What Mice Want  
When the weather warms up, mice will begin to move around a little more. They are still semi-active during winter, but because of the lack of food and cold temperatures, you aren’t likely to see them. However, spring is just around the corner, and that means there will be mice up and about – as well as mice mating and having more mice.   

A human’s house can offer mice shelter, nesting supplies, food, and water. All of these make for a seemingly great place to live. The only problem is that it is your home, your clothes or sheets, your food, and your water.  Mice will avoid people in the home, which can make them difficult to discover, but when they reveal themselves through droppings, chewed items, or you simply see one running for cover, the truth is out.   

Good night; don’t let the bedbugs bite. Unfortunately, those bedbugs are biting more and more of us. Infestations have been rising in recent years. One theory is that modern chemical pest control treatments simply do not work on these parasites. Another is that as people travel further, more frequently, and in greater numbers, we are bringing them home with us. That is one souvenir that we can do without. How can you avoid bedbugs when traveling?

First, know what to look for when you are traveling. When you arrive in your room, inspect the bed. Pull back the sheets and concentrate on the area near the headboard and the seams. Bedbugs are brown, oval, and have a flattened body. If it has recently fed, it will be a purplish-red color and appear more full-bodied. Young bugs are translucent – so get out your flashlight. They also will be darker when they have fed.

Look carefully for cast skins; like a snake shedding its skin, bedbugs shed their shells as they grow. One more thing to look for: small dark spots on the mattress. This is fecal matter from the bedbugs. If you find them, request another room and do your inspection again.

Even if you do not see evidence of bedbugs, it pays to be cautious and take steps to prevent a few of these pests from getting into your luggage. Don’t keep your bag on the bed, just in case! Keep your luggage on the luggage stand and do a quick check before you open it. It is best to keep your clothing in the bag, if possible. Change in the bathroom, where bedbugs have much less opportunity to hide.

When you leave the hotel, put all of your laundry into plastic bags and seal. If there are bedbugs on them, you can eliminate them by simply washing and drying the clothing when you get home.

You can also wash your bag to ensure no bugs hitched a ride. Use very hot, soapy water. Other alternatives you can try include heating the bag or freezing it. Putting the bag in the sun for a day will kill the pests, as will freezing for at least five days.  

It is important to remember that bedbugs are not like lice, ticks, or fleas. While they do drink blood, they do not live on the host. In other words, they’re not going to start calling your body home. They want to eat and then go away and hide. The good news is, then, that you’re not going to transfer these pests in your hair or on your body. It is your clothing and items that you have to worry about because these offer prime hiding spots.  

No type of accommodations are immune from bedbugs, nor is any traveler. When you take some simple precautions and be aware of what to look for, you will be able to keep these pests from coming back home with you.

Prevention generally is better than a cure. This doesn’t only apply to disease. In the case of injuries, it’s always better if you didn’t tear an ACL or twist an ankle. Likewise, in pest control, it is better to keep pests away than it is to remove them. How do you keep certain pests away? There are several methods.

First off, watch out for standing water in your yard and in your house. This is a favorite breeding ground of insects like mosquitoes. If you can reduce the amount of larvae and eggs, you’re already well on your way to preventing excessive bugs on your property.

Food is important. Some bugs will take up residence in your pantry if you aren’t careful. These pests will burrow in flour, eat fruit, and more, Fruit flies are attracted to old fruit, so be sure to be wary of when food begins to go bad.  Bad food is much more effective at attracting and harboring bugs, and you want to reduce possible habitats to control pests. Fruit and food also tend to attract ants. Always wipe down counters immediately after you eat or prepare food – even bits of food or leftover juice can attract ants. These bugs track germs and can contaminate food. They are also a nuisance.  

Also, if you live in a rural area, you can use pest-eating animals. Guineas, a breed of poultry, are useful in that they eat ticks. Chickens and other birds often eat bugs, so if you need crickets or other bugs controlled, they can help. Even if you aren’t rural, check zoning laws – you may well be able to keep a limited number of hens in the city, depending on where you live. 

Sometimes, you will need to use commercial pest controls. You can keep an eye out for signs of damage to avoid having a disaster on your hands. Always call a company at the first sign of something being amiss. With some diligence and some vigilance, you can protect your home from the invasion of household pests. Good luck – it’s worth your time and effort!

Household pests are common nuisances, but how do you know when it’s time for professional intervention? What should you do in the meantime?

Read on to discover that it has more to do with the type of bugs than you think.

