All posts in “feces”

Birds and their damage.

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So you just noticed that birds or something is getting into your attic, well if you ignore it maybe it will just go away? Probably not, but even if you fix the problem that might not be the end of it. Birds, critters or even pests can cause other problems. The animals might have parasites and once you get rid of them the parasites might come down from the attic looking for food. That might be you!

So one of my suggestions would be to do periodic checks of your property, look up and down. Look for openings or rub marks (like the picture on the right), or for feces buildup on your home (left picture). My recommendation is to do monthly or at the very least quarterly checks of your property.

Pigeon issues at your home?

 

 

probestpestDSC06740 Does your roof look like this?

Then you need a little help in clearing them off and away from your home. Hardly a house in this neighborhood had a single pigeon on it.

 

Are bed bugs continuing to be a big problem?

 

 

Bed Bugs are continuing their rise to a real pest in the U.S. and according to Orkin it doesn’t look like they are slowing down. Orkin has been keeping track of bed bugs calls within their company and provide data to keep officials and the public informed. “Chicago tops bed bug cities list for second year in a row“.

Phoenix is up seven from 35 to 28, so here are a few tips from me to keep you informed as well.

  1. Just be aware of the issue, don’t panic. Many people are bitten by various bugs like mites, mosquitoes and think they have bed bugs. If you are being bitten isolate the area (by that I mean the area in the home) see what you can see. Check beds for fecal spotting (when bed bugs bite they eject old blood feces etc), if you see something moving catch it and keep it handy for an expert.
  2. If you travel take precautions, I hand my clothes from the shower rod and put my luggage on the bathroom vanity and that is where it stays. Check the bed and close furniture and if you see something inform management and move to another room.
  3. Remember bed bugs just don’t hang out on beds.
  4. When returning home, unpack in garage or outside and check luggage. Wash everything and high heat, wrap luggage in black garbage bag and if you’re AZ put it in sun especially during summer 113 – 120 degrees in ideal to bake them.
  5. Keep an eye out if you have guests or frequent visitors, they can travel in backpacks.
  6. I’ll repeat “Don’t Panic!” call a Pest Management Professional, as I think this is not a “Do It Yourself” (DIY) program.

 

Geese and their migration to Arizona.

 

If you are out and about driving you will see Geese in in v formation, why you ask? First lets discuss why geese migrate – usually they fly south for the winter, I would oh wait I did. Geese like to take  advantage of circumstances, warmer weather generally means more food and optimal environments for their off spring. The reason they fly in that v formation is that this affords them the opportunity to waste less work on flying it actually breaks the wall of air that they fly into. The swirling air also helps push the birds behind the other and it allows them to watch and communicate with each other.

Geese are great looking birds but if they become to numerous they can be a hazard, they will attack if you get to close and they will defecate anywhere. This defecating on cement or parking lots areas is really, really slippery so please be careful walking. This morning on the way into work along the 101 they were in a field eating and there were probably over 100.

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A little Puzzler of bug terms

Blood feeder – recent issue – 6 letters?

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What killed 2/3’s ? population in Europe in or near 1350? 4 letters

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Cockroach skins or feces can cause this – 6 letters?

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Major roach pest in U.S. 6 letters?

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Soaks up pesticides in restaurants, making it difficult to control pest – 3 letters?

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Very small eight legged parasite – 4 letters?

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answers-etim, lio,namreg,amhtsa,aelf,gubdeb – Good Luck

Has the Stink got you, have you tried Earth Care odor bags?

 

 

I run across some really stinky little issues from time to time, like a rodents who died within a home. So its one of those things that isn’t easy to fix, so I often recommend the odor bags. I have used these bags many times and have never been disappointed in their use.

DeadRat

Easy to use to remove dead rodent odors, urine and feces odors, skunk odors, musty mildew odors, and cigarette smoke odor. Doesn’t have to come into contact with dead rodent or odor causing agent and works even if carcass is not removed. Bags are easy to use and last an average of 3-4 months in use and contain no chemicals, toxins or fragrances. Simply place the bag near the odor and in 24 hours the odor will be gone. Earth Care does not mask odors it removes them. Its contents are bio-degradable, non-flammable, non-toxic, safe around children, pets & mother earth.

