What's different in Shellharbour
Swarms often sort themselves out
The council says most swarms move on within a few hours. One on your own land goes to Amateur Beekeepers Australia. One in a risky spot on council land, like playground equipment, is worth reporting.
Bush inside the city
Council bush regenerators look after over 430 hectares, including Blackbutt Forest, Bass Point and Croom reserves. Bushcare groups also work at Koona Bay, Warilla Dunes and Oakey Creek Reserve.
Snakes aren't a pest job
All native snakes in NSW are protected and the council has no snake service. Keep people and pets well back, and call a licensed snake catcher or WIRES.
Foxes, deer and rabbits go elsewhere
Local Land Services gives advice on these, and the council asks for sightings in the FeralScan app.
Rats coming from next door?
Rule out your own yard
Check bins, compost, pet food and anything stacked on the ground. Then look for gnawing and greasy rub marks along walls.
Have the friendly chat
Your neighbour may not know. Chook feed, aviaries and overgrown corners are all easy fixes once someone mentions them.
Raise kept animals with the council
Shellharbour's keeping of animals policy lets it act at any time if animals are having a negative impact on neighbours or the area.
Get the building proofed
Rats stay out of a home they can't get into. A pest business can find the entry points as well as set bait stations (locked boxes that hold rodent bait).
The usual jobs
People looking up Shellharbour mostly want a pest controller for the house, or a building and pest inspection before buying. Around the home that means rats and mice, cockroaches, spiders and ants.
Before a technician starts
- Can I see your photo licence card, with an expiry date that hasn't passed?
- What's the full name of the product you'll use?
- Can I have the safety data sheet for it?
- What should we do with bird cages, fish tanks and pets?
If it were our place in Shellharbour
Give a swarm a few hours before doing anything, and keep the kids away while you wait. For rats or roaches, fix the food and the gaps first. If they're still around after that, tell us what you've seen.
Want someone to look at it?
Tell us what you've seen and your postcode, and a local pest business that handles exactly that calls you to talk it through.
