All posts in “rats”

I don’t understand Pack Rats, do you?

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So yesterday I mentioned that you needed to understand your enemy, often times I think I do and then this happens. See these pictures below, I just don’t understand why rodents like to gather cactus, I would think it would be harmful.

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The “jumping cholla” name comes from the ease with which the stems detach when brushed, giving the impression that the stem jumped. Often the merest touch will leave a person with bits of cactus hanging on their clothes or imbedding itself into your skin or  to be discovered later when either sitting or leaning on them. The ground around a mature plant will often be covered with dead stems, and young plants are started from stems that have fallen from the adult. They attach themselves to desert animals and are dispersed for short distances. (Wikepedia)

Do you understand mice/rats/rodents?

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You have heard me say this many times, I don’t work on my vehicle brakes because I don’t know anything about brakes but I know pests.

  • You must understand rodents; you must know their biology and their quirks. Do you know how far mice or rats travel from their home that is might be important in control?
  • How will you attack the situation, are you using traps or repeat devices or outside stations?
  • Have you purchased enough and what are you using?
  • Have you thought about consequences in using this equipment, is anybody at risk?

So before you decide to tackle this by yourself, maybe it might be inportant to call a Pro.

Rodent loved the bait so mush he never left.

Rodent loved the bait so mush he never left.

 

 

Not a creature was stirring… facts about mice

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Not a creature was stirring… facts about mice

Creature – Lets start with a few facts:

  1. A family of six mice can grow to 50 – 60 mice in only 90 days.
  2. Mice can just about live anywhere from the tropic to the cold regions.
  3. They love to nibble and again will just about nibble on anything.
  4. Urinate as they run, so not only eating things but damaging or contaminating as well.
  5. Mice can use cardboard as nesting materials.

A few tips to stop them from getting in and staying in.

  1. Home-seal, no holes – mice only need a hole the size of a dime.
  2. Always use gloves when transferring boxes from attic or garage.
  3. Make sure your garage door is sealed.
  4. Make sure your screen are in place and in good condition.
  5. Don’t leave pet food out, if storing please put in containers.
creature

Photo by Univar

Cockroach invader new to NYC.

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A species native to Asia has been located in Manhatten, New York, found by a Pest Control Operator. This species can also acclimate itself to colder weather, “Cold-tolerate cockroach from Asia found in NY“.

I’ve mentioned before “Insect and Mammal Invasive Species“, “Those Darn Illegals” and “The spread of Black Rats“.

The spread of non-native insects or plants can really cause major issues, justy look at those Quagga and Zebra  mussel.

QuaggaMusselBro

Photo by Arizona Game & Fish

Yikes, how did that get in there?

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probestpestmanagement537

Rats and mice nomally can squeeze through small opening (mice – dime and rats – quarter), I think this guy just had a bad day. I suppose it ate some bait or got bit by something, cause it looks like it has some room to wiggle. Just a caution on mice/rats, rodents in general they have teeth and aren’t afraid to use them. They will gnaw on electrical wiring around pool pumps, car engines and equipment of all sorts. By the way this also goes for rabbits, they will also go after wiring. So what precautions can you take:

  1. Check you home monthly for signs of pests, I know I say it often but eventually you might listen to my advice.
  2. Check for holes or loose screening, including those weep holes at the roofline.
  3. If you see bees flying in and out, check it out but use caution.
  4. Don’t stack firewood against the house.
  5. Don’t let trees or bushes touch the house, super highway for rodents and ants.
  6. Have a Professional Termite company do an inspection for termites.

How do you know the problem is huge – when the cockroaches are everywhere?

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The very minute you walk into the home, you know there are issues. How does the bug guy know? Let me share my observations:

  1. The cockroaches are in the door hinges or above the entry door into the home.
  2. The cockroaches are in the bedrooms.
  3. The cockroaches are in the living or dining rooms.
  4. The home has a distinct odor. Once you have been in a home with a severe cockroach problem you never forget that smell. The same applies to Bed Bugs and sometimes rats or rodents.

