Nov 8, 2013 | Uncategorized
Cold Weather Has Wildlife Seeking Shelter in Homes
Those furry little creatures are cute outdoors but they somehow turn into scary monsters when they’re scurrying through your attic, basement, or even your walls. During the fall and winter months different wildlife can make their way into houses seeking warmth from the outside cold.
Common invaders like squirrels, bats, raccoons, and possums can be a threat to your health, property, and even your safety. These animals can carry diseases and can even get aggressive when they feel threatened. They can damage your property by gnawing on sheet rock, wood, insulation, storage containers, and wiring (a potential fire hazard).
There are easy steps to take that will help keep animals out of your home for the colder seasons: take trash out regularly and seal tightly and cut back tree limbs from your roof line. Animals, especially squirrels, use tree limbs as an entry to your home. Look for gnaw marks and feces and listen for scurrying sounds as indicators that you may have unwanted guests in your home.
Because these animals have a potential to be dangerous, it is best to call a wildlife removal company to properly remove these animals. Call Northwest Exterminating for animal removal.
Nov 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
What Is a Household Pest?
Ants, mice, termites, roaches…they’re all among the creatures that make up beneficial roles in our eco system. So at what point do we go from peaceful coexistence on the planet to raging all out war? Simple. When they become a risk to our health, property, and lifestyle.
If household pests can not be properly controlled there’s a chance they can cause significant damage to your property and become a risk to your health.
Pests that threaten our health:
Pests that threaten our property:
Pests that threaten our way of Life:
- Ants
- Flying Insects
- Regional Pests
Controlling Pests:
- Clean
- De-Clutter
- Seal cracks and crevices
- Screen vents and gaps
- Doors and windows tightly sealed and closed
- No standing water
- No leaky faucets
- Clean yard and gutters from debris
- Hire a professional pest management company to regularly treat your property and identify areas of concern
Nov 1, 2013 | Uncategorized
10 Fascinating Facts about Cockroaches
It’s no secret that cockroaches are thought to be one of the most disgusting pests. They are known to carry up to 33 different kinds of bacteria that they spread around and contaminate food and surfaces. Roaches are also responsible for causing allergies and triggering asthma attacks, especially in children. Studies say that up to 5 million children are sensitive to cockroaches.
Behind the undesirable cockroach are many unique features. Here are 10 Fascinating Facts about Cockroaches:
- There are 5,000 species of cockroaches in the world.
- It is believed roaches originated more than 280 million years ago.
- Allergies and asthma can be brought on by breathing in pieces of broken down cockroaches.
- Germans call the German cockroach the Prussian cockroach.
- The American cockroach likes alcoholic drinks, especially beer.
- Cockroaches can run up to 3 mph.
- A roach can live 1 week without it’s head. It only dies because it can’t eat without it’s mouth.
- According to historical accounts, roaches have been used as medicines by grinding up and boiling them.
- Cockroaches like glue.
- Some females mate only once and remain pregnant for the rest of their lives.
For more fascinating facts on cockroaches visit our sources at NPMA and Hubpages.
Oct 30, 2013 | Uncategorized
Northwest Exterminating is now QualityPro certified. What does this mean for our customers?
We are proud to tell you that Northwest Exterminating is now QualityPro certified!! That’s awesome! But we’re sure you want to know what this means for you:
QualityPro certified means that Northwest Exterminating has successfully met standards that are above and beyond state and federal regulations to become nationally recognized as a leader in the pest control industry.
Only 3% of pest control companies in the US are QualityPro certified. Making up that 3% is an elite group of pest management companies that have been selected based on their dedication to higher standards of service by the National Pest Management Association.
Northwest has been fully certified in: technician training, environmental stewardship, customer relations, and business operations.
So there is a lot in it for our current and potential customers. You can be sure that when you choose Northwest Exterminating that you are choosing highly trained and knowledgeable individuals who take pride in creating healthier living and working environments for our customers!
Oct 28, 2013 | Uncategorized
One of the keys to properly treating your home for bugs and other pests is to have a thorough inspection by a professional and knowledgeable pest inspector. Many pest species are often mistaken for other pests. A knowledgeable technician is able to properly identify your current pest infestation and create a detailed plan on how to get rid of the pests and how to keep them from returning.
