wildlife Archives | Page 6 of 9 | Northwest Exterminating

Peachtree Corners Wildlife Donates Baskets to 1st Grade Teachers at Berkeley Lake Elementary School

Aug 23, 2021 | Company News, Good Deed Team

At Northwest, we enjoy partnering with schools across many of the states that we serve. Many of our teammates are passionate about education support, and we know that the beginning of the school year is always busy, especially for teachers. This is why our Peachtree Wildlife team came together to make baskets for all of the 1st grade teachers at Berkeley Lake Elementary School.

The team made 8 reusable baskets that included all sorts of extraordinary supplies these teachers can use to help with their class. They included colored papers, pens, note pads, post-it notes, clip boards, hand sanitizer, expo markers, highlighters, markers, stickers, a box of Kleenex, and paper towels. They were able to hand deliver these to the school, and the teachers were so grateful.

We know that even a little help for these teachers means a lot, especially with all the changes that COVID-19 brought. Our teammates enjoyed the opportunity to serve their local elementary school, and the teachers reached out to our team to let them know how much they appreciated their baskets. Thank you to our Peachtree Wildlife team for finding opportunities to serve where you have passion!

Preparing for Fall Wildlife

Aug 18, 2021 | Wildlife

Fall is just around the corner! While we are all eager for that brisk fall breeze to arrive, we know that as the temperatures get cooler, certain wildlife creatures will be more active during the fall season. Wildlife such as squirrels, mice, opossums, and rats are just a few that will start to look indoors for a warm habitat and food source. Before the fall season arrives, every homeowner should start wildlife control preparations early to help prevent these animal intruders from getting inside.

Wildlife animals are constantly in search of food and water to survive. Animals such as opossums and rats often look to garbage cans to find food, making a huge mess in the process. To keep them from scavenging through your trash cans, make sure your garbage isn’t overflowing. Keep your exterior garbage cans secure by locking and sealing the lids overnight.

Raccoons, squirrels, and birds will easily sneak into open gaps or holes leading right into your home. Screen attic vents and openings in chimneys can provide them with ideal openings. Ensure that the vents and chimneys are fully screened and sealed off. Likewise, check around the exterior of your home for any gaps or holes leading inside. Rats and mice only need a small opening to get inside, so ensuring that you’ve sealed any openings can help eliminate the chance of infestation.

Your yard is the first thing that wildlife creatures will enter. Keeping your yard well-maintained can help to prevent these pests from inhabiting. Make sure to clean up leaf piles, brush, and debris throughout the yard. When cleaning up the piles, put them in sealed waste bags and store them in the garage until garbage day. Trim your tree limbs or branches away from your roofline as animals, such as squirrels, will use them as a guide to enter inside the home.

Preventing wildlife from entering your property can be difficult but possible. If you’ve noticed more wildlife creatures than usual, consider calling your professional wildlife control company. These wildlife exclusion experts will inspect your home, identify entry points, safely remove infested animals, and prevent them from entering in the future!

Fact or Fiction: Mothballs Keep Snakes Away

Aug 12, 2021 | Pest Control, Wildlife

Although many people don’t welcome the sight of a snake in their yard, they are actually quite beneficial to have around. Snakes eat mice, grubs, slugs, and other insects around your home and are also a source of food for birds of prey like hawks. While most species of snakes are non-venomous, there are a few types of snakes that are venomous in our area. For this reason, you should never handle a snake unless you are 100% sure you know what species it is. Most snakes will bite when harassed whether they are venomous or not.

There are many natural snake repellent methods out there today with one of the most common being mothballs. But are they really effective? According to experts at the Blue Ridge Poison Center the answer is a resounding NO. Mothballs are made of either naphthalene or paradicholorbenzene. Both of these chemicals are hazardous to both humans and animals if exposed to or ingested. The chemical makeup of each of these substances allow them to turn into gas when they are exposed to the air – resulting in the strong smell we usually associate with mothballs. These fumes can cause dizziness and irritation to the eyes and the lungs. If ingested, mothballs can cause a condition called hemolytic anemia which is very dangerous. Mothballs also resemble candy to young children, making them more likely to pick them up and handle or eat them.

So if mothballs aren’t the answer, how can you get rid of snakes? Here are a few snake prevention tips you can use safely around your home.

Make your home and yard less attractive to snakes who are looking for food and shelter.
Remove any food sources such as rodents or other pests.
Keep pet food sealed in containers.
Don’t leave pet food out overnight.
Clean up spilled pet food and birdseed from the ground.
Don’t overwater your lawn as this can attract worms, frogs, and slugs – another food source for snakes.
Have your home inspected for rodents and other pests and maintain routine pest control treatments.
Seal any entries into your crawlspace or basement that are larger than 1/4″.
Make sure doorsweeps and window screens fit tightly.
Cover vents and drains that come into the house.
Keep grass mowed – tall grass and weeds provide more coverage for snakes from predators.
Clean up any debris snakes can hide under (scarp metal, wood piles, trash, logs, etc.).
Check the roof for overhanging vegetation – snakes are good climbers and can access your home from the roof.

