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Jumping cholla cactus

Jumping Cholla cactus

Jumping Cholla – If you live anywhere in the desert you know about these cactus. They will attack if you get close. OK they won’t attack but it seems like it. Its like they are magnetic. But a question was asked recently why don’t rodents or coyote’s ever have them attached? Or better yet why not Pack Rats? It’s called behavior modification, they learn and they learn quickly. It’s amazing cause almost every time I’m in the desert I get a few. I kneel to check a rodent station and get one in my knee or there might be bits and parts inside the bait station. Sometimes I even get them in my shoes, right through the soles and you think its a rock but surprise a needle shooting pain.

The dangers of the desert

So a word of caution, there are many things in the desert that can do you harm, rattlesnakes, Africanized Honeybees, rocks and cacti – so use extreme care. I seem to find almost all of these dangers as I’m doing my work. Stay tuned for a resent find in a rodent bait station.

I have seen Pack rat middens or dens full of this stuff, how do they do it – I have no idea. I was training a technician once and mentioned to be careful, I had no sooner turned around and he had them from toe to waist on his right leg pants. Painful and barbed, did I say ouuuuuch? But yet the animals seem to be impervious or maybe it’s just that they are smarter. You decide!

Whats eating you?

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Whose eating the fruit?

Somebody is eating the fruit. I think it’s rodents eating the grapefruit and pumpkin, when you make it easy for the animals/wildlife the next step is entry into your home. I tell everybody, it is extremely important to pick up the fruit that has fallen. No sense feeding any unwanted pest from the neighborhood. Unless of course that is your idea. I know birds will also eat the fruit but uninvited pests are sure to show up.

Oranges, lemons, limes and left over pumpkins are open season for any animal or wildlife. Rodents are prolific breeders and require a lot of food to raise their young. Essential to the control of rodents, eliminate harborage or shelter, reduce water and eliminate food sources. If you can control these factors the rodent population should be controlled.

Kangaroo Rat -somebody doesn’t look good!

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Kangaroo Rat or Mouse?

Trick question – The Kangaroo rat usually have long tails, bushy at the end and big hind feet with four toes. They have large heads with big eyes and small ears. They are a sandy brown color with a white underbelly. Technically not a rat or mouse but a separate group on their own.

The Sonoran Desert kangaroo rats are remarkable in that they do not need to drink water, even though their diet is almost entirely composed of dry seeds. They survive almost entirely on water metabolized from the seeds they eat. The rats prefer seeds high in carbohydrates, from which they can produce a half gram of water from each gram of seed eaten. They even take a bath without water, keeping their shiny fur clean by taking dust baths in the sand.

Squirrel Intruder enters home

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Squirrel gets in thru Doggie Door

Can you only imagine the terror, what would your dog do? Or for that matter what would your children do when they encounter the squirrel? Well I guess most of us don’t want to think about what that outcome could be. But it is something to think about, right?

So most of us don’t consider that doggie door and issue, I once had an unknown cat decide to come in and my dog did not care for this at all. I also had a pigeon come into my house via the chimney and it got soot everywhere until I could get it outside. Lets take special care to check on these things, maybe the flue got stuck or the plastic door piece needs replacing. Prevention is with a pound of cure and as always call ProBest if you need an opinion or cure. 602-249-7378 and thanks

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Mice in Phoenix, AZ

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Mice in Phoenix, AZ?

Mice in general do their best to make it into our homes and businesses in Phoenix. What can be done to keep them out? I often read stories from the news sources on what people do to get pests out of their home. From the guy who torches his mattress, to the person using 25 aerosol bombs for bed bugs. And yet some people think having them in the house is cute. Remember these critters carry diseases and pathogens on their bodies. ProBest Pest Management often gets the call after the person has pretty much in their opinion done it all and can’t catch that one single mouse.

They know more than you think?

