Rodent Pest Control in Stockton on Tees & Darlington
Rodents such as rats, mice and squirrels are among the most persistent and destructive pests facing homes and businesses. Left unchecked, they can cause significant damage to property, contaminate food supplies, and even spread disease.
At Pest Ex, we deliver tailored rodent control solutions backed by over 30 years’ experience across Stockton on Tees, Darlington, and throughout the North East. Whether you’re dealing with a one-off infestation or need ongoing protection, our certified technicians are here to help.
Why Act Fast on Rodents?
Rodent problems escalate quickly. Understanding the risks can help you act early and minimise disruption:
• Structural damage: Mice and rats chew through wires, timber and insulation, creating fire and flood risks.
• Health hazards: Rodents carry diseases like leptospirosis and salmonella, often spread via droppings or parasites.
• Food contamination: Kitchens, pantries and storage areas are ideal nesting and feeding grounds.
• Reputation risks: For businesses, even one sighting can result in lost customers or health regulation breaches.
• Rapid breeding: Mice reproduce year-round — a single pair can lead to dozens in weeks.
They’re also wary of unfamiliar environments (neophobia), making DIY removal difficult. That’s why professional intervention is essential.
What Our Rodent Control Covers
Every infestation is different, so we tailor each solution to the site, species and severity involved. Our approach typically includes:
Rodent Identification
We carry out full site surveys across Stockton on Tees, Darlington, and throughout the North East to detect signs of infestation, identify harbourage zones, and trace access points. Understanding the problem is the first step to solving it.
Safe & Targeted Treatment
Depending on the findings, we implement the most effective control methods, including rodenticides, trapping, or live capture, all compliant with UK regulations.
Environmental Action
To ensure long-term control, we also address contributing factors such as open entry points or food sources. We seal gaps, clean droppings, and advise on prevention.
Monitoring & Ongoing Support
If required, we install monitoring systems and provide integrated pest management plans — ideal for commercial settings or high-risk sites.
Know Your Rodents
Rodents aren’t all the same. Here’s what you need to know about the most common species we deal with:
Rats
Rats are not only destructive but also highly adaptive. They can tread water for days, return through flushed pipes, and chew through lead. Worse, they carry over 60 diseases including Hantavirus and typhus. Their constantly growing teeth mean they must gnaw daily — often targeting cables, woodwork and pipes.
Mice
Small but relentless, mice can squeeze through holes as small as a pencil. They favour lofts, kitchens and cavity walls, and will gnaw through cereal boxes, insulation and even electrical wires. One female can produce 60 offspring in just three months. Like rats, they also transmit disease through droppings and parasites.
Squirrels
While seemingly harmless, grey squirrels are a serious pest. They are a listed Invasive Alien Species under UK law and cannot legally be released once caught. Common in lofts and roof spaces, they chew timber and insulation, disrupt electrical systems, and displace native red squirrels. Their presence poses ecological and structural threats alike.
Areas We Cover
Pest Ex provides expert rodent control services across:
• Stockton on Tees
• Darlington
• Middlesbrough
• Hartlepool
• North Yorkshire
• Durham
• Tyne & Wear
We support both residential and commercial properties, from single homes to multi-site businesses.
Ready to Take Control?
Don’t let rodents settle in. Whether it’s a suspected nest or confirmed infestation, our expert team is ready to help, quickly, discreetly, and with solutions that last. We serve areas across County Durham, including Stockton on Tees and Darlington.
Tel: 01642 247 333
Email: enquiries@pest-ex.co.uk
Do you have an issue with a specific rodent? Click below on our rogue’s gallery to find out more information.
1. Rats carry at least 60 communicable diseases, including Hantavirus, leptospirosis, typhus and meningitis.
2. Rats can tread water for three days and survive being flushed down a toilet. Worse, they can return to the building they were ‘flushed’ from via the same route.
3. Rats can chew through electrical wires, cinderblocks and even lead pipes with their razor sharp teeth
4. A rat’s teeth grow five inches a year, only maintained by continuous grinding and gnawing to keep from outgrowing the rat’s mouth
5. Rats eat their own feces for nutritional value
1. Mice are just as likely to carry diseases and infections as rats. Often these diseases will stem from the ‘passengers’ that like to latch onto them, such as specific strains of fleas and lice
2. They’re incredibly industrious when it comes to finding a way in to your home. Their skeletal structure allows them to squeeze through tiny spaces
3. Mice will chew and eat through anything. They especially love grains and can make their way through a box of cereal or crackers without much effort.
4. Mice can breed year-round with one female able to produce five to 10 litters per year. A family of six mice can multiply into 60 over the course of three months.
5. Mice love chewing on wires and when they are in your walls and loft!
1. The UK Forestry Commission estimates grey squirrels causes £6-10 million damage to British forestry per year.
2. The grey squirrel, here in Britain and Europe, is classed as an Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and is recognised as being in the top 100 worst such species in the world.
3. Because grey squirrels are an invasive pest species, it is against the law to re-release a grey squirrel if it’s been caught alive, per the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. That means a professional pest controller is legally obliged to dispatch any grey squirrel they catch alive.
4. Many scientific studies show that the major contributing factor for the decline of the red squirrel is the introduction of its grey cousin. As well as the competition for shelter and food, grey squirrels can transmit the squirrelpox virus to red squirrels.
5. Once a red squirrel has squirrelpox, it’ll usually die of dehydration within 2 weeks. The grey squirrel can carry the disease, but their health is unaffected.
