blogger.com Pest Talk Blog: 2015

Saturday 7 November 2015

Alternative Ways to Safely Remove Wild Animals From Your Home

Bats, raccoons, birds and mice are important to the environment and their ecosystems. Humans can enjoy spotting these animals in the wild, but it is not so pleasant when wild animals enter human homes. If you have a wild animal living in your house, you may feel panicked to get the creature out as soon as possible. You may also be unsure of what to do and may wait to see if the animal leaves on its own will. The best thing to do in this situation is to research methods of wild animal removal.

When you are suspicious that an animal has made a nest in your house, you should first try to find out what kind of animal it is. You could do this by listening for noises in the walls and ceiling, examining the exterior of your house for dropping or entrance marks and noticing the animals hanging out around your house. Depending on the type of animal, you may be able to use gentle harassment techniques to prod the creature to leave. For instance, an independent adult raccoon may evacuate a building if you invade its space with bright lights, loud music and a unpleasant odor. Often, animals find themselves trapped inside a house accidentally. Bats or birds stuck inside a house may simply leave if you turn off the lights and open a window.

If you have convinced a wild animal to leave your house, make sure to close up the entrance so it cannot get back inside. It is very important that you confirm all animals are out of the house so you do not trap babies inside without their mother or small animals in hidden places. Dealing with an animal that dies inside your home is certainly worse than removing and relocating a living one.Trapping wild animals in a cage may be an option, but you risk the chance that the animal lurking around your home has a nest nearby with young that will surely die without the care of their mother.

In order to prevent mishaps like this, it is always best to call a wildlife removal specialist. They will have the knowledge and supplies to identify the type of animal infestation and safely get the animals back into the wild where they belong. The service provider will also give you information on how to prevent wildlife from coming inside your home.

Call an animal removal specialist to clear any animals from your home and ask them to identify any other possible entrances in your home’s exterior. Visit this website to find local companies that specialize in animal removal in Raleigh, NC.

Worried About Termites? Check These Places

Termites burrow into and eat wood, causing significant damage to houses. While homeowners in warmer climates should schedule regular inspections to be sure, if you're worried you might have a problem you can look for common termite signs around your home.

Start in the Basement

Most termites are subterranean, usually found at ground level and first floors, though in warmer climates they may venture higher. Inspect all wood and wooden structures in the basement for discarded wings and termite droppings, which look like tiny wooden pellets. In spring and occasionally autumn there may be swarmers, appearing like winged ants, near light sources.

Crawl Underneath

Check under wooden porches and in crawl spaces with a flashlight. Look for mud tubes the width of a pencil running up and down sills and foundation walls. Break open a tube with a screwdriver tip to check for live termite activity.

Investigate Outside

Any wood near the house can offer nesting places for termites. Inspect old stumps, scrap, firewood piles or fence posts for signs of hollow or crumbling wood. Also check window frames, especially basement windows close to the ground.

Signs of termites in any of these spotsare a cause for concern, but only a professional can determine the full extent of the problem. See this website for more about termite control in Garner.



Ringed Grass Snakes

Regardless of the color of their bodies, grass snakes can be identified by a band of yellow color found just behind their head. For this reason, they are sometimes called ringed snakes. This stripe tells you that this is a non-venomous snake that is just looking for a frog to eat. 


Friday 6 November 2015

Permanently Remove House Pests With These 3 Tips

There are few things more annoying than unwelcome visitors in your home. If your house is plagued by insects, rodents or other pests, follow these tips for expelling the invaders.

Identify the Threat

Key to kicking out critters is understanding your enemy. Research what pests are common in your area and the best methods for handling them. Common problems in North Carolina include:

·         Insects such as ants, roaches, termites and mosquitos
·         Rats and mice
·         Larger wildlife such as squirrels, bats and birds

Eliminate Temptation

Animals of all sizes invade houses looking for food and shelter. Reducing the availability of these necessities makes your house less inviting. Keep food wrapped up and dried goods in sealed containers, regularly take out the trash, and discard or recycle piles of newspapers and boxes where creatures can nest.

Block Their Access

One of the most effective ways to keep animals out is to make sure they have no way in.Repair or replace ripped window and door screens, and block holes and open drain pipes. Caulk around window frames and baseboards to seal off gaps small animals and bugs can slip through.

These prevention techniques will keep most wildlife from coming back, but some persistent problems require professional attention. See this link for more about animal removal in Raleigh.


Researchers Learn to Drive Cockroaches

Case Western Reserve University researchers have tapped into the brains of common cockroaches, allowing the scientists to identify the neurons that control specific movements… read more

How to Safely Remove and Relocate Honey Bees

Honey is delicious, but the bees that make it are less appealing when they've made a hive in your house. However, it's better to save these beneficial and endangered insectsrather than exterminate them. These tips will help you handle honey bees without harming yourself or the bees.

Know Your Bees

First, ascertain that you are dealing with honey bees and not another species of stinger. Bees are fuzzy, unlike most wasps, and their nests are built from honeycombs of wax, rather than wood fibers or clay.

Bring in a Beekeeper

To avoid being stung, keep a distance from the hive's entrances, and call a beekeeper. Reputable extermination companies will work with beekeepers in the case of honey bees, and can arrange an appointment for you. With the right equipment, a beekeeper can move an entire hive and the bees in it, relocating it from your house to a safe environment.

Cleaning Up

After the main hive and bees have been removed, all traces of the honeycomb and honey must be cleaned up, or else the odor may attract new bees. Seal up any cracks in the walls and fill interior wall cavities to discourage more hives.

Though honey bees nesting in your house can be a nuisance, beekeepers have the equipment and experience to safely remove and preservetheir hives. Follow this link for more information about bee removal in Garner.