All posts in “birds”

“Not a creature was stirring…”

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“Not a creature was stirring…”

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Oh, yes they were. Winter is the time for rodents to try get into our homes. Birds including pigeons also will roost within attics and can cause some real issues not to mention the noise. You might even think you have ghost, OK I’m kidding about the ghost. But noises should draw your attention to possible critters in the attic, the sooner you solve this problem the less chance of BIGGER issues. Remember parasites and other pests can create some issues bigger than what you might of had.

Rodents will burrow into and through insulation, animals/wildlife can also set up home with the walls of that attic. So keep an eye out for burrowing and rodent feces.

I definitely didn’t want to know about this!!!!

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I definitely didn’t want to know about this!!!!

Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 By Sean Peick Cronkite News “More than 2,200 wildlife strikes reported to FAA since 1990” at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

OK I don’t know why but I do get a little nervous flying, I used to fly quite often and now a few times each year. But usually on takeoffs and landings my palm sweats a bit even though I’m usually in my favorite seat 12D (just for you Ryan) on my favorite airlines Southwest. For the record to my knowledge of over at least 100 flights – no bird strikes on my plane!

But in reality I guess that is not to bad, 110 per year or about one every 4 days but I’m still WOW you know what I mean. A considerable amount of money is spent each year on keeping birds and wildlife away from airfields and everybody will remember that flight in NY and how Captain Sully worked that (Miracle on the Hudson) and those were geese.

So a BIG hats off to the everyday pilots who have to take action on those rare events and Thanks for keeping us safe as we fly home or on business. Thank You Southwest, the pilots, flight attendants and ground crew you make our journey safe – from a loyal flyer and BIG fan of yours.

Rodents and your home, what do you need to know?

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Rodents and your home, what do you need to know?

You must know your enemy! An inspection of your home or business is the first part of your investigation. Most people don’t really care to think about these little furry invaders of our home, but think you must. These creatures carry diseases and can pass along other not so fun stuff, like parasites and other pests. So what should you look for:

Any opening which could allow rodents to slip into your home.
Check high and low, check the ceiling, attic and crawlspace areas thoroughly.
Check the garbage areas, it can often be about food sources.
Have you seen signs of activity, feces or strange smells.
Check the attic, also look for chewed wires.
Trees should not touch the structure, this is like a super highway into the home or business.
Check screens or windows, check that they are in place and not damaged.
Check to see that doors are equipped with door sweeps.
Check where wires come into the building for signs of rub marks.
Don’t leave pet food laying around indoors or outdoors.
Check out buildings for nesting of birds or rodents, check under buildings if they are raised. Checks decks and other types of structures – like gazebos, swings or play areas.
Check garage door seals.

If you decide to attack the issues yourself, use care and caution. If you need some expert advice see out a Pest Management Professional and THINK like a mouse…

Pigeons are messy and cause disease!

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Pigeons are messy and cause disease!

Pigeons having once decided to set up a house at your home, will continue to stay there until they are made to move. Even after decided to make it difficult for them, they might continue to try to stay. I have seen them work around spikes (metal and plastic), I have seen them work into chicken wire by using their head to inch their way pass the obstacle. It is important to check the work after installing whatever method is used.

Successful hotel or apartment honeybee to bat experts.

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Successful hotel or apartment honeybee to bat experts.

Many companies are excellent at doing pest control but may not have the ability or knowledge to accomplish certain out of the range pest control. Case in point:

Large 8 story hotel had bats – ProBest Pest Management – handled and solved the problem. Case closed…
Africanized honeybees between 3rd and 4th floor of another large hotel – eliminated bees and caulked/sealed the openings. Case closed…
2 story building – Africanized honeybees. Treated and issue completed. Case closed…
Large hotel/restaurant bats in attic – night job, exclude bats and clean up bat guano. 19 bags of guano, sealed entrances – no entry for bats. Case closed…

ProBest Pest Management is often referred by the Arizona Extension Office and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, we are knowledgeable and experienced. If your pest control professional is unsure or just can’t handle the job – “Call a Pro… Call the Best. ProBest!

Have you ever had one of those days?

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Have you ever had one of those days, when you think the world may be against you?

Yes all of us probably run into this weekly, maybe daily. We can handle it primarily because of faith, faith maybe in a few different things like 1. Faith in God 2. Faith that it just happens 3. Faith that it probably can’t get much worse, but anyway you get my drift here. I don’t want to go on about the economy or the government, or preach about the existence of God but you know stuff just happens.

