All posts in “rats”

Can kind of concern do rodents pose?

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Can kind of concern do rodents pose?

Rodents pose a serious threat of spreading disease, I read reports weekly about the spread of disease and rodents are right at the top generally speaking. What are some of those nasty little diseases I’m talking about. —Plague, salmonellosis, Hanta Virus, leptospirosis, rickettsialpox and lymphomactic choriomeningitis.
Gnawing, they can gnaw electrical lines, pool pump lines, all the while possibly triggering an explosion or file within homes or businesses. They also cause damage to the structure itself by creating holes or entry points.
They carry parasites like fleas and ticks and if you get rid of the rodent may have only you to feed upon.
They contaminate about 20% of the world’s food supply by either eating it or spreading filth like feces or urine into it.
They can also make you fearful, have nightmares and have anxiety attacks.

So I think it is extremely important to keep them out and in check, if you have an issue call a Pest Management Professional today or ASAP.

DON’T LET THESE COMMENSAL RODENTS – SHARE YOUR TABLE!

What’s behind your refrigerator?

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What’s behind your refrigerator?

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?

The Edible Dormouse or Glis Glis

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The Edible Dormouse or Glis Glis

Note: From time to time I allow people to write articles which I believe will be of interest to our community. This article while pretty much exclusive to the United Kingdom was interesting in that mice are quite intrusive no matter where they live. I also do advise people that in some cases pest control can be handled by the Do It Yourselfer but you also can get in over your head and the opinions and advice from a Pest Management Professional should be sought. Dr Bug!

What is a Glis Glis?

The Edible Dormouse is originally from continental Europe and was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1902 as part of a private wildlife collection at Tring in Hertfordshire. Due to an accidental escape, it now lives in the forests and countryside where it reached a population estimated at 10,000 rodents located within 25 miles of Tring.

The Edible Dormouse is one of the biggest rodents present in the United-Kingdom as it can reach 30 centimeters long. The Glis Glis has grey fur and similar to a young squirrel; it has big eyes and a long tail which it can spontaneously cast off in a situation of danger. Herbivorous, it feeds on fruits and nuts but if food is scarce it adapts and can eat plants, invertebrates and eggs. The Glis Glis is a great climber and usually inhabits in forested habitats and seeks shelter in bird nests, hollowed trees and caves.

Why is it considered as a pest?

Glis Glis are considered as one of the 14 threats to Britain’s countryside as they destroy crops and trees as well as electrical cables and wires due to their constant gnawing. A nocturnal rodent; Glis Glis will seek refuge during daylight and during hibernation. They will seek shelter in outbuildings, homes (basements) and business premises and may damage property and belongings. This can be very dangerous as an example, gnawing of an electric cable in your property can lead to a fire.

For those reasons, it is highly recommended to eliminate/manage any Glis Glis infestation, however, as it is protected species by the Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981, restrictions apply in how to proceed.

How do I know if I have Glis Glis in my property or business and outlying areas?

First and foremost, Glis Glis hibernate for almost seven months; from autumn to spring (May to October). Therefore during that period, it will be difficult to find proof of the existence of the Glis Glis as their activity is very limited.

Because of their nocturnal nature, they remain inactive during daylight for fear of predators. Most of the damage caused by their behavior will be done at night.

To know if you have Glis Glis on your property, look for:

Gnawed electrical cables.
Scratching noises and movements coming from tree branches and bird nests.
Damaged young trees or missing bark.
Missing fruits from plants.
Most damage will be in your kitchen or basement, Glis Glis are very intrusive animals.

The Edible Dormouse or Glis Glis is protected species, so what can I do?

Indeed, Glis Glis is protected by the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 which prohibits certain methods of killing and trapping except under license. The trapping or killing of Glis Glis can take place if it is a matter of public health or public safety, in prevention of serious damage to crops, fruits, livestock etc. This means that only pest control experts who are certified to do so under license can take action. Homeowners can apply for a license for live trapping Edible Dormice; however this is subject to several rules and restrictions.

Prevention is always the best first steps to take. A few steps can be undertaken to make your house/business rodent proof. You will find how to do so in the Tips & Advice section of our website or by clicking here.

Victor®, the global leader in rodent control, offers a variety of innovative mouse control solutions such as Live Mouse Traps and rodenticides to help you with all your rodent control needs. Victor® has all the information you need to get rid of the rat in your home.

What do you want to know by ProBest Pest Management!

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DrBugKVBdidyouknow1

Rats are neophobic – they don’t like new things, so if you put something new in their environment they will avoid it for awhile.

You don’t want to get bitten by a rat, they have a force up to 7,000 pounds per square inch, OUCH!

Presence of insects on and inside a corpse can be a critical clue towards estimating the time of death for bodies dead for longer periods of time. Because flies rapidly discover a body and their development times are predictable under particular environmental conditions, the time of death can be calculated by counting back the days from the state of development of flies living on the corpse. YUCK!