The bad problem is that that mouse already is wiser to our tricks and since they are now smarter it often takes more time. Mice will generally range for about 30 feet while rats may travel over 100 feet and remember they urinate and spread feces as they run. Often times people don’t put out enough traps, or they think it’s only one and it turns out there are more. If you see one estimate a few and take charge or better yet call a Professional. So don’t think that we can get them out in 24 hours, we will bring our A game but we will get it done. Mice are curious and that is in our favor, we might need traps, glue boards or mechanical traps but we will succeed. So my advice, don’t wait call a Professional right away – we have the tools. 602-249-7378

A few facts:

Mice rely on whiskers to touch and their noses to smell.
Their eyesight is weak.
They prefer to stay near the wall using their whiskers to feel there way.
They are curious while rats are shy.
Mice may visit multiple sites feeding on many food areas nightly.

Scary things living in your attic?

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A bump in the night in your attic!

It might sound strange, but if you hear noises at night in the attic it may not be your imagination. Maybe those bumps in the night might be coming from inside your attic. Even the smallest of holes allow mice and insects such as honeybees access into your home. I always suggest that you do periodic checks of your home especially the attic to basically keep an eye out for trouble makers. Birds and even larger animals can gain access into crawlspaces & attics. As a result this can cause concern and sometimes it is a real pain to get rid of them. Honeybee are always on the search here in Arizona for a new place to live. Honeybees often swarm in Spring and Fall since we have a somewhat higher temperature throughout the year. If you notice bees going into your home use extreme caution as they may be very dangerous. Once you have made them MAD, you can’t take it back. They can stay agitated for 8+ hours, they can sting dogs, neighbors and children.

https://www.facebook.com/rjoplin/videos/10208607135351946/

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Rodent Design Service – Arizona

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Is a rodent eating the fruit

Probably the most difficult thing to control is a mouse or rodent within your home or business. I hate the fact that a mouse urinates as it walks or runs, disgusting. It is really important to home-seal, to prevent them from getting into your home or business. Along with the fact of the mouse and their presence, don’t forget that they carry diseases and parasites like fleas or ticks. OK just a few facts on reproduction:

Mice – reproduce up to 8 times in their lifetime with 4-7 pups = 56 babies per year.

Rats – reproduce 4-7 litters per year with 5-12 pups per year = 84 babies.

rodent

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Rat borne diseases

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Rat borne diseases can be a serious threat

With the advent of commercial type construction it seems that our cities are a megalopolis of people. So we come into contact more often with rat borne diseases. Most noteworthy you recently might remember a child died from Rat Bite Fever and many people have heard of rats biting people across the world. These types of diseases including rat bites and scratches can result in death and rat-bite fever. Rat urine is responsible for the spread of leptospirosis, which can result in liver and kidney damage. While it can also be contracted through handling or inhalation of scat. Especially relevant is that they are still animals and can return to a wild nature and they will bite and scratch.

So if you see one rat or mouse it is time to consult with a Pest Management Professional, call ProBest today at 602-249-7378

rat borne diseases

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Rodents on the upswing in Arizona

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Rodents on the increase

The last couple years the mice and rats have gone crazy, don’t know if it’s all the rain or great weather here in Arizona. Years ago 2002? Ahwatukee just south of Phoenix had a issue with roof rats and guess what they are back this time in Phoenix. I have suggested for years to do a monthly inspection of your home. Look for holes and think like a pest. If that hole is about the size of a dime, a mouse can get into your home. Believe me if they can possible squeeze in they will. Mice and rodents inside your house is not a good thing. Call ProBest Pest Management 602-249-7378 if you see anything suspicious.

Also be careful about wiring for your home, landscape, pool and your vehicle.

rodents ducks

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Rodents, who will win?

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Have you seen any rodents?

Rodents including rats and mice and it seems like every once in awhile we get them in the Valley, back in 2011 and this last year 2016-2017. Roof rats mainly and they can be a real pain if you live in areas where they have become quite the nuisance. Sometimes we even get Pack Rats, I still have no idea how they survive the Jumping Cholla cactus. They will use that cactus to build their middens (their home) and no idea why they don’t get barbs everywhere. If you live in Arizona you know to stay way clear of this cactus, they don’t jump but they somehow manage to get to you and they hurt.

Also we should be concerned about cabins or sweeping up remains of the rats/mice etc, Histoplasmosis is a major concern.

rodents bait station

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