Every year we receive numerous panicked calls. Homeowners everywhere find small, winged things and large, winged things all over the place. Homeowners find winged ants pouring out around doors, windows, showers and toilets. Unsettling large winged things fly around the home in the evening and the first thought… Termites!
I’ve got termites! …or do I?
September 3rd, 2009 by Dan HuieNorway Rats
August 29th, 2009 by Dan HuieThe cobbler’s children have no shoes, and my house has no pest control. And now, my house has rats. Well, I am hoping and believing we have turned the corner to being rat free… but we’ll see. It’s really quite comical that as a company we tout the value and virtues of recurring pest control, and yet at my house, the constant requests from my wife go unheeded. Spiders, ants, you name it, we’ve seen it. But only arrogance is my reply. Really, my reply is, “I will get to it,” but my heart is saying, “Don’t worry about it… It’s all under control.” Oh, the arrogance!
Professional Development
August 24th, 2009 by Dan HuieWhat do professional development and pest control have in common? There was a day when I couldn’t have told you. I just didn’t get it. I thought the “bug guy” just hopped in his truck, drove to someone’s home or business, jumped out the truck and went to work. And while that may have worked in the past, that certainly is not the pest management company modern consumers are looking for. Yes, our clients want simplicity, but they also want the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are investing in a company that is ready for the challenge and knows how to serve them well.
Bed bugs are a very real concern…
August 12th, 2009 by Dan HuieMy wife returned home from a conference out of town last evening. It was wonderful to see her and great catching up. Eventually the conversation turned to how well she slept while she was away. Immediately my mind went from a happy re-union to fear. Fear that bed bugs may have hitched a ride home in her suitcase.
Spiders… and Integrated Pest Management
August 4th, 2009 by Dan HuieIt is really quite curious, our relationship with these little creatures.
I recently treated a condominium for a long term client who suffers from significant arachnophobia. Panic sets in on sight. But much of the time even the fear of seeing a spider can leave our client gasping for breath and heart racing. Another of our clients, indeed a good number of our clients, want spiders preserved; almost protected as we treat for other pests.
Odorous House Ants
August 4th, 2009 by Dan HuieWhen you are in the pest control industry there is no telling what the dinner conversation might be. Ants were the topic de jour the other night. Apparently, some tiny ants had taken up residence in our friends car! Then the statement, “You know, we were driving along, and I was smashing ants, and soon there was this smell of ‘Raid’! Could that be?” Indeed it can be…
West Nile Virus
August 1st, 2009 by Dan HuieWest Nile Virus is certainly something to be concerned over, but so far this year the Washington State Department of Health is reporting zero cases in humans, horses and birds. Clearly this is good news. However, we are early in the season and mosquitoes are loving the mix water, warmth and foliage.
Be vigilant. Look for any standing water and drain it or dry it. Pond water and other breeding sites can be treated in an environmentally sound or “green” way with a bacterium called BTI. Other landscaping tips can be offered by your pest control company. The more the environment can be altered to remove breeding sites, the happier you will be. West Nile or not, a summer with fewer mosquitoes is something we know you will enjoy!
Roof Rats
July 27th, 2009 by Dan HuieTwo days ago I had the pleasure of visiting a client’s home in response to their request for help with their crawl space. Their home was beautiful and you could tell they held high standards and cared very much for their property. What I saw in their crawl space saddened me, although it is very, very common. Their insulation, duct work, and vapor barrier had been thoroughly soiled. Unfortunately, there was no saving it. Roof Rats (rattus rattus for those of us who love more scientific names) had been coming and going for two decades. The homeowner had been trapping rats relentlessly and they knew their neighborhood had a significant problem. However, their intermittent success had led to a false sense of security. Enlisting the services of a conscientious, reputable, and effective pest control service long ago could have saved them several thousand dollars in repairs today.
Learn how to control Fruit Flies
July 10th, 2009 by Dan HuieSmall flies are a particularly annoying occurrence each summer. Recently, while setting up a new commercial client, I was reminded of just how pesky these little guys can be.
The most common small fly, bothersome to most of us during the summer, is the fruit fly. There is no mistaking their annoying flight, hovering over your food, sink or garbage. It seems that in no time you go from zero to dozens of the creatures, and nothing seems to help. No wonder, since the adults are capable of reproduction within a week. In no time at all they are capable of reaching several hundred. Many clients hope that we can wave a magic wand and just make them go away. And, while that is true in a limited number of cases, the reality is that controlling small flies is a partnership between the pest control company and the home or business.
Gardening tips for pest prevention
June 4th, 2009 by Dan HuieThe Puget Sound area has been blessed with a beautiful spring. Our mild sunny days have provided just what our yards need to keep the healthy, vibrant green and color we all enjoy. Some yards, like mine, are growing so much it’s almost impossible to keep up with. But that’s a good problem right?
Here’s a little incentive to keep you plugging along with all those weekend chores: PESTS!