For its weight, spider web silk is actually stronger & tougher than steel.

The first known use of pesticide was elemental sulfur dusting. This method was used in ancient Sumer about 4500 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia.

Ever wonder about Chili peppers and pest control?

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Ever wonder about Chile peppers and pest control?

I remember many years ago when my Grandparents had a garden and occasionally rabbits would venture in and eat the new stalks of green. We put up some chicken wire and that stopped the intruders from getting in, but what about the new repellents with chili peppers or those that contain capsaicin? For thousands of years Asian cultures have used chili pepper products to repel all kinds of pests. One thing for sure is that you must be extremely careful using a product like this.

One of the products that we use is PiGNX and a similar product called DeTour for rodents, the reasons that I like this product include:

The product won’t freeze or melt, the freeze thing isn’t a problem in AZ but melting is. There are times in the summer that I think I’m melting from the heat.
This product is a contact repellent – animals in contact may take it back to their nest transferring it to others.
Food grade product.

In the case of pigeons, you place this product in areas where they tend to land and hang out. They get the product on their feet and they hate it, sqawking and letting every other bird aware of the product – they don’t come back…

Rodents coming into contact believe that the building in on fire due to the heat from the product and will do whatever it takes to get out of the structure.

New technology for pest control…..

How do bug explosions happen?

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How do bug explosions happen?

Many of us have heard of the plagues of certain insects occurring across certain areas of the world.

In Exodus, Pharaoh refused to let the Hebrew people (or Israelites) leave Egypt. The 10 plagues were a divine demonstration of power and displeasure designed to persuade Pharaoh to “let my people go,”. Some of these plagues were insects of animals: such as frogs, gnats or lice, flies and locusts.

Bubonic Plague peaked in Europe between 1348 and 1350 with fleas carried by rats. It was probably carried by Oriental rat fleas living on the black rats that were regular passengers on merchant ships. All in all, the plague reduced the world population from an estimated 450 million to a number between 350 and 375 million in the 14th century.

1889 – locust swarms crossing the Red Sea covered 2000 square miles, and contained an estimated 250 billion locusts. Now, if only there was a good recipe for locusts.

In 1931, a swarm of grasshoppers descends on crops throughout the American heartland, devastating millions of acres. Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, already in the midst of a bad drought, suffered tremendously from this disaster.

Around 1940 locusts devoured the entire wheat crop in 20 districts in China, causing the starvation of 6 million people.

Jan 20, 2011 When mice run out of food in Streaky Bay, Australia, it leads to a mouse plague of Biblical proportions. The sea is the only place safe from the rising tide of rodents. I just had to share this one – watch the video – its freaky…

Aug 9, 2011 Brown Marmorated stink bugs, rise to new levels in Midwest.

A plague of these insects can occur when conditions cause their populations to suddenly explode. Usually this happens under drought or very dry conditions, since their egg pods are vulnerable to fungus in wet soil. When the soil is very dry, swarms can develop. With rodents and other mammals it all depends on the circumstance involved, more rain, more food and the right condition exists and the population increases.

stinkbugs

What do you want to know by ProBest Pest Management!

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DrBugKVBdidyouknow1

Rodents are the second most successful mammals on Earth:

Humans
House Mouse
Norway Rat

The first spring-loaded mousetrap was invented by William C. Hooker of Abingdon, Illinois. He received U.S. patent 528671 for his design in 1894.

What are the 5 or is it 6 Rodent senses?

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What are the 5 or is it 6 Rodent senses?

Sight
Taste
Smell
Touch
Sound
Kinesthetic Sense – they memorize their environment and can maneuver through it without looking.

Information provided by Bell Labs – a world leader in rodent control technology.

whiskers

How do rodents get into homes and attics?

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How do rodents get into homes and attics?

It is extremely important to understand how and why critters try to get into our homes. Animals/wildlife need the same thing we need – Food, Water and Shelter. As you can see by the pictures, these holes are all that is needed by birds and other small animals to gain access into the house. Along with these critters some other pests can get into your attic or crawlspace and if you get rid of the original critter the parasites may linger behind.

You should conduct an inspection of your home or property at least once a month, just to be sure you haven’t invited any unwanted pests. If you need some help sealing up your home just give us a call 602-249-7378 or 623-414-0176 ProBest Pest Management.

Hey! Did you know this about rodents?

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Hey! Did you know this about rodents?

A family of 6 mice in a cluttered garage can grow to 50-60 mice in only 90 days.

A Norway rat can gnaw through a lead pipe.

Roof Rats have extra pads and longer digits on their paws, enabling roof rats to be excellent climbers.

Information provided by Bell Labs – a world leader in rodent control technology.