A friend on mine recently had an issue with bats, so I recommended he try hanging some bags near the spot where the bats had been nesting, here’s what he said:

I did exactly what Keith said and I was pleasantly surprised as to the results, odor gone. I’m sold on these bags.  W. Davis – Florida

Lots of animals can cause stinky messes…do you live around messes like this?

 

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Animals and birds can really cause some major issues, such as bad air and parasites. Bad air within a structure can cause serious Asthma issues and depending on the circumstance can be caused by German Roaches, rat droppings and urine and hair left behind.

At least in the case above all the droppings were on the outside but we can always track them into the home and that’s another great reason to clean carpets. We definitely don’t want that mess in the attic and we don’t want animals of any kind nesting or raising babies.

Who cares about bugs and rodents?

Who cares about bugs and rodents?

 

Each and every day I’m reminded of the valuable service ProBest Pest Management offers, why you ask? Let me share some of my most memorable days of Public Health:

  • Customer called me because they couldn’t even get into their home because the fleas were so plentiful.
  • In all my 20+ years I had never seen Bed Bugs until 2009, that year we received our first call. In 2012 I witnessed over 1000 Bed Bugs in a very small home – I was amazed and also creeped out and itched all day. We were able to alleviate the problem but it stills worries me that people will put up with something like this until it virtually becomes a real BIG problem.
  • A young woman continued to call about Ticks, we treated her yard but she wouldn’t let us inspect her home. We did find ticks inside under a couch and solved the problem after finally finding the source.
  • I may have mentioned this before but a mobile home with at the every least 5 million cockroaches. I’m not kidding, I felt almost hopeless for this family. It took some time but I think we did a good job for them.
  • I once had the task of doing some Drywood Termite work in a church, the tower or steeple had more pigeon feces than I had ever seen. It was probably 10 foot deep and went down walls and was just gross, we fumigated the building and they had someone remove the feces and prevent them from gaining entry anymore.
  • Sometimes architecture often allows entry points into a structure, stucco not properly sealed or pipes or cable opening not sealed. I once particpated with a fumigation for cockroaches and never thought about rodents until the job was completed. Many, many dead rodents, by the way do you know that rodents love cockroaches?

Well anyway you get the picture, Public Health equals quality pest control.

plainandsimple

What’s behind your refrigerator?

What’s behind your refrigerator?

 

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Have you ever pulled your refrigerator or freezer away from the wall only to find – what? How about that spoon or fork you couldn’t find, how about rodent feces or maybe a termite mud tunnel?

Here are some excellent reasons to check behind those big items in your home:

  • Time to clean and remove dust from the refrigerator motor, this will help the unit run more efficiently.
  • You might find some unwanted bugs or other stuff, this could save you big money down the road.
  • Sometimes people drop liquid items and never clean it up, (kids).
  • Loose change – more money to pay your Pest Control service fee, oh come on I thought this was a funny one.

Any other ideas on what you might find under or behind those big items in your home?

Pigeon Poo & You!

Pigeon Poo and You!

 

I think its time to find a new parking spot. Bird poo can cause disease and can also ruin car paint and other structures. The other issue I have is tracking this stuff into the home and if you have children – do you really want them playing on the carpet.

Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection. It occurs throughout the world. In the United States, it is most common in the southeastern, mid-Atlantic, and central states.

Histoplasma fungus grows as a mold in the soil. You may get sick when you breathe in spores produced by the fungus. Soil that contains bird or bat droppings may have larger amounts of this fungus. The threat is greatest after an old building is torn down or in caves.

Having a weakened immune system increases your risk for getting or reactivating this disease. Very young or very old people, or those with AIDS, cancer, or an organ transplant have more severe symptoms.

People with chronic lung disease (such as emphysema and bronchiectasis) are at higher risk of a more severe infection.

Here is a publication on the cleanup procedure and please wear a mask and wear gloves.

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