Keeping Snakes Away From Your Home

The weather is warm and the snakes are out.  There aren’t a lot of snake lovers out there, us included.  We don’t like to think about snakes being in or around our home but they are a reality and there are steps that we can take to keep snakes away.

  1. Use a snake repellant.  It is said that home remedies like moth balls and lemon grass are great deters for snakes but have also been said to be unreliable.  There are other snake repellants available at your local hardware store.
  2. Keep the clutter out of your yard.  Keeping grass cut and vegetation trimmed down reduces areas for snakes to hide.  Remove any wood piles, leaves, or other debris where snakes can hide.
  3. Pest control.  Regularly scheduled pest control keeps insects and rodents out of your yard that snakes use to feed on.  By keeping these pests out of your yard…you have a better chance of keeping snakes out too.
  4. Check for gaps and cracks in your home.  Snakes can enter homes through any open gaps or holes that may be present.  Use weather stripping under doors and seal all cracks and crevices.  This will assist in keeping out pests and keeping in the cool air.
  5. Don’t forget about the shed.  Sheds can become cluttered and perfect places for snakes to hide.  De-clutter your work space.
  6. Call a professional.  If you have a snake in your yard or home, call a professional team that specializes in removing snakes and other wildlife.  Don’t handle these on your own.

Northwest Exterminating has a highly trained wildlife team that specializes in the exclusion, removal, and control of wildlife including snakes.

Northwest Exterminating
830 Kennesaw Ave MariettaGA30060 USA 
 • 888-466-7849
 

Pest Control Among Top 8 Outdoor Jobs

Looking for a job where you can enjoy the great outdoors?  Pest Control may be just the answer that you’re looking for.  Fox Business recently released an article with the Top 8 outdoor jobs that are “growing or are poised to grow”.

Seeing as how pests are everywhere…it’s a pretty stable business to be in.  Pest Management Technicians, as well as, Termite Service Technicians both made the list.  To read the full list click HERE.

Interested in a career in pest or termite control that will allow you to enjoy the great outdoors?  Visit our Careers page to see our career opportunities.

Did we mention we were recently named #7 of the Top 100 Top Work Places for medium sized companies by The AJC?!?!

 

Keeping Pets Healthy from Fleas, Ticks, and Mosquitoes

sick dogThey don’t call him Man’s Best Friend for no reason.  Dogs, and cats (we can’t forget our beloved cats) are truly part of the family.  We treat them and take care of them just as we would any other member of the family.  That’s why it is important that we protect them from outdoor pests that can cause serious health risks to our furry friends.  Ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes are all predicted to make a heavy appearance this season as the weather warms up.

Ticks are most commonly found on our pets.  Ticks can carry Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and cause tick paralysis.

Fleas can cause itchy, red bumps that cause animals to scratch.  Fleas are also easily brought into the home where they can invade your living space and reproduce.  Fleas can cause anemia, skin issues, and even tapeworms for our pets.

Heartworms and West Nile Virus are some of the more serious issues that come along with mosquitoes.  A bite can manifest into a full heartworm in 6-7 months in a dog, and 8 months in a cat.

Keep your pets healthy by following some of these tips to controlling ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes:

  • Regularly scheduled pest control service in and around your home will help keep pests away that can cause risks to your pets.  (Call Northwest Exterminating for our NorPest Green Pest Control service.  Our program is kid and pet friendly while keeping the bugs away.  Our Green Mosquito Program also keeps mosquitoes away while using Earth friendly solutions.)
  • Check your dog and cat on a regular basis.  Check for excessive scratching, bumps, fleas, and ticks.
  • Keep vegetation cut and trimmed.
  • Bathe pets regularly.
  • Remove standing water in yard where mosquitoes breed.
  • Vacuum frequently.
  • Ask your veterinarian about Flea and Tick prevention and heartworm prevention.

Contact Northwest Exterminating if you think you have a problem with fleas, ticks, or mosquitoes.  Keep your pets healthy!

