepared for properly. - 2 ### Full building inspection A thorough look at the roofline, cavities, airbricks, pipework entry points, doors and foundations, drawing on years of reading how Cornish buildings are put together, plus signs indoors such as droppings, smear marks and gnawing. - 3 ### Trapping and, where needed, targeted baiting Traps positioned along known rodent routes, with bait blocks used only where the situation genuinely calls for it or specifically requested, always positioned to minimise risk to pets and wildlife. - 4 ### Proofing the entry points Sealing, capping and blocking the routes rodents are using — around pipework, under doors, through airbricks and roof gaps — so new rodents can't simply move in once the current ones are gone. - 5 ### Follow-up and monitoring A return visit to check traps, confirm activity has stopped, and adjust proofing if needed. Farms, holiday lets and food businesses can move onto an ongoing preventative visit schedule. What you get ## Why this approach works on Cornish properties ### Buildings read properly, not guessed at A restoration building background means roof lines, cavity walls, cob construction and old stone joints are read accurately, so entry points get found rather than assumed. ### Poison used sparingly Trapping and proofing are the default, keeping pets, birds of prey and other wildlife safer, with bait blocks reserved for situations that genuinely need them. ### Works for households and businesses alike The same thorough approach applies whether it's a family home, a working farm, a pub kitchen or a row of holiday cottages, adapted to fit how the property is used. ### Available around the clock Open 24 hours, seven days a week, so a rodent problem discovered late at night or over a weekend doesn't have to wait until Monday. In detail ## Understanding rat and mouse problems in Cornwall Some of the detail behind why rodent problems behave the way they do locally, and what tends to make the biggest difference to solving them properly. ### Why granite and cob buildings are so vulnerable Cornwall's traditional granite and cob buildings are full of the kind of gaps rodents love — uneven stone joints, old timber lintels that have shrunk over time, cavity walls added during later renovations, and roof voids with irregular access points where slate meets stone. These buildings weren't built with rodent-proofing in mind, and repairs over the decades often create new gaps rather than closing old ones. - Gaps around old stone joints and mortar that has eroded over time - Cavity walls created by later extensions, offering a route straight up into a roof void - Airbricks and vents without adequate mesh - Old timber floors with gaps into the subfloor void ### Why autumn is the peak season As temperatures drop and the countryside gets wetter, rats and mice that have spent summer in hedgerows, farmland margins and coastal scrub actively seek shelter indoors. This shift typically starts in September and runs through November, which is why a scratching noise in the loft that starts appearing in autumn is one of the most common calls received. ### Holiday lets and second homes Properties left empty for stretches over autumn and winter are at particular risk, because a rodent problem can go unnoticed for weeks or months with no one checking the property. By the time a cleaner or the next guest arrives, droppings, gnaw damage and a strong smell may already be well established. - End-of-season checks before a property is left empty for winter - Proofing carried out between bookings to avoid disrupting guests - Discreet servicing that doesn't affect the guest experience ### Farms and outbuildings Feed stores, grain stores and livestock buildings are a natural draw for rats, and farm sites often have multiple buildings, each with its own entry points. An ongoing preventative visit schedule tends to work better than one-off call-outs for farms, since it keeps numbers down before they become established. ### Rats versus mice — different habits, different approach Rats are typically found at ground level, along foundations, drains and outbuildings, and are more cautious around new objects, which affects trap placement. Mice will climb, nest in loft insulation and wall cavities, and can squeeze through gaps as small as a pencil width, so proofing has to be far more thorough to keep them out. ### Signs worth acting on early The earlier a rodent problem is dealt with, the smaller and cheaper the job tends to be, since numbers build quickly once a population establishes itself indoors. - Droppings near skirting boards, in cupboards or lofts - Gnaw marks on packaging, timber or cabling - Greasy smear marks along frequently used routes - Scratching noises in walls, floors or ceilings, especially at night - A persistent, unexplained smell in an enclosed space ### Related services - Squirrel Removal - Mole Control - Gull & Bird Proofing - All services ### Areas covered Rats, Mice & Rodents across mid and south Cornwall, from the Par, St Austell base. - St Austell - Par - Charlestown - Lostwithiel - Polgooth - Fowey - Mevagissey - St Mawes - Truro - Newquay - St Columb Major - Bodmin Our work ## Rats, Mice & Rodents jobs in