Mar 17, 2023 | Company News, Good Deed Team, Teammate Celebration
The Northwest Family is ecstatic to announce that Mike Wells, Tennessee Service Professional, has accepted the 2022 Outstanding Service Professional award for the Tennessee Pest Control Association. Mike currently works for the Northwest Hermitage office as a Service Professional and has worked with Northwest for over 7 years.
Mike is an extraordinary asset to the Northwest Family. He’s an active member of the Northwest Good Deed Team, known within his team for supporting others and creating Customer for Life experiences, and has completed the Supervisor in Training leadership program. Mike is also certified and licensed in Wildlife Management, a certification he sought and upkeeps on his own due to his love of animals. Most importantly, Mike is a teammate who everyone can count on and always goes the extra mile! It’s incredible to see his talents and passion recognized by other organizations, as every member of the Northwest Family is inspired by him and his commitment to service.
Mike has previously received the Northwest Teammate of the Year Award three separate times. He was also the runner up to the NPMA (National Pest Management Award) Residential Service Professional of the Year (2022) Award.
Mike accepted the Outstanding Service Professional award amongst his managers and peers, including Regional Manager Blake Harston, Managers Billy Cox and Clinton Ford, and peers George Simpson and Blake Southerland, all Northwest teammates.
Talking to any of Mike’s managers, anyone would quickly realize how extraordinary Mike is, not only to his customers, but also to his teammates and community. We are thankful to have a teammate like Mike and are honored to have how great he is to be recognized by the Tennessee Pest Control Association. Congratulations, Mike!
Mar 17, 2023 | Wildlife
As the weather warms up, snakes will emerge to take advantage of the warm weather and kick start their mating season. One of the snakes you’ll start to see this spring is the water moccasin. This venomous snake, also known as the cottonmouth, is a semi-aquatic snake found throughout the southeastern United States. The water moccasin is often mistaken for other snakes, so recognizing this snake in the wild is critical.
Water moccasins have large, triangular shaped heads with large jowls (due to their venom glands). Their eyes have a dark line through them and elliptical-shaped pupils. These snakes are large in size, ranging from 24″ to 48″. They have thick, heavy bodies when compared to their length. Their coloration can vary. These snakes can be completely brown or black (usually adults) or brown or yellow with dark crossbands. Adults tend to be darker while juveniles tend to be more brightly colored. They also have dark brown or yellow blotches on their bellies and black on the underside of their tails.
Water moccasins have facial pits they use to sense heat from predators and prey. They got their cottonmouth alias because the inside of their mouths are white in color. They will gape when they feel threatened, exposing this white color in an attempt to scare the threat away.
These snakes are found throughout the southeast, as far north as Virginia. They can be found in almost any freshwater habitat. They are active both during the day and at night, but will commonly hunt at night, especially during the hotter seasons of the year. They eat a variety of prey, including lizards, amphibians, other snakes, small turtles, birds, fish, mammals, and even baby alligators. They mate in the early summer.
Water moccasins are often mistaken for other nonvenomous water snakes. While the water moccasin has a thick body and short, thick tail, nonvenomous water snakes have more slender bodies and thinner tails. The shape of the head is also important. Water moccasins have large, blocky heads with pronounced necks that are much more narrow than the head. Water snakes, on the other hand, have more slender heads with necks that are more comparable in width to their heads.
While it can be tempting to run away or grab the closest thing you can to kill a snake when you come across it, the best practice is to leave it alone and slowly back away. In the case of a venomous snake, contact your local pest control company who can implement safe snake removal and relocation techniques.
Mar 17, 2023 | Pest Control
As the weather starts to warm up, many of us look forward to spring and all that it brings. Unfortunately, one of the things that it brings is ants. In the springtime, these household pests become more active and start to look for sources of food and water. If you’re not careful, you may find yourself dealing with an infestation. Let’s discuss the different types of ants you’ll encounter in the springtime and how to prevent them from returning.
Different Types of Ants
- Pavement Ants: These pests are typically found in cracks and crevices in concrete or pavement. They are small, black, or brown, and can form large colonies.
- Carpenter Ants: Carpenter ants are larger than other species and are typically black or red. They can cause significant damage to wood structures, as they excavate tunnels to build their nests.
- Argentine (Sugar) Ants: Argentine ants are light to dark brown and are known for forming massive colonies. They are attracted to sweet foods and can quickly become a nuisance.
