All posts in “shed”

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

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJBxdJPydRA[/embedyt]

Danger lurks for field technicians.

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danger

Danger Will Robinson Danger, remember those words from the robot on “Lost in Space”? Well I was minding my own business looking into a shed/cabinet when guess who decided I was just to close for comfort. The Emu started pecking at my Webster broom that I was using to knock down spider webs and dust from the shed.

I think all field people think about what can attack, but normally you are thinking dog or even the bees or wasps. Its funny because I knew she was there but I think she was just checking me out and my broom seemed like a easy target – better the broom than my head? How many times have I hit my head on an awning or table top, how many times have I fallen into a gopher hole? Well, I’m not telling more more than enough, so be careful out there.

So if you work in the field – beware of those things that might be inquisitive?

How do those scorpions get into your home?

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One of my favorite calls relates to how scorpions get into bathrooms or showers. People tell me they come up drains and that is incorrect. Arizona Bark Scorpions enter your home by crawling up stucco and gaining access into your attic. They then crawl around and under the insulation and finally they come to a recess light or something that was cut through the ceiling drywall. See all those cracks and if your home isn’t sealed well enough they will fall right into your house. Sometimes there are lights or fans right above the bath or shower and they just fall in. So here is my advice, pull down the plate that covers these holes and caulk the hole. This should be done on the top floor ceiling or if you live in a single story house the ceiling. On our website is a list of things we attempt to seal when we perform a Home-Sealing.

What is wildlife control?

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Most of us enjoy the occasional wildlife that we encounter but without some form or measure of keeping them at bay, we might have a bad encounter. You see the shows on TV where someone decides to take a picture of some creature and the creature feels threatened and attacks. It is never by the way that lone little bird, it is the Grizzly Bear that people want the picture of. Bears can run fast so unless you have a friend with you, that bear will catch your but and eat you. That therein lies the problem – they are animals and wild creatures.

I had a friend whose family raised a raccoon and this raccoon was still wild and got into trouble frequently. I’m reminded of this as we encounter wildlife in our day to day work. It is impossible to know for sure but these animals don’t know the difference between your home and a tree. It also becomes a problem when we feed them, then they become accustomed to handouts. One of my favorite little spots to visit is Monetzuma’s Castle and they used to have squirrels until one day when a squirrel bit the hand that was feeding it.The squirrel just sees the food and if isn’t given the food in a manner that it is used to it lashes out and bites.

This also applies to letting a wild animal live in your home or shed, birds and other wildlife carry parasites and once the animal is gone where are the bugs going to go? Wild animals also carry fleas and ticks and the same applies, they will seek out a new food source and that could be you. So don’t allow animals to live in your attic, if you hear something it is time to investigate.

Hey it’s finally Fall, do you know where your bugs are?

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As the temperature finally, finally makes its way down (if you live in Arizona you know that feeling) “Thank Goodness”. The bugs are also going to start finding ways in, they like warm and cozy just as much as we do. They just don’t understand that your home isn’t really their home. They probably just think (OK they probably don’t really ) at least not in the same way we do, that a hole or crevice is just a hole or crevice and an ample place to hide for the winter.

So let’s make those crack and crevices impossible to get into, now that its cooler use that clear caulking to fill in those gaps. Do you like money? Most of us do and this measure alone – caulking could save you a few greenbacks $$$$$. Sealing your home is one way to save on heating and cooling bills. At the same time you will help to keep those bugs from getting in and its downright impossible to keep scorpions out unless you fill those crack in.

Just paying attention to your property or business can be helpful, this was a hive that was in the wall and had expanded to the outside (something you don’t see often). Lets make it a monthly habit to check out our homes, sheds and property –

just √ it.

Are you refurbishing your Home?

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Are you refurbishing your Home?

So this last week I decided to replace a piece of carpeting in my dining room. I never liked it in the dining room to begin with and finally decided to put in tile. After removing the carpet I noticed a very large crack and YES I had the termite expert (Mike) come to my house and drill it before putting in the tile.

Nothing looks worse than tile that has to be drilled after you notice the termites.

So a piece of free advice – if you are replacing a floor with wood or tile, take the time and treat for termites. Most termite companies would prefer not to drill a new tile, it will never look the same.

A few pictures of cracks in the concrete…

Before replacing a floor take the time to have it fixed, I don’t like drilling new wood or tile floors. Trust me on this one, please!

I suggest you wear your shoes!

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I suggest you wear your shoes!

It’s dark outside and you need to run to the garage, so you ask yourself “Should I put on my shoes?” – The answer is an unequivocal – YES. Bark Scorpions pack a sting that could send you to the hospital and this whopper – Desert Hairy Scorpion will sting you but generally is not as bad as the Bark Scorpion.

Termites are incredibly skilled and can cause some BIG problems!

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Termites are incredibly skilled and can cause some BIG problems!

Termites cause 5 billion dollars worth of damage each year and you know the old saying ” It’s not if you have termites it’s just when you will get them”. I’m sure you remember me saying to inspect your home each month especially in the summer but if you live up north it’s probably not a bad idea to check them often. Maybe that little raccoon or opossum might decide it’s time to bed down for the winter and that is under that tarp in your shed.

Termites build these tubes or tunnels to access the wood and if you make it easy on them by placing the wood into direct contact with the wood they will exploit every opportunity to get at it.

Clutter and the bugs…

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Clutter and the bugs…

Sanitation is the key to any commercial restaurant and should be the guiding light to any homeowner. With the spread of bed Bugs nothing has the potential to cause extreme infestations like clutter. The problem is where to begin the treatment and to be successful you must get to all the spots. I don’t care if it’s heat or steam treatment if you can’t get to where the bug is living there is virtually no chance of winning the war against these little biters. This problem extends to cockroaches and rodents as well, clutter is the enemy whether in or around your home.

Inside:

My theory is that if you haven’t touched the item its time to throw it out or better yet give it to a charity!
Closets are not a throw and forget place.
Under beds is also not a very handy place – exceptions include those little plastic cases, at least they are manageable.

Outside

Never stack firewood against the home, ever!
The more stuff around the home and in the yard may attract bugs, spiders and rodents.
Don’t use the shed or garage as a dump site either. If you ever take anything from that area make sure it is clean before bringing it in. Bugs and rodents love to hide in that stuff.
Attics – you can store boxes up there but again make sure they are empty before bringing anything inside. If you store stuff in a commercial storage facility make sure you check stuff before bringing it home.

CLUTTER IS THE ENEMY! SANITATION IS YOUR FRIEND!