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Did you know that a  smell can bring on a flood of memories, influence people’s moods and even affect their work performance. Maybe walking into a house where someone is baking cookies and you instantly recall your Grandmother in the kitchen or if your a pest operator walking into a place where the roaches far outnumber any other living things. Gives you the heebie jeebies right?

Tell me your instant recall of a smell you have encountered, maybe I’ll share a few more.

Ouch, can this happen at your home or business?

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ratburnt1

A friend of mine on FaceBook – Ernesto Luis Verbauwen posted this picture the other day and I just had to repost it on my home seal – so thanks to Ernesto.  Ernesto works at Fumigaciones San Lorenzo in Concoria, Entre Rios.

I just really love the fact that as pest control operators we can all get along and share useful tips and facts to help one another.

Which according to my research Bogata, Colombia. Bogotá formally Bogotá, Capital District, from 1991 to 2000 called Santafé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent capital district

In “Rodents will gnaw on anything, what happens if its your home“, we looked at 20% of homes in US possibly the number of fires by rodents. Scary, I think so! What if it were your home or business. Some wildlife outside is OK, but I would say none inside. So home-seal and keep them out and hey if you’re in Concoria give my friend a call, I’m sure he will treat you right.

Rodents – why are they scary?

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Did you know Rodents encompass 43% of all mammals on earth, the mouse is #2 and Norway rat is #3.

There are about 4260 species of mammals known on this planet at the moment, though taxonomists are still arguing and species are still being found.

Diseases directly transmitted by rodents (thanks to the CDC)

Diseases indirectly transmitted by rodents (thanks to the CDC)

It was far easier to report information directly from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) site, click the link for more information.

Bubonic Plague right on our doorstep in New Mexico

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“New Mexico reports second human case of Plague of 2013 in Torrence County Girl” Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis. It is found in animals throughout the world, most commonly rats but other rodents like ground squirrels, prairie dogs, chipmunks, rabbits and voles. Fleas typically serve as the vector of plague. Human cases have been linked to the domestic cats and dogs that brought infected fleas into the house.

“Squirrel with bubonic plague closes campgrounds in Angeles National Forest – July 2013‘

So did you think that Bubonic Plague was a long forgotten disease, or how about Hanta Virus, Lyme disease  or Rabies? Every once in awhile these little diseases pop up around the U.S. and we all need to remind ourselves of their potential to kill.

probestDSC03962  Rub marks where rats are getting into the structure.

Is there Lyme Disease in Arizona? YES!

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According to CDC surveillance statistics, only 52 cases of Lyme disease have been reported in Arizona in the past 10 years. These statistics may be misleading. Reported cases reflect the “tip of the iceberg,” or only a fraction of the true cases. The CDC states there are approximately 30,000 reported cases of Lyme in the US, and acknowledges that it is under-reported by 10 fold.  This means that there are a minimum of 200,000 cases in the US that meet the CDC standard of diagnosis.

There are over 25 species of ticks in Arizona that may carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Tularemia, Babesia and tick fever, as well as Lyme disease. If the tick that bites you is infected, it can inject Lyme bacteria into your bloodstream within hours of attachment. The bacteria can  also invade your brain and nervous system in less than 24 hours.

There is a Arizona Lyme Disease Association and is there an answer – YES. As with any wildlife issue, there will almost always be a bug problem. Wildlife can be cute and can also carry diseases and parasites. So why not prevent the issue without harming the wildlife. How is this possible you say? Brochure Tick Control

Mouse

The mice or ground squirrels enter the box, feed on the non-toxic food and get a combing of fipronil on their fur. They can then carry this back to nest-mates and it absorbs into their skin, killing ticks or fleas that bite and suck their blood.

Here is another article “Lyme Disease in the U.S. is 10-times underreported.”

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