- Odorous House Ants: Odorous house ants are dark brown or black and emit a foul odor when crushed. They are attracted to sweets and can quickly infest your kitchen.
How to Prevent Ants:
- Keep your home clean: They are attracted to food, so keeping your home clean and free of crumbs is essential. Wipe down countertops, sweep and mop floors, and make sure all food is stored in airtight containers.
- Seal cracks and crevices: These tiny pests can enter your home through the tiniest of cracks and crevices. Seal any openings around windows, doors, and baseboards with caulk.
- Remove sources of water: They also need water to survive, so fixing leaky pipes, and keeping pet bowls and sink dishes dry is essential.
- Use natural remedies: These creatures dislike certain scents, including peppermint, vinegar, and citrus. You can use these scents to deter them from entering your home by placing cotton balls soaked in the scent around the perimeter of your home.
- Call a professional: If you have a severe infestation, it’s best to call a professional pest control service. They have the tools and knowledge to eliminate them and prevent them from returning.
If an ant problem has become more than you can handle, be sure to give your local pest control company a call for a free inspection today!
Mar 16, 2023 | Mosquito
Laurens Mosquito Control: Green Mosquito Options
Living in the south, especially Laurens, South Carolina, is known to come with many pests once the weather begins to warm up. The extra humidity is heaven to pests, especially mosquitoes. Besides leaving behind itchy, red welts when they bite humans, they can also pose a serious health risk.
One of the best methods in preventing mosquitoes is by investing in a mosquito control program with your local green pest control company. There are many programs to choose from, but the eco-friendly choice is a green mosquito control option.
Benefits to Green Mosquito Program:
- Eco-Friendly
- Derived from flowers and botanicals
- Applied strategically around property
- Effectively reduces both larva and adult mosquitoes
While a green mosquito program is effective at keeping mosquitoes away, it’s also important to eliminate any other mosquito attractants near your property. One thing you can begin doing is eliminating standing water around the property. Mosquitoes can lay eggs in as little as .5” of standing water, so ridding your property of that is a big help. Some ways to reduce standing water are by keeping your gutters clean, repairing poor drainage sites, and replacing bird bath water daily.
If you notice more mosquitoes than usual, it might be time to call your local pest control company. Their mosquito experts will be able to assist you with getting an eco-friendly mosquito program set up.
Mar 15, 2023 | Mosquito
Macon Mosquito Control: Preventing Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are small and annoying, easily taking over our yards during peak mosquito season. The hot, humid weather of Macon, Georgia is the perfect environment for mosquitoes to breed, making them a nuisance when we’re trying to enjoy our backyard. While it can sometimes feel impossible to avoid them, there are methods to help deter them away, so you can enjoy being outside again. Check out these tips to prevent mosquitoes this year.
Protect Yourself
Mosquito repellents containing DEET are a great way to avoid these pests when outside. Repellents with DEET block mosquitoes’ CO2 receptors, making them highly effective. They are also great to use when you know you’ll be outside for long periods. When applying the repellent, spray it onto your hands and run it on your skin instead of spraying it directly onto the skin.
Mosquitoes are attracted to clothes that are dark or have floral prints; consider avoiding these clothes if you’ll be outside during peak activity times for mosquitoes, between dusk and dawn. Likewise, consider wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and avoid wearing any sweet-smelling colognes or perfumes.
Protect Your Home
The last thing you want to deal with is mosquitoes inside your home, as it can be difficult to get rid of them if they’ve invaded. Regularly, inspect your windows and doors for holes or gaps that can let pests inside. Likewise, ensure that your doors and windows have screens and are in good repair, replacing any torn screens. During peak mosquito season, keep doors and windows closed as much as possible.
Protect Your Yard
Your lawn is the first line of defense against mosquitoes! Maintaining and placing preventative measures throughout your yard is essential to avoiding these pests during the spring and summer months. Mosquitoes are looking for standing water to breed, only needing a small amount to do so. Get rid of any potential breeding sites throughout your yard, including piles of leaves and debris, items that can hold water, clogged gutters, and poor drainage sites. Additionally, adult mosquitoes are known to rest in shady areas of your yard that are protected from the wind. Make sure to trim back trees and shrubs that are overgrown and continue to mow your lawn regularly.
If you have a mosquito problem or want to get ahead of prevention, consider calling your local pest control company which can provide a thorough evaluation and a comprehensive mosquito control plan.
