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Brief History of the Rabbit
The rabbit [Oryctolagus cuniculus] is surely one of the most familiar mammals, widespread throughout Britain and Ireland including even very small islands. Originaly from North West Africa, Spain and Portugal, they were introduced into Britain by man during the 12th century, where they were bred in captivity for their meat and fur. Probably quite soon afterwards they escaped from the man made enclosed warrens and established wild colonies, but even as late as the 18th century they were not looked upon as a nuisance.

By the 19th century the rabbit numbers had increased dramatically, probably as a result of agricultrual changes such as the introduction of crop rotation and the sowing of winter fodder crops. Today in Britain rabbit numbers are once again on the increase and although myxomatosis is establised in a endemic form it is not as lethal as is once was. Rabbits now have developed a certain immunity to the disease and can make a full recovery, passing on this immunity to their offspring. This is where the modern day trapper can make a huge difference to the rapidly expanding rabbit population, with the use of snares, cage traps and spring traps, rabbit infestations can quickly be brought under control.

Brief History of the Grey Squirrel
An adult Grey Squirrel weighs about 450g Its muscular body, excellent sight and special eye structure adapt it well for its mainly arboreal existence, although the squirrel is equally at home on the forest floor, or in gardens and urban parks. Squirrels are basically diurnal creatures, with major peaks of activity around dawn, and just before dusk, in bad weather grey squirels, which are particularly susceptible to fatal chilling when wet, may remain in their dreys for three or four days before hunger forces them to venture out and feed .

The damage the grey squirrels can do to managed woodland is considerable due to their habit of excessive bark stripping. Beech, Oak and Sycamore woods of between 10 and 40years growth are particularly at risk and sometimes whole plantations can be destroyed unless the squirrel numbers are carefully controlled. Squirrel control is best carried out during early spring (March/April) just before the period of maximum tree damage (May/June/July). Cage and spring traps are particularly wffective for squirrel control. Large numbers can be removed from woodland situations by the careful setting of tunnel traps and caged. In situations where both grey and red squirrels are present, only cage traps should be used - this allows any red squirrels to be released unharmed.

Moles - Public Enemy
NO.1 The average mole weighs in at approx 4oz. and is about 6 inches long with dark grey hair, not black as is often supposed and is velvet-like in texture. Others colours have been recorded, including white and black and white with apricot coloured specimens being occasionally found, mostly in the Oxfordshire area. The mole is not blind as is commonly thought but its eyesight is decidedly poor, which is only to be expected in a creature that spends most of its life in subteranean darkness. It needs to eat its own weight daily, relying on mostly earthworms but will also eat slugs, beetles, spsiders, centipedes and leather-jackets. It will eat carrion, usually a dead bird or mouse which it comes across on an expedition above ground, but surprisingly, it will not eat vegetable matter. Moles mate from March to May and 3 or 4 young are born usually in June but they are unable to fend for themselves until they are five weeks old. The average life span is around four years.

Since the last outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease when rural pest controllers were unable to gain access to vast areas of countryside there has been a massive increase in recorded mole numbers throughout Great Britain. Combined with the exceptionally wet and mild winters of late this has contributed to this explosion. With abundant food supplies and little in the way of control taking place, they have been to multiply to plague proportions. Moles have been reported appearing in places that previously had never had a mole problem, gardens, grass verges, playing fields, bowling greens all have been invaded. The once finely manicured lawns have been reduced to mound strewn eyesores with a never ending supply of fresh molehills.

Common Rat (rattus norvegicus) has only been recorded in Britain since early in the 18th century. It is thought to have been introduced in shipping from Russia and did not in fact originate from Norway, despite one of its common names suggesting otherwise. It is now by far the more abundant of the two rat species and is widely distributed in both urban and rural areas. It occurs both indoors and outdoors away from human habitation and is the species often associated with sewer systems. The Ship Rat or Black Rat (Rattus rattus) is thought to have originated in south-east Asia and reached western Europe sometime in the middle ages, possibly returning with the crusaders. However remains have been discovered in Roman deposits in York and London dating back to the 3rd and 4th century. Although once the dominant rat species in this country it is now rare.

The House Mouse (Mus domesticus) has been identified from pre-roman iron age deposits and is believed to have arrived in Britain around the 10th century BC. It is common in a wide range of urban and rural buildings all over Britain. Although mainly a house dweller it may live outdoors for part or all of the year. It is not found in sewers.

All Rodents have the ability to adapt themselves to almost any environment. Their great reproductive potential, natural cunning and survivability puts them amongst the most successful animals on earth. The success they enjoy in exploiting mans' environment brings them in direct conflict with man because of their adverse effects on the human population in the following ways

- Disease
- Contamination 
- Damage to foods 
- Property damage 
- Fear

Wasps
The wasp causes great alarm and distress to many people each summer, understandably in many cases, as the sting can be quite painful and indeed dangerous to those who suffer fromallergic reaction to the venom. There are many types of wasp to be found in Britain. The two most common being the German Wasp (Vespula germanica) and the Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris). The nest made out of chewed wood (paper) can be found in holes in the ground, in trees, brick cavities and most frequent in roof spaces where the true beauty and size of the nest can really be appreciated. Fortunately the treatment of a wasp nest is relatively simple and requires only one visit to administer the residual insecticide which destroys the nest within a very short period of fime (a few hours normally).

Black Ants
Black ants are another pest that frequently invade premises during the summer months, making life very unpleasant when they decide to take up residence in the kithen or food store. The common black ant (lasius niger) is mainly a garden insect but is attracted to the inside of buildings by the readily source of protiens ie. sugary substances found in soft drinks and sweets etc. so easily left lying around by children and adults. Again the treatment requires the application of a residual insecticide to all the areas the insects frequent, although total elimination is difficult unless the nest can be found and destroyed.

Magpies
Magpies are despised by almost everyone, owing to being wrongly blamed for the widespread decline in many of our songbirds by preying on their eggs and nestings. In fact, many of our songbirds are in decline owing to poor survival rates after leaving the nest, which has nothing to do with the magpies. Also Jays are responsible for taking as many eggs and nestlings as the magpies but do so less conspicuously and without blame.