Ants.  Ants are ubiquitous. It’s one thing to have a picnic ruined, but quite another to discover hordes of ants in your home. These bugs can spread disease, making it important to get rid of them. Some ant traps contain effective poison, but beware if you have pets or young children – ant poison is highly toxic. If you do have ants in your home, make certain you seal up any food containers to help deter them. If these procedures don’t help, then contact a pest control company. These companies can rid your home of ants using methods that will not harm children or pets.

Flies.  Flies – along with gnats and mosquitoes – are some of the most irritating pest of the household. They also bite, making it easier for them to spread disease.  Fly strips can be an easy way to capture them, but they can be unsightly, particularly if you have guests over. Gnats tend to collect around fruit, and mosquitoes love moist areas, though they are primarily an outdoor pest. Citronella can help deter mosquitoes, and housing fruit in sealed containers can also be useful in reducing the numbers of these bugs in your home. 

Ticks.  Ticks are some of the more dangerous and disease-carrying pests.  They carry Lyme disease, among other life-threatening illnesses. Ticks are insidious and can go unnoticed for long periods of time. Veterinarians can prescribe tick repellents for pets, and you can be vigilant and remove ticks as you find them, but it’s a good idea to seek commercial help if ticks become a major problem. Pest control companies have experience dealing with ticks and can really help you when you need it.

There are many other pests out there – this is just a sampling – but be advised that pest control companies can really help reduce the pest load just as spring rolls around. Good luck with your pests – and have a happy spring!

Spring is a great time. When you think of spring, you probably picture lush grass, cookouts on the deck, flowers blooming, and birds flitting through the sky. However, when the snow melts and the chill starts to dissipate, you probably know that your lawn is largely yellow and dry. How do you rejuvenate your lawn in time for spring? Depending on your needs, there are several things you can do.

Fertilize.  This is perhaps the most obvious thing you can do. Lawn companies offer many, many fertilization options depending on where you live, the composition of your lawn, and the condition of it. Many even have reduced-runoff or green-safe (less environmentally-damaging) ways to treat your lawn. Talk to your local lawn company because they can help you pick what’s best.

Water.  Depending on where you live, you may have adequate rainfall to boost your lawn’s green. If you don’t, though, you may need to supplement with some extra watering. Again, a lawn company can advise you. 

Weeds.  Many lawns get overrun by weeds very easily, especially in the summer months. When spring rolls around, you may have weeds lurking. To get a jumpstart, you might want to talk to your lawn company about killing weeds before they overgrow. Many companies offer both safe-for-the-environment lawn treatments and traditional treatments. Some treatments kill weeds once they sprout, and others just attack the roots. Your company can tell you what is best for your circumstances.

Aside from this sort of maintenance, take good care of your lawn. This involves routine mowing, weeding, and watering. You can also re-seed as needed. Many companies also will aerate soil – this involves punching holes in the ground to allow air to get to the roots. Always be sure to mow your lawn before grass gets too tall – too much height can give it the opportunity to overshadow and choke out new shoots. This is something that can also happen with weeds – they outcompete lawn grass for resources and can soon take over. With vigilance, you will be able to have the best lawn of your life just in time for the onset of spring.

Maybe the word “handyman” sounds like something from way back in the day. Something from the era of children selling lemonade and neighbors waving from pastel-colored cars. Handymen, though, are still a valuable part of the workforce. These people have experience in a variety of disciplines. Some may be plumbers as well as carpenters. Others can help fix machinery or even cars. “Handyman” is kind of a vague term, but usually a handyman is one who can work doing light carpentry, drywall work, gutter cleaning, and other things around your home. 

If you’re like most people, even the idea of bed bugs is a terrifying one. The last thing you want is an infestation on your hands, but there are as many myths and questions about bed bugs as there are real answers out there. Not sure where to turn? Here are five of the most common questions with the answers you need now.

1. Where are bed bugs mostly likely to occur? Almost anywhere! Pest control professionals will tell you that anywhere people are on a regular basis, you can find bed bugs. While they are certainly fairly common in and around the bed, they could be in the walls, behind picture frames, even in the cracks of your floor board. People have even found bed bugs in taxis recently. 
2. Do bed bugs spread disease? For the most part, you’re fairly safe if you encounter an infestation. Sure, you’re going to get bites. Yes, it’s going to itch, but you likely won’t get any diseases from them. For the most part, they don’t transfer pathogens from one host to the next. 
3. Will bed bugs bite anywhere on the body? Absolutely. They’re not discriminatory. If a body part is accessible and there’s good blood flow, a bed bug might bite you there. They can get in your hair, but for the most part, they don’t really want to be there. They don’t have claws, or even a body shape, that is designed to get through human hair, so they’d probably head for bare skin as soon as they got into your hair. 
4. Can you prevent bed bugs by keeping your house clean? Unfortunately, no. You can find bed bugs in the dirtiest places in the world as well as in the five-star hotels. Bed bugs might actually be easier to get rid of if you reduce the clutter, but for the most part, it doesn’t matter if you’re dirty or clean. They’ll be happy to bite if you’re alive. 
5. If you catch an infestation early enough, can you prevent bigger problems? Yes and no. If you call a Hopper Environmental Services bed bug pest control professional immediately at 888-863-0206, you may have fewer issues on your hands, but if you try to deal with it on your own, you’re going to be at a disadvantage. Vacuuming, throwing various items away, and putting personal items in the freezer won’t be enough to prevent problems. Pest control professionals will tell you that this just isn’t a DIY job. 