Cornwall FAQs ## Rats, Mice & Rodents — your questions Still unsure? The line is open 24 hours, 7 days a week — call 07974 278830 and describe what you have seen. How much does rat or mouse control cost?There's no fixed published price, because the right approach depends on the size of the building, how established the problem is, and how many entry points need dealing with. The job gets described properly first — over the phone and then during an inspection — and a price is quoted once it's clear what's actually needed. There's never a guess-and-hope quote given without seeing the property. How long does it take to get rid of rats or mice?Trapping usually shows results within the first week, but a full resolution — including proofing every entry point — typically takes a couple of visits over two to three weeks for an established problem. Small, early-stage problems can sometimes be resolved faster. Follow-up visits confirm activity has genuinely stopped rather than just paused. Will you use poison in my house?Not as a default. The approach here is proofing and trapping first, because poison carries risks to pets and wildlife and can result in a rodent dying somewhere inaccessible inside a wall or floor void. Bait blocks are only used where the situation genuinely calls for it, or where they're specifically requested, such as on some farm sites. What happens after the rats or mice are gone?The entry points that let them in get sealed and proofed as part of the same job, which is the main thing that stops the problem coming straight back. For farms, holiday lets and businesses, an ongoing preventative visit schedule can be set up to keep checking vulnerable points periodically, rather than waiting for the next infestation to appear. Why do I keep getting mice every autumn?This is one of the most common patterns in Cornwall — mice and rats move indoors as the weather turns from September onwards, seeking warmth and shelter. If entry points weren't fully sealed after a previous problem, or if new gaps have opened up (a common issue with older granite and cob buildings), the same routes get used again year after year. Do you deal with rats on farms and in agricultural buildings?Yes. Farms with feed stores, grain stores and livestock buildings are dealt with regularly, and given how quickly rodent numbers can build around a reliable food source, an ongoing preventative contract tends to work out better than repeated one-off call-outs. Can you treat a holiday let without disrupting guests?Yes — visits can be arranged between guest changeovers, and proofing work is generally quick and discreet. It's worth having a property checked at the end of the season before it's left empty over winter, since that's when problems most often take hold unnoticed. Is this an emergency service?The phone line is open 24 hours, seven days a week, so a call can be made at any time, including out of hours. Response depends on what's needed and where, but a genuine rodent problem — especially in a food business or a property with young children — is treated as a priority. Do you cover my area?Coverage includes St Austell, Par, Charlestown, Lostwithiel, Polgooth, Fowey, Mevagissey, St Mawes, Truro, Newquay, St Columb Major and Bodmin, along with the surrounding villages and countryside. How do I know if it's rats or mice?Rat droppings are larger — roughly the size of a grain of rice or bigger — and rats tend to stay near ground level along foundations and drains. Mouse droppings are much smaller and can turn up almost anywhere, including lofts and wall cavities, since mice climb readily. An inspection will confirm which is present and adjust the approach accordingly. ## Get a straight answer on your rat or mouse problem Call 07974 278830, any time, day or night, and describe what you've seen or heard. Whether it's a single house, a farm with several outbuildings, or a row of holiday cottages, the same proofing-and-trapping led approach applies, built around 15 years of reading how Cornish buildings actually work. Call 07974 278830Request an estimate - Open 24 hours, 7 days a week - Par, St Austell, Cornwall - p.clarkey84@gmail.com Owner-operated pest control across mid and south Cornwall. 15 years on the tools, poisons avoided wherever possible, bees rehomed rather than destroyed. ## Services - Rats, mice & rodents - Moles - Squirrels - Rabbits - Air rifle pest control - Wasp nest removal - Gull & bird proofing - Pigeons - Bees — rehomed, never killed - All services ## Areas covered - St Austell - Par - Charlestown - Lostwithiel - Polgooth - Fowey - Mevagissey - St Mawes - Truro - Newquay - St Columb Major - Bodmin - All areas covered ## Get in touch - 07974 278830 - p.clarkey84@gmail.com - 74 Polgover Way, St BlazeyPar, St AustellCornwall PL24 2RD - Open 24 hours, 7 days a week ## Popular pest control searches in Cornwall - Rat control St Austell - Wasp nest removal Cornwall - Mole catcher Cornwall - Bee removal and rehoming Cornwall - Seagull proofing Cornwall - Air rifle squirrel & rabbit control Cornwall - Pest control St Austell - Pest control Truro - Pest control Newquay - Pest control Bodmin © 2026 Pest Management Cornwall. 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