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Cumbria and The Lakes
Local technicians covering Barrow, Walney Island and the rest of the Furness peninsula. Gulls on roofs, pigeons on ledges and rats around the docks, dealt with by people who know how a coastal shipbuilding town works.
The town we work in
Barrow is a working port and shipbuilding town surrounded by water on three sides. The sea, the docks and a large workforce shape its pest problems far more than farmland or old timber do.
55,489
People in the town
Population of Barrow itself in 2021. The town centre is laid out as a grid of terraced streets, many built from local sandstone.
3 sides
Surrounded by water
Morecambe Bay to the east, the Duddon Estuary to the west and the Irish Sea to the south. Coastal towns are where gulls move onto rooftops.
14,500
Shipyard workforce
BAE Systems' submarine yard is the UK's largest shipyard by workforce. That means busy canteens, takeaways and a lot of rented rooms.
4 docks
Royal Port of Barrow
Buccleuch, Cavendish, Devonshire and Ramsden docks. Quaysides, warehouses and stored goods give rats and pigeons food and cover.
Walney Island
Gulls next door
Herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls breed at South Walney, a short flight from the rooftops of Vickerstown and the town centre.
Since 2023
Westmorland and Furness
Barrow Borough Council was replaced by Westmorland and Furness Council in April 2023, which changed who residents contact about pests.
Sources: Barrow-in-Furness (Wikipedia) · Walney Island (Wikipedia)
Local pest pressure
Birds are the problem people in Barrow notice first, from gulls on the roof to pigeons over the shop door. Behind them come the pests that follow food and people: rats around the docks, cockroaches in busy kitchens and bed bugs in shared housing.
With breeding gulls on Walney and the sea on three sides, flat roofs, chimney stacks and valleys across the town make easy nest sites. Once chicks hatch, adults will dive at anyone near the nest. Nests are protected by law while in use or being built, so the answer is proofing the roof before the nesting season starts.
Sandstone ledges, signage and the warehouses around the docks give pigeons shelter all year. Droppings foul entrances, block gutters and build up in roof spaces. Netting, spikes and closing off access points stop them returning.
Four docks, quaysides and a long shoreline give rats food, water and cover. Homes and businesses close to the waterfront see the most activity, especially where bins are left out or drains are damaged. A drain survey finds the routes treatment alone misses.
A large workforce means canteens, cafes and takeaways cooking for a lot of people. Cockroaches live in the warm gaps behind ovens, fridges and pipework, and they arrive in deliveries. Food businesses need regular checks through a commercial pest control contract.
Shipyard work brings contractors who stay in shared houses, B&Bs and short lets. Bed bugs travel in luggage and move between rooms, so landlords with a high turnover of tenants are the most exposed. Catching them early keeps it to one room.
On the edges of town and on Walney, foxes dig under sheds and decking, raid bins and leave a strong smell. They are wild animals, not vermin, so the focus is on moving them on humanely and blocking the space they are using.
Source: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, section 1 (protection of wild birds and their nests)
The Barrow pest year
Spring
Gulls pair up and start building nests on roofs. Pigeons breed on ledges.
Summer
Gull chicks on rooftops and protective adults. Cockroaches most active in warm kitchens.
Autumn
Rats and mice move indoors. Young foxes look for territory of their own.
Winter
Gulls away from their nests: the time to fit roof proofing before spring.
What we treat here
Beyond the peninsula
The same technicians cover South Lakeland, the Lakes and the West Cumbrian coast.
Before you book
Birds, rats and kitchen pests: what to look for and when it needs a professional.
Seagulls on Roofs and Buildings: Why Urban Gulls Are a Growing Problem
Read article →
Pigeons, Gulls and Starlings: The Problems Birds Cause on Buildings
Read article →
Rats in the Garden or House: Signs, Risks, and What Happens If You Ignore Them
Read article →
What Causes a Cockroach Infestation? Where They Come From and What Attracts Them
Read article →
Urban Foxes: Why They're in Gardens and What the Real Risks Are
Read article →More ways we can help
Treating the infestation is sometimes only part of the job. These services help put the property right afterwards.
Our approach to treatment and prevention.
Restoring spaces after contamination.
Finding hidden rat entry routes.
Decontamination for sensitive spaces.
Insulation spoiled by rodents or squirrels.
Clearing difficult properties.
The people behind the work
Questions
Yes. We cover the whole town and the LA13 and LA14 postcodes, including Walney Island, Vickerstown, Barrow Island, Roose, Hawcoat and Newbarns, plus nearby Dalton-in-Furness and Askam. Same-day callouts depend on technician availability, so calling early in the day gives you the best chance. We are open Monday to Thursday 7am to 8pm and Friday to Sunday 8am to 6pm.
Not while it is in use. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to take, damage or destroy the nest of a wild bird while it is in use or being built, and gulls are no exception. Action during the season is only possible in limited cases under licence. The lasting fix is proofing the roof with netting, wires or spikes outside the nesting season, so gulls cannot settle there next spring.
Feeding and roosting spots have to go. That means proofing the ledges, signage and gaps pigeons use with spikes, netting or bird wire, clearing out any nesting material and droppings, and closing off access to roof spaces. Removing the birds without proofing only lasts until the next flock finds the same ledge.
Yes. We look after food businesses, warehouses, landlords and other commercial premises with one-off treatments or regular visits through our commercial pest control service, including written reports you can show an inspector.
Since April 2023 Barrow has been part of Westmorland and Furness Council, which publishes advice on rats, mice and insect pests and can investigate some insect problems as a statutory nuisance. Check its website for exactly what it currently offers. For a technician to visit, treat the problem or proof your roof against birds, you can call us directly.
More questions? Read our full FAQ or browse our pest advice.
Tell us what you have seen and where you are, from Walney to Dalton. A local technician will take it from there.
