Simple tactics for dealing with bees, fleas & rats

Fleas, bees and rats can quickly infest your home, but they can be gone just as fast. These are some ways to speed up the process.

• It's an unnerving sight, but a swarm of bees isn't usually a risk. If you see one in your garden, keep well away and warn others to do the same.
• If the bees remain, contact a beekeeper to move them to a new home.
• Avoid using noisy garden machinery close to a swarm, which will antagonize them.
• In the unlikely event of the swarm chasing you, stay calm and move out of the way slowly. It's best if you can maneuver into the shade of a shed or tree.
• Don't swat at the bees, they will soon lose interest and leave you alone.

If you have fleas in your home, start by treating your dog or cat to remove the initial cause.

• Consult your vet for the safest and most suitable treatment. Never use product intended for a cat on a dog, or vice versa.
• Wash your pet's bedding, then wash or thoroughly vacuum any furniture where your pet sits. Remove the vacuum bag as soon as you've finished, seal in a plastic bag and throw away.
• For serious flea infestations in the home, you may need to call in a professional pest-control company.

• Rats inside the home are a serious health risk, since they spread diseases such as salmonella, E. coli and leptospirosis (Weil's disease).
• You can help to discourage rats by never leaving pet bowls or garbage bags outside, and avoid putting meat on your compost pile.
• Act swiftly if you detect signs of rats in the yard, under decking or in a garage.
• Some signs of rats include rod-shaped droppings eight to 12 millimetres long, holes gnawed in skirting boards and packaging or a distinctive musky smell.
• Set a large number of traps with poisoned bait, such as garlic sausage or bacon.
• Bait the traps unset for a week before activating them, since rats tend to avoid anything new.
• If the infestation doesn't clear up quickly, call in your local pest control service before the rats multiply.

With these simple steps, you can get rid of pests and infestations that much quicker. After they're gone, be sure to start habits that discourage them from coming back.