So here are a few tips to stop that stuff from happening – especially the bug or bird kind of stuff.

More cases of Bed Bugs are happening right now because we are traveling for the summer, so take precautions.
Get a termite inspection yearly, it can’t hurt – it’s not like a colonoscopy (I just had to throw that in) it’s nothing like that….
Don’t put firewood against your home, don’t allow rocks to be higher than the stucco.
Clean up those oranges and grapefruits that fall on the ground, better yet give them to the food bank.
Clutter in and around your home can lead to pest infestations.
Don’t let tree limbs touch the house.

When in doubt seek out a trained professional for advice – the National Pest Management Association has a great website for consumers.

Ducklings in the pool, oh nooooooo…

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Ducklings in the pool, oh nooooooo…

First off, did you know ducklings can swim – I mean underwater and they are good at it? Mom must have set up a nest in the enclosed backyard (block wall) and then the ducklings became trapped. My plan was full-proof, catch the mother and then the ducklings – that didn’t work as I had planned it. Mom was way faster that me, period. Then to plan B, set large animal trap with ducklings inside within a box and hope mother duck comes to the rescue. No go on this one either, we finally had to move the ducklings to Liberty Wildlife where a surrogate mother duck took over.

Can ducklings live in a pool? All the data I see is no. First, there are no fish, plants…and second, chlorine is toxic, even for us, so more so for birds.

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Liberty Wildlife Rehab Center Update

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Liberty Wildlife Rehab Center Update

Liberty Wildlife envisions a time when wildlife is recognized as an integral part of our natural world, and a precious natural resource, to be protected and preserved.

Liberty Wildlife envisions being a permanent community resource, a place to instill compassion and stewardship in young minds and a place to reconnect the public with the beauty and benefits of native wildlife and habitat.

Wildlife-Related Emergencies —-480-998-5550

Volunteer

At Liberty Wildlife volunteers are always needed, and a variety of volunteer opportunities are available. Time commitments vary, but usually involve three to four hours once a week. Training and support are provided. People who love wildlife and care about the environment find it a thrilling experience to work around these magnificent wild animals.

While Liberty Wildlife accepts mammals and reptiles, most of the work is avian rehabilitation. This includes birds of prey, water fowl, and songbirds native to Arizona.

People interested in volunteering must be 18 years of age or older. You must have reliable transportation and be able to commit to being on time for assignments. The feeding and cleaning, medical services, education, and facility maintenance positions are physically demanding.

ProBest has donated our services over the past year because it is just the right thing to do and we can help. Without proper pest protocols pest populations such as rodents and cockroaches can build up and possibly take over. So if you can help I think they would appreciate whatever you can do.

http://www.libertywildlife.org

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Joe (Liberty Wildlife volunteer), Aurora (Bald Eagle) and Dr. Bug

Celebrate the Year of the Bat

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Celebrate the Year of the Bat

“The United Nations Convention on Migratory Species said that this year, 2012, was the Year of the Bat,” Nichols said.And bats are nature’s bug zappers, eating as much as their weight in mosquitoes and other insects in a night. Yep taking my job away from me, jk… There is plenty of work available for killing bugs.

Check out http://batconservation.org for more interesting facts about bats.

Most bats in the North America eat insects. As a matter of fact, one bat eats about 2,000 to 6,000 insects each night. Many of the insects they eat include agricultural crop pests including the tomato horned worm, corn earworm, and many kinds of beetles. Bats also eat annoying insects like flies, mosquitoes, and gnats.

Fruit bats around the world are important seed dispersers in the tropical rainforest. They are considered a “keystone species,” meaning that without them, many other plants and animals in the same ecosystem would be adversely affected, like us!

Bats eat a wide variety of food, including insects, fruit, nectar, fish, frogs, rodents, lizards, birds, and blood.

Bats that drink nectar are important pollinators of the organ pipe cactus and saguaro cactus in the United States. They are also pollinators of cash crops including mango, cashew, balsa, agave, and bananas.

One problem can lead to another, sometimes more frightening..

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One problem can lead to another, sometimes more frightening..

I really get concerned when I see pigeons, birds nesting on someone’s roof and I get worried when it happens to be rodents in someone’s attic. Remember this home seal from a few years ago “Pigeons and their Mess!” and “It’s not always what you think! Ceiling stain.”

Here is a story and video from Albuquerque about a very similar problem – secondary infestation from bird mites and carpet beetles. “Pigeon problem leads to bug infestation at Albuquerque apartment” by Chris Ramirez KOB Eyewitness News 4.