Proper identification ensures that your property receives the appropriate plan related to treatment solutions and areas to be treated. If you aren’t certain of what pest you are targeting then you may be using unnecessary chemicals in or around your home or business and may still be left with an infestation.
A professional pest control technician can also identify areas of concern that will help to solve your current problem as well as any future issues that you may have. A detailed action plan will provide you with preventive pest control protection.
If you’re looking for a professional pest control company in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, or South Carolina call Northwest Exterminating! 888.466.7849 or callnorthwest.com
Oct 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
Spiders have caused Toyota to recall 870,000 vehicles. 2012 and 2013 Camrys, Venzas, and Avalons have been recalled due to spiders creating issues with the air conditioner that could cause the air bags to deploy. This could also cause a loss of power-steering. The spider webs can create a blockage in a draining tube from the AC that causes water to drip onto the air bag module, then causing the module to short circuit. In some instances the air bag light has come on and could even cause the driver’s airbag to deploy.
This isn’t the first time that spiders have caused problems by building webs inside of cars. In 2011, Mazda recalled 52,000 vehicles when spiders built webs in a vent line.
Toyota owners effected will be notified by mail.
Source: CNN.com
Oct 23, 2013 | Uncategorized
It’s not fair that humans get to have all of the Halloween fun. Don’t forget to dress up your family pets this Halloween for a little Trick-or-Treating! Here are some bug related costumes for our furry friends!
Skunk
Bee
Lady Bug and Bumble Bee
Lady Bug
Butterfly
Bumble Bee
Love Bug
Spider
Oct 18, 2013 | Uncategorized
Spiders have a bad reputation! Maybe it’s the eight legs, the webs they weave, or even the way they capture and eat their prey. What people don’t usually realize is that humans are rarely the intended prey of spiders. In fact, 80% of “spider bites” aren’t actually from spiders at all. Most spiders are too small to bite into humans and when you do get a spider bite, their venom is too weak to be a danger.
Spiders can bite when they feel threatened but lots of times it is purely by accident. There are two spiders in the US that cause concern when it comes to biting: brown recluse spiders and black widow spiders.
Brown Recluse
So what should you do if you have been bitten by a spider?
If possible, capture the spider. By capturing the spider you can bring it into your local pest control company or doctor so they can identify the species. Applying a cold compress to the site of the bite will help to reduce any inflammation. Elevate the body part where the spider has bitten. If you start to experience symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, or headaches seek immediate medical attention.
Oct 16, 2013 | Uncategorized
October’s Pest of the Month – Spiders
Don’t Let Spiders Hang Around Your House
Is it the rain or do spiders instinctively know that it’s Halloween because they are everywhere!
Photo courtesy of NPMA
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
House spiders are the most common spiders found indoors. They are usually more of a nuisance rather than a threat.
- Yellowish brown to dirty white in color
- Spotted abdomen
HABITS
- Web sites are chosen just beyond air currents in places like behind doors and in the corners of hallways.
- If no prey is found they abandon their site.
- They do not survive long in low humidity homes.
- Higher survival rates are in areas such as garages, sheds, barns, basements, crawl spaces, and other areas where humidity is higher and there is more prey.
- They can be found indoors in upper corners, under furnishings, closets, window frames, basements, and crawl spaces.
- They can be found outdoors around windows, under eaves, and near light sources which attract their prey.
THREATS
House spiders typically carry no threats.
SPECIES
- Black Widow
- Brown Recluse
- Wolf
- Cellar
- Hobo
- Jumping
- Sac
- Orb Weaver
PREVENTION
- Seal cracks and crevices around the home that spiders could use as entry points into a structure.
- Use screened windows and doors.
- Vacuum frequently to remove any spiders, eggs, and webs.
- Reduce available food.
OTHER PESTS TO LOOK OUT FOR
- Kudzu Bugs
- Stink Bugs
- Stored Product Pests
Common invaders like squirrels, bats, raccoons, and possums can be a threat to your health, property, and even your safety. These animals can carry diseases and can even get aggressive when they feel threatened. They can damage your property by gnawing on sheet rock, wood, insulation, storage containers, and wiring (a potential fire hazard).