If you have a problem with snakes or other wildlife, contact your local pest control company who can help identify pest attractants, points of entry, and provide you with safe and humane snake removal services.

You May Also Be Interested In:

Fleas & Ticks: What’s the Difference?

7 Signs You Have Cockroaches

Bed Bugs: Where Do They Come From?

Back To School Means Head Lice Season

Avoid Bites and Stings this Summer

The Best Methods to Avoid Wildlife at Your Business

Jul 13, 2021 | Commercial, Wildlife

Wildlife creatures can bring a host of issues to your business. Some of these can disrupt your business, create unsanitary conditions, and drive customers away. The first step in dealing with these nuisance pests is knowing the type of animal you are dealing with and how to prevent them. We break down which ones to watch out for around your business and give some easy wildlife prevention tips.

Birds

Birds can pose a major health threat to your business as they can spread diseases and contaminate your business space. Their droppings can cause quite a mess and harbor diseases and parasites. These acidic droppings can corrode and ruin your business roof, walkways, windows, ledges, signage, and even your customers’ vehicles. These pests can also easily access and damage the roofline and chimney, which can lead to problems with your electrical wiring.

Rats & Mice

Rats and mice are looking for a place to eat and sleep. They can easily invade your business by entering through the smallest crack or hole that is unsealed. Just like birds, rodents can spread disease throughout your business, making it unsafe for both your customers and team members. These creatures are also known to gnaw on merchandise, packaging, equipment, and electrical wiring.

Squirrels

Squirrels can look cute and cuddly, but they are also known to create structural damage and disturbances at businesses. These creatures are in search of a food source, and you can tell if they have been searching around in your property by seeing uprooted plants and flowers, dug up holes, and eaten nuts or fruits. Squirrels are also known to create holes in roofs, chew on wires, damage vents, and create a musty smell from their urine if they’ve infested inside the building.

Utilizing preventative measures is the key to ensuring wildlife don’t infest your business and disturb your customers!

Inspect the foundation for small holes and gaps, sealing them up as you find them.
Inspect the roof and siding to make sure there are no openings to access your attic.
Secure all trash containers, making sure they are tightly sealed and not overflowing.
If you have an outside area where customers eat, make sure all food is frequently cleaned up and thrown out.
Consider Commercial Wildlife Control for your business as service professionals can set your business up with a customized prevention and treatment plan fit for your business.

Controlling Birds During the Summer Months

Jun 18, 2021 | Pest Control, Wildlife

As the weather starts to warm up, you may see an increase in bird activity around your home. Birds will often leave a mess on your patio or deck and can even be found taking a dip in your swimming pool. Nuisance birds will build nests in the most inconvenient places putting you and your family in harm’s way. Here are a few tips on how to prevent birds from taking over your outdoor fun this summer.

Protect Your Pool

There are several things you can try to keep birds away from your pool and deck. One of the easiest is to install a decoy bird near your pool. Owl statues are the most common but hawks and falcons will also work well. These statues make other nuisance birds think a predator has already claimed that territory and they will take up residence somewhere else. Remember to move the statue occasionally, especially if birds get used to it or start ignoring it.

You can also use automatic pool vacuums in your swimming pool to help deter birds. Automatic vacuums are constantly moving which discourage birds from landing in the water. Leaving brightly colored toys and floats in the pool can also help keep these pesky birds away. Keep your pool covered if possible. You can even use a simple solar cover instead of a traditional cover to help protect your pool from droppings and feathers.

Guard Your Grill

Birds will often nest in your grill or in the eaves around your patio. To protect your grill in between uses, invest in a high quality cover and use it any time the grill is not in use. If that’s not an option, cover your grill with bird netting when it’s not in use. Clean the grill after use and make sure there is no food residue left over. Birds will keep coming back if they continue to find food in the area.

Defend Your Deck

If you’re finding birds flocking to your deck or patio area, try installing bird spikes on fences or in gutters. It is difficult for birds to land on them, making it undesirable for birds to nest. You can also try wind chimes or ultrasonic noise machines which are also helpful and driving nuisance birds away. The noise machines give off a high-pitched sound that is undetectable to humans but will annoy any lingering birds.

Prepare Your Property

Taking preventative measures against birds will help in your bird control efforts. Discourage people from feeding birds in and around your home. Clean up any spilled grain or birdseed from feeders daily. Block any openings in your home (lofts, vents, eaves, window sills, etc.). Change your ledge angles to 45 degrees or more to prevent birds from roosting on them. Screen the underside of rafters with netting or wire mesh screening.

While birds aren’t usually a dangerous problem, they can become quite a nuisance, especially when you are trying to enjoy time outdoors. If you have a problem with birds or any other pests, contact your local pest control company who can provide you with a thorough evaluation and treatment plan.