If you suspect a bed bug infestation, your best bet is to contact the professionals immediately.

Experts estimate that termites cause two billion dollars in property damage every single year. There is not a single homeowner in the nation that wants these pests inside their home, yet termite control often means a few avoidance behaviors.

If you’re doing any of the below, your best bet is to change your plan of attack now to avoid infestation later.

1. Store firewood close to your home. The last thing you want to do in a snowstorm or the freezing weather is walk out to the back of your property just to gather a bit more firewood, but if you want to keep termites at bay, it’s really best to store your firewood at least twenty feet away from any building on your property. It’s also best to elevate it off the ground. Firewood can look like a delicious steak dinner to termites, so keeping it away from your home may mean they don’t ever find the “buffet” of your home. 
2. Keep mulch around the flower beds next to your house. There are lots of reasons you may want mulch in your flowerbeds, and many of them are great ones for your flowers. However, the simple truth is that mulch means food, shelter, and the perfect temperature for termites. If you want mulch in your flowerbeds, make certain that it’s a minimum of six inches away from the foundation of your home. Also make certain that it’s no thicker than four inches deep. Remember, the more mulch you keep on the ground, the more attractive you may make it to termites. 
3. Don’t worry about that leaky faucet or the water damage it created. Sure, it may be expensive to have that leak repaired right now, but in terms of termite control, it’s going to cost you next to nothing. Leaks mean a source of water for termites, and once they see they have water and your delicious house to eat, they’re all set to take over. Get all of the leaks fixed, whether they’re inside or outside, and make certain that you fix any damaged wood the leak may have caused. 

Termites can be one very expensive problem for you home. Consider scheduling an inspection right away to make certain you’re not issuing an engraved invitation to the termites near your home.

I thought they were gone…  
Bed bugs are very persistent pests.  Even five star hotels have cited bed bug problems from time to time due to the nature of bed bugs – they can hitch a ride on everything from clothes to luggage in order to reach new places and breeding grounds.  There are a lot of different do-it-yourself methodologies that claim to get rid of bed bugs, but for most of them, unless you perform them perfectly and get every single place in the infested room, you will just see them return later on.  

It can be extremely frustrating to go through so much trouble only to discover they’re back and biting you again the next time you wake up.  You can put down as much product as you like, wash your sheets and clothes as often as you want, but unless you get every single hiding spot, every single bed bug egg, the problem will just start again.  

You may be familiar with lots of different pests, but if you don’t know much about carpenter ants, you may want to count yourself one of the lucky few. They’re some of the biggest ants in many states, and they can do some very real damage to your home.

The Tunnels
One of the biggest problems from a pest control perspective with carpenter ants is that they like to build networks of tunnels inside wood. These are often referred to as galleries, and it helps them move from one section of the nest to another. This tunneling typically occurs in moist or decaying wood, and the tunnels themselves can weaken your home, leading to thousands of dollars in property damage.

Food Sources
Carpenter ants don’t actually eat the wood they tunnel out of your home, and that’s another big problem. Once they’re inside your home, they’re going to come looking for food, and they often search for many of the same items humans eat. They love sweet things including sugar, honey, and any other sweets they can get their hands on. They also look for good sources of protein like meat. In a natural setting, they eat other insects, both alive and dead, but if there’s human food out, they’ll be happy to take that.

Do You Have a Problem?
Wondering if you may already have an infestation of carpenter ants? First, it’s important to know that many people confuse carpenter ants and termites. Carpenter ants are bigger, and they’re more willing to go out in the light. If you do have carpenter ants, you may notice a sawdust like material near the nest area. You might also see workers near your food storage area. Additionally, you could hear them inside the nest when things are very quiet inside your house.

Carpenter ants can be a serious issue, but ant pest control professionals at Hopper Environmental Services can help. Call today 888-863-0206.