 

Pest Allergies

Now that it’s pollen season, many people are suffering sneezing, coughing and discomfort due to an allergy to different pollen types. Though many people know that this triggers allergies within them, they may not know that various household pests can also contribute to allergies. Additionally, those who have asthma may suffer to pests such as cockroaches or mice being in home because these pests can spread strong asthma triggers.

PestWorld.org provides facts about pests and asthma, as well as a ‘First Responder PSA’ that highlights the risk that household pests can put us at when we are indoors. For instance, 63% of American homes contain allergens from cockroaches, but if the home is located in an urban area, it can even reach 98%! Additionally, mice can spread asthma triggers found in 82% of homes. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, patients with cockroach allergies develop acute asthma attacks after inhaling cockroach allergens. Allergens can come from not only the actual body of the pest, but also its saliva and feces.

If you are experiencing minor symptoms such as, the AAFA recommends the use of antihistamines, decongestants and anti-inflammatory medications. An effective means to reduce the chance of exposure to pest allergens is using regular treatment through a pest control company. Northwest Exterminating offers services that eliminates and reduces the occurrence of a wide array of household pests including mice and cockroaches.

Sources:

http://www.pestworld.org/multimedia-center/first-responder-psa/

http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=22&cont=312

 

Common Ants

Properly identifying pests is such an important part of pest control prevention and management.  Professionals and homeowners both need to be aware of what pest they are dealing with so they know what actions need to be taken to properly get rid of and prevent the pest from returning.

Ants are a common concern in both residential and commercial dwellings.  Knowing what kind of ants you have will help in knowing the best course of action to treat the property.  Our Pest ID page gives 5 common ants that can be found in properties in the southeast: fire ants, carpenter ants, argentine ants, acrobat ants, and odorous house ants.  To find out more information about any of these types of ants, visit our Pest ID page or click on a picture below.

Acrobat Ant

Acrobat Ant

Odorous House Ant

Odorous House Ant

Argentine Ants

Argentine Ants

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter Ants

Fire Ant

Fire Ant

 

Sentricon Interviews Peter Schmidt for Blog

Pete - SentriconSentricon Colony Elimination Systems interviewed our own Peter Schmidt for their blog.  Peter is a great asset to our team at Northwest Exterminating and especially our customers.  Great job on the interview, Sentricon!

Pete talks about why he thinks Sentricon is a good choice for homeowners in the prevention of termites, as well as tips for homeowners, and even a funny story about how you have to be quick on your feet in the pest control industry!

“A self-described graduate of the “school of hard knocks,” Peter Schmidt first became involved in pest management in Florida in 1992. He started his career with Northwest Exterminating in 1995, and became an Authorized Operator for the Sentricon® System in 1997. We caught up with Peter at a large Sentricon installation at an apartment complex in North Atlanta, where he shared some solid advice for both homeowners and other Authorized Operators—the latter of which might want to invest in some running shoes.”

To read the entire blog CLICK HERE.

 

EPA Ban on Rat & Mice Killers

The EPA is banning 12 popular rat and mouse killers that are available to the public.  They are banning the product after a 2011 ban requiring rodent-killing products to stop using anticlotting chemical.  The company that makes these 12 products, D-Con, has refused to meet EPA regulations.

“In a move to protect children and pets from toxic chemical poisoning, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making moves to ban 12 popular mouse- and rat-poisoning products sold under the D-Con brand name. Products included in the proposed ban include D-Con’s pellet, bait bits, and ready-mixed formulations.

EPA says it’s banning the products—as early as the end of February—because “they cause unreasonable and unnecessary risks to children’s health and the environment, without overriding benefits.”

To continue reading the article posted on www.rodale.com CLICK HERE.

The article and the EPA both suggest getting rid of rats and mice in non-poisonous ways such as sealing out pests, not leaving out food for pests to eat, making your yard less appealing to mice, and being kind!!

For pest control, the solution is simple: NorPest Green…Pest Control the way Nature Intended. Call Northwest Exterminating.

