Why Mice Infestations Are So Common

It's unlikely that any homeowner wants to see a mouse. However, mice infestations are more common than people may be comfortable with. Are you in need of mice control despite a relatively clean home? Let's look at some reasons why mice infestations are so common.

Sanitation

According to the Environment America Research & Policy Center, Americans produce roughly 1,800 pounds of solid waste annually. Some of that waste may be nicely contained in trash cans, but that's not always the case. Some people may have poor sanitation in their homes or around their neighborhoods, which makes a ripe environment for mice to thrive. Trash often has discarded food scraps that mice can feast on; plus it also provides a nesting area for them.

Overconstruction

With the growing population, construction is constantly taking place around the world. As more residential developments rise and land is razed, it creates encroachment on the natural wild environment where some mice and other rodents live. As homes and businesses increase in these areas, they may be surrounded by mice but not be aware of it.

Evasiveness

A mice infestation is one of the worst pest problems to deal with, partially because of how evasive mice can be. House mice can climb vertical walls and jump up to 3 feet high, according to our internal resources. They're most active at night when most humans are asleep. When it comes to breeding, all rodents have a very short gestation period, so it won't take long for them to overtake your property without timely mice control.

Clutter

If you want to reduce your chances of infestation, it may be time to go through your closet an make note of things you may want to give away. According to a study noted in Becoming Minimalist, the average American home has over 300,000 items. While the first thing that can attract mice is food and water, they also welcome a warm place to nest and gestate freely. Therefore, even the nicest American home could provide a haven for mice to nest due to so much clutter.

Mice may be tiny, but they're destructive, as they can affect your food supply and ruin your property. If you notice the slightest signs of an infestation, ranging from scratching noises at night to droppings, don't hesitate to call a professional. For quality mice control from a licensed, A+ rated company on the BBB, call Essential Pest Control today.

Here’s What to Do if You See Ticks in Your Home

Finding ticks in your home can be alarming. The last thing you want is for them to come near you, your family, or your pets. It's essential to determine where the ticks are coming from and if there is an infestation in your home. Here's what can be done to ensure your family and home are safe.

Determine How the Ticks Got Inside

Typically, ticks make their way indoors by traveling on your clothing or on your pets. Carefully check your pets for ticks. If you don't see any, ask everyone in the house if they have been in a grassy or wooded area where there might be ticks. Check the clothing in the dirty clothes hamper for ticks as well. If you live in a wooded area, they may have made their way inside because they live nearby.

Dry Clothing

Even if you don't see ticks on the clothing, throw it in the dryer. Drying clothing for at least a few minutes on high will kill any ticks hiding in clothes. Remember that you need to dry all the clothes that have come into contact with the dirty clothes as well. This means throwing all the dirty laundry through a cycle in the dryer and then not putting it back with other dirty clothing to avoid exposure.

Vacuum

Vacuuming is an easy way to get rid of ticks and eggs. After vacuuming, empty the vacuum into a plastic bag, tie it tightly, and throw it away. This guarantees that ticks will not crawl back out of the vacuum.

Contact an Exterminator

Although you've taken steps to remove any ticks you've seen, it doesn't mean the problem is gone. You should always contact an exterminator to evaluate your home and determine if there is a tick infestation. They have the necessary tools and experience to get rid of them once and for all. Exterminators will spray your home to ensure that whatever is living in your home will die. On average, a female tick can lay up to 5,000 eggs at once. So, it's important to get rid of the problem before it gets worse.

These were just a few things you can do to clear your home of ticks. Don't forget to contact a pest control company to inspect your home! If you're looking for a trusted company with expert exterminators, contact Essential Pest Control today. We are committed to providing high-quality services to our customers.

5 Tell-Tale Signs of a Termite Infestation

Termites are one of the biggest problems homeowners face. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, termite damage occurs in approximately 600,000 homes across America each year. If you want to stop termite problems early, here are five signs you might have an infestation.

1. Pinpoint Holes in Drywall

If you notice small pinpoint holes in drywall that you didn't make, that's a sign that you've got a termite infestation. Termites will happily eat drywall because it's partially made of cellulose, so keep an eye out for any pinpoint holes and call a pest control company if you spot them.

2. Hollow Sounding Wood

You can also knock lightly on some of the wood structures around your home to see if they sound hollow. When you knock or tap on wood, you should be able to hear that it's solid. If wood sounds hollow, there's a good chance it is a result of a termite infestation.

3. Unusually Squeaky Floorboards

It's not unusual for floorboards to get a bit squeaky over time, but your floorboards shouldn't be especially squeaky. Unusually squeaky floorboards, especially if it's happening all of a sudden, might be a result of termite damage.

4. Buckling Floorboards

In some cases, termites can cause so much damage to your floorboards that they can actually cause them to buckle. Buckling floorboards are a big problem because when one floorboard buckles, it affects all the other floorboards in its vicinity. If you notice a floorboard buckling suddenly, it may be time to call the pest control company.

5. Discolored Drywall or Peeling Paint

Discolored drywall and peeling paint, especially peeling paint that looks like the result of water damage, are two common signs of termites. Termites can cause extensive damage as they eat through different parts of your home, so you need to do more than keep an eye on exposed support beams and other structures that are obvious targets.

Termites can be a big problem for homeowners, especially if you don't recognize the signs early on. It's important to keep an eye out for these top five signs and call a pest control company if you think you have an infestation. If you've got a termite problem you can't get rid of, contact Essential Pest Control today to get it under control.

5 Reasons You Should Consider Pigeon Removal Services

Pigeons may seem harmless but when it comes to your home or business, they can cause some serious destruction. Pigeon infestations can be extremely problematic. If you believe you have a pigeon problem, here are five reasons you should consider pigeon removal services.

1. Clogged Vents

When pigeons decide to build a nest and leