Squirrels Hide Things in the Strangest of Places

Squirrels are a common sighting all across the state. While they are cute and fluffy and fun to see in your backyard, they can cause trouble with their stashes of food. Here are two inconvenient places where squirrels can secure the caches.

1. Attic Stashes

It may sound odd, but squirrels have been known to make their way into attics and hide caches of food there. Squirrels are rodents and must continuously gnaw away their teeth. If they are determined enough, they will chew through the soffit and make their way inside. Next, they will eat through the insulation until they make a cozy, warm nest inside your attic.

2. Check Your Garden

Squirrels are also talented in the hiding of nuts in your outdoor spaces. Squirrels will bury small amounts of their winter stashes in many locations. Some of the most common include:

·    Underneath logs or exposed tree roots.

·    Below piles of leaves raked up for the fall.

·    Below the soil in your garden.

To prevent squirrels from digging in your yard, you can cover the known squirrel hideouts with special hardware cloth.

Squirrels are a natural part of the ecosystem and can be a pleasure to watch and feed. However, when their pesky antics are invading your space, make sure to get professional help. To learn more about squirrel relocation in Raleigh, please visit this website.

The Importance of Removing Bats in a Humane Way

People attempt a variety of toxic methods to exterminate bats from attics. However, since there are no fumigants or poisons specifically made for bats, some will use spray fumigants, which are meant for insects. Also, some companies use poison agents that are not only illegal but are just as harmful to humans.

Different From Bugs

It’s important to know that insect poisons will not work properly on bats.  Fortunately, it's not that common that people will resort to using poisons, but in the cases where they have, it caused the stressed bats to make their way into the living quarters of the home, biting the residents.

Because it’s illegal, bat pesticides just aren’t available. As such, you want to be sure to never hire the services of a company that uses pesticides or poisons for bat control. In fact, they need to either be turned into the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or your state’s wildlife commission. Yes, bats absolutely need to be removed from private residences but in a humane way, as they are supposed to be protected, not killed.

Bats Like to Live in Attics Because They Are:

•             Dry

•             Warm

•             Safe

•             Just like a cave but better because they are high off the ground and there aren’t any predators.

Visit this website to learn more reasons to relocate bats instead of exterminate them, as well services for bat removal in Garner.

Don’t Let a Raccoon’s Good Looks Mislead You

Raccoons can invade your home and reside in the attic, causing noises, foul odors from urine and feces, possible rabies exposure and fleas. Rely on expert assistance since raccoon removal and remediation can be quite costly if not handled properly.  

Spring Cleaning Those Pests Away

Springtime is the time of year when most creepy crawly insects are peeking out of their winter hiding places to see where they want to go in this beautiful weather. It’s when many choose to head right on over to that nice house with lots of damp shelter and tasty food to nibble on—that just happens to be yours. You might be wondering who the worst guest of all is, and if you guessed the termite, you guessed correctly. It’s why you want to address pest control head-on either before the start of spring or at the beginning of the season.

What You May Have Always Wanted to Know About Termites but Never Asked

• They are social butterflies, living in large, organized colonies often underground
• On an annual basis, they cause approximately five billion dollars in property damage
• They feed on the cellulose in wood

Little Do Termites Know How Much Damage They Really Cause

The damage they cause is not usually covered by homeowner’s insurance and because most of it takes place inside a building’s structure, it often goes unnoticed for years by the homeowner. It’s only when the little buggers start popping their heads out when people realize they need to do something about it. But, like everything else, it’s usually less expensive when the problem has not gotten out of control.

Visit this website to learn more on why you should call a pest control company before spring, as well as services for pest control in Raleigh.

Raccoons Camped Out in the Attic

It all starts when you hear interesting noises coming from the walls or above the ceiling. Perhaps you already saw the critter on your roof. If not, maybe you have no idea what’s up there. So here’s a little 101 on how you can tell a raccoon apart from other creatures.

They Make Distinct Noises

Raccoons are relatively large animals, so they will sound more like thumps versus scurrying sounds that smaller ones make. You will also usually hear a lot of noise at night, because they are nocturnal in nature. You could also see one leaving around dusk in order to hunt for food, returning later.

It’s doesn’t take long to figure out how they sound. These outspoken creatures make a variety of interesting:

• Chirps
• Growls
• Cries

Often It’s a Mama Raccoon in the Attic With Her Babies

Most of the time, you will find that it’s a nest of baby raccoons living up there. As such, along with removing the mother, they must also be carefully moved. If not, they will starve to death if their mom is removed, but they are not and will leave behind a highly undesirable smell accompanied by maggots and flies. Once the family is taken out, make sure to seal up the place where she was allowed to enter.

 Visit this website to learn more on how to tell if you have a raccoon infestation in the attic and where to find raccoon removal in Garner.

Temperature Affects Stink Bugs More than Any Other Factors

Many things can affect the size and range of insect populations, including the climate, the availability of food sources, and the absence or presence of predators… read more

Understanding the Different Kinds of House Wasps

In warmer weather, it’s more common to see wasps swarming around people’s homes versus the winter months. Knowing the varieties of wasps that are out there can help protect you until you get a pest control expert onto the scene.

Identifying What They Look Like and Their Level of Aggression

There are a variety of wasp types that you may see around your residence in the spring or summer.

Here are some of the most common kinds:

• Usually dark brown with yellow and black bands circling their bodies, paper wasps are known for building open, paper nests on ceilings, rocks, eaves, trees and playgrounds. They usually only attack when threatened.

• The supermodels of the wasp family in that they are long, slender with narrow waists, the mud dauber wasps typically build hard mud nests on a home’s exterior and are not known for being aggressive.

• One of the most aggressive wasps out there that will attempt to sting when they feel threatened, the yellow jackets look a little like bees with their yellow and black stripes but are not fuzzy like bees are.

• Black with white markings on their face, bald-faced hornets make papery, grey shell nests high up on structures and trees. In fact, their nests can be as large as a basketball. A relative of the yellow jacket, they can also be easily provoked.

Visit this website to learn more on the common types of house wasps and about wasp removal in Cary.

  

Getting the Facts Straight About Bed Bugs

There are a lot of fears out there around bed bugs. So it’s important to clear up any misnomers and to also learn, of course, how you can help prevent these villains from coming into your humble abode.

Rest Easier Now That You Know the Facts

Though bed bugs are a real nuisance, experts say you can’t get any diseases from them. However, when they do bite, they sometimes leave welts or, at least, red, itchy marks. A great thing to know, though, is that approximately 30 percent of people don’t react to them at all.

Vigilance is Your Best Friend 

When you’re at a hotel:

• Upon arrival, with a flashlight, lift the sheets and look for them (they resemble apple seeds) and dark-colored spots on the mattress’ edges and box springs. Also look behind the headboard.
• Keep your luggage high on a rack.

When you get home:

• Throw your clothes in the dryer at the hottest temperature possible. That will wipe them all out if you have any. Also, look for them in your shoes and luggage, vacuuming and using a dry scrub brush as well.

Lastly, encase your mattress and box cover in protective coverings.
 
 An important thing to remember, if you ever encounter them at home, is that a professional pest control company can get rid of them.
 
Visit this website to get more information on how to prevent bed bugs and to hire a service to remove bed bugs in Raleigh.