 

Fact or Fiction?- Roaches & Nuclear Explosion

Our pest of the month for February is the roach. Sometimes it may seem like no matter what you use against them, whether it is insect repellant or the closest cleaning solution you can find, nothing keeps a roach down! Some claims even say that a nuclear explosion couldn’t even take roaches out. Though we don’t profess to have products stronger than something nuclear physicists can whip up, we do manage to handle roaches and other pests with our natural, green products.

So that leaves the question, are roaches truly capable of surviving nuclear explosions? The answer is – possibly! According to MythBusters, 10 percent of cockroaches exposed to the amount of radioactive gamma rays equivalent to the bomb at Hiroshima survived after exposure. It may be due to their simple bodies and slower cell cycles. Roaches lose their cells about once a week at most whereas some human cells constantly split up. However, just like all other life forms, if the radiation was great enough, roaches would not be able to survive.

As stated earlier, Northwest Exterminating has environmentally friendly products that handle your pest control needs. You don’t have to worry about exposure to harmful chemicals as we treat your home for pests. If you have a pest problem, we’ve got the solution! Call Northwest today.

Melissa Brown
mbrown@callnorthwest.com

Source:

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/mythbusters-database/cockroaches-survive-nuclear-explosion.htm

 

Organic Pest Control – Companion Planting

Ever wonder how gardens stayed plush and green without modern pest control techniques? Before exterminating companies existed, many planters relied on a method of organic pest control known as companion planting. Companion planting involves placing plants in your garden that have qualities that deter pests that surround and protect your other plants. For instance, planting certain herbs in your vegetable garden can attract beneficial insects while simultaneously repelling harmful ones.

One pest that likes to frequent gardens is the aphid, otherwise known as plant lice. These tiny insects suck the sap from the plant, taking all the nutrients to keep the plant healthy and living. Sometimes as they are feeding, aphids transmit plant viruses to plants such as potatoes and citrus plants, which can kill the plants. Planting chives, coriander or nasturtium around your plants will discourage infestations by these plants.

Nasturtium

Nasturtium

Certain plants can keep larger pests out of your garden. For instance, planting lavender not only deter ticks, but also moths and mice. Mice also do not like the smell of daffodils, which can be used as a colorful boarder for an herb garden. Additionally, rabbits do not like the smell of onions, which can be planted alongside peas, beans, lettuce and cabbage. Lastly, sprinkling cayenne pepper on your plants can act as a deterrent for raccoons.

If companion planting still does not do the job of minimizing pest invasions, Northwest Exterminating offers pest control services that not only takes care of pest, but also does it in a green, environmentally friendly way! Northwest offers many services that will protect your plants, home and office environment. We offer more than pest elimination, but also healthier living and working environments. Check out our website for more info at www.callnorthwest.com

Melissa Brown
mbrown@callnorthwest.com

Sources:

http://gardening.about.com/od/naturalorganiccontrol/a/Companion_2.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphid

http://www.naturalnews.com/035853_companion_planting_garden_vegetables.html

 

How Hort Oil Can Benefit Your Lawn and Keep Away Pests

Hort oil can be beneficial to your trees and shrubs to control pests.  Many traditional pest control solutions can be harmful to plants.  Advantages of using oil are safety, effectiveness, and limited effects on insects that are beneficial to plants.

Hort oil is often used in the winter months to control mites, aphids, caterpillars, and scale insects that tend to make a home on plants during this time of year.  Although most commonly used in the winter, hort oil can also be used in the summer time to control a host of other insects and mites. Hort oil can also protect plants from diseases like powdery mildew and some aphid-transmitted viruses.

You should be aware that there is a small chance that it could harm certain plants, especially those in need of water.  Oils can stain surfaces of dark colored house plants.  As with any pest control solution, be sure to read instructions carefully and follow all directions.

Sensitive Plants:

  • Black walnut
  • Cryptomeria
  • Douglas-fir
  • Hickories
  • Junipers and cedars
  • Maples (particularly Japanese and red maple)
  • Redbud
  • Smoke tree
  • Spruce (particularly dwarf Alberta spruce)

Source: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05569.html