Mole Control

Killing moles in your garden or lawn is about as hard as winning the lottery it seems, but people have done it. I have heard success stories from individuals who went online a bought the latest DIY mole control product like Talpirid or some other kind of trap or device and won the battle. Those are the lucky folks, then there is my Barber who has a house down the shore and is in a constant battle with these creatures. Controlling moles in a lawn is not easy, but it can be done. Personally I would recommend calling any number of experts in the field. Locally there is a company called the Mole Man who sole purpose it to get rid of your mole problem. I am sure there are other companies in the USA who also specializes in mole control.
If you are adventurous or want to go crazy like the guy from Caddy Shack then order your products and say a prayer. If you catch the problem early enough then maybe you have a fighting chance. Sometimes it is as easy as eliminating there food source by treating your lawn for grubs and worms early in the season and starve them to death (or at least drive them over to your neighbors). Anyway...happy hunting and god luck.

Wasps and bees in hole

I've gotten questions about how to handle bees or wasps that were entering a small hole in an outside wall that happened to be near an entrance door. My first recommendation is not to seal that hole. If you sealed it then all the bees and wasps coming back from foraging for the day would get agitated and confused and wind up stinging. The best approach is to buy a dust with a nozzle and in the evening dust the hole. This dust enters the area the bees are nesting and as new bees go in and out they brush up against the dust and bring it further into the nest, ultimately killing off the nest. A good product to use is Tempo dust or Apicide, either product could be found on the Internet on a DIY pest control products website or at your local distributor. As always, use caution and be aware of the possibility of getting stung or others getting stung. Sometimes with bees, wasps, or hornets your best bet is to call in the pros.

Phantom Itching and bumps. Bird Mites

Bumps and itching on the skin can be caused by a host of different reasons. Dry skin irritation, fleas, mosquitoes, bed bugs, chiggers, mites. Much to choose from as you can see. How does one determine what is causing the itching and bumps? Process of elimination can help. Ask yourself questions like do you have animals or does your friends have dogs or cats? (Fleas) Have you been camping or hunting lately? (Chiggers) Have you been travelling lately or bought any used furniture or bedding? (Bed Bugs) Do you have a bird nest near the home? (Bird Mites) Think through some reasons why the above bugs would be in your home. Can you physically see any of these pests? Are there blood stains or bugs on your bed or sheets? This is clearly a sign of bed bugs. Can you see fleas hopping? Again, the obvious. If you are getting bitten without seeing the pest then it could be a possibility be that the problem is coming from birds who are giving you the problem of bird mites. If this is the case don't panic. In a previous post of mine entitled, Bird Mites, I offer some good advice and some calming thoughts. Remember, any pest can be treated and the trick is to be calm and collective and do what you have to for peace of mind.

Shadows by the National Pest Management Association

I was contacted by the NPMA today via email asking to post their new Public Service Announcement entitled "Shadows" . I was thrilled to do so considering the fact that the National Pest Management Association is such a wonderful organization that supports both professionals and the public with fantastic information. Check out their PSA by clicking here.

How do mice get in

Mice can basically nudge their little noses into the hole the width of a pencil. SO the battle to try to keep them out is long, but can be accomplished. Start with the obvious areas. Take a walk around your home and look for wires and pipe that enter your home. Can you notice any space around the wires or pipes? If so then you should caulk around these openings. Next place to look is the exhaust of your dryer. Often times lint props the flap open leaving a clear highway for rodents to enter your home. Others areas include under the garage door and entrance doors. If there are gaps then they can get in. Make sure all the weather stripping is in tact. Lastly, if you notice any cracks or holes in the foundation of your home along you outside perimeter then cement those areas up.
Happy fourth of July!!

Baiting for Mice

You can find mice in kitchens, closets, bathrooms, furniture, bedding, ceilings, they can get anywhere they want to it seems. Trapping mice requires the trapper to have two things, a good bait and lots of traps. Don't skimp on the traps and I would recommend snap traps because they can be tossed in the trash and you can count your progress. You can get a box of 72 traps on any do it yourself pest control products website. The next thing you need is a good bait. Traditionally people would use peanut butter or chocolate, but we now have something better. Offered to the professional pest control market, a product called PROVOKE is what's all the rage. PROVOKE was formulated by Bell Labs and has been doing fantastic in baiting and attracting mice to the trap for a few years now. Again, this is a professional product and would need to be bought off of a DIY pest control products website or maybe your exterminator would sell you a bottle. Happy hunting.