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When to Call In a Professional for Your Pest Problems

Every homeowner faces a pest problem at some point in their lifetimes. An occasional mouse or a few ants might not pose a big challenge, but an infestation of rodents, roaches, or bedbugs may prove more problematic.  If you’re seeing mice out in the open, or suspect you’re dealing with something like roaches or bed bugs, it may be time to call in a pro.

Mice and Rats

In general, rodents tend to hide themselves away from human eyes. They rarely venture beyond 25 feet or so of their nests during their lifetime, so if you’re seeing mice or rats out in the open, it may mean that you have far more rodents than you’re actually seeing. You may also find droppings, chew damage, and tooth marks, both in food containers and in walls and other areas where rodents have made their way indoors.

Termites

If you find mud tunnels in or around your property, especially around the foundations of your home, it could be a sign that termites have moved in. Carefully examine any foundations, especially where there are wood beams, for holes and other damage. Termites must be dealt with immediately by a professional exterminator, to prevent serious damage to the structure of your home.

Bed Bugs and Fleas

If you or your family find yourselves suffering from itchy bites and even a rash-like series of bites, you may need to call in a professional to deal with your insect problem. Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to remove and nearly always require professional intervention to remove. Similarly, a large flea infestation can be extremely difficult to eradicate. Regular flea baths for pets and spraying may control the flea population but in certain conditions, the population can burgeon out of control, posing a real health hazard to human and animal inhabitants of your home alike.

If you suspect you have a pest problem, contact Exclusive Pest for a consultation.

Bed Bugs Go To College

The day finally came! Your family has waited patiently, yet excitedly for eighteen years. It is the day you move your precious child into their dorm. It was so exciting to decorate the dorm, meet the suite mates, get class schedules, go through Rush…only to have the thrill overshadowed by the fear of those pesky bed bugs! Can you avoid them? How do you avoid them? What do you do if you get them? No, you don’t drop out of school or set the dorm on fire. There are preventative measures you can take to keep them from sucking the fun out of your college experience!

We now know that bedbugs do not discriminate among race, gender, or socio-economic levels. The only requirement is a host. College dorms have become a great place for bedbugs to live and spread quickly. Students in dorms live in close proximity to each other, provide a lot of clutter, and have a transient population giving bedbugs the perfect breeding grounds! Recently universities have had some of the highest percentages of bedbug reports in the nation.

So, what do you do?

  • Assess your environment– Look for bedbugs or signs of bedbugs on the mattress
  • Keep it clean– Bedbugs love a cluttered, warm environment. This will allow them to remain incognito and continue to reproduce for weeks before you notice them
  • Hot water laundry– Bedbugs cannot survive heat. Wash and dry your laundry in hot temperatures
  • If it’s free, let it be! – While you may be the poor, starving college kid, Refrain from picking up used furniture off of the street, be wary of second hand stores, and yard sales too. They are a great place to pick up the unwanted creatures!
  • Come bearing gifts– Encase your mattress in a bedbug mattress encasement. Bring your suitemates one as well. You may be glad did!

http://www.pestnet.com/bed-bugs/bed-bugs-on-campus/

I’ve Got Bed Bugs, Heat Treatment Vs Chemical

So you just discovered you have bed bugs. After the emotional meltdown you just had, what do you do now? You have combed the internet, read EVERY SINGLE ARTICLE. But really, what do you do? You have options, so what is right for your family- heat treatment or chemical treatment?

First, call John at Exclusive Pest Control. He is going to come out and do an initial bed bug inspection. You may feel like you have a TOTAL infestation, when you may only have them in one room.

Next, you have to decide if you prefer chemical or heat treatment. So chemical vs. heat…

Chemicals

  • Linked to at least 81 poisonings
  • Chemicals known to cause nerve damage, skin irritation, endocrine disorders, cancer, and more
  • Over the past 10 years bed bugs have become 1000 times more resistant to chemicals
  • 98% of chemicals are contaminating the environment and untargeted species
  • Chemical treatment is less effective

Heat Treatment

  • Bed bugs can’t survive temperatures above 120 degrees
  • Heat treatment utilizes heaters and fans. Not chemicals and toxins with lasting residue
  • Requires 1 initial visit and 2 follow ups
  • All stages of bed bug life will die once the space reaches 120 degrees

Still confused? Call John at Exclusive Pest Control. He will help you determine which method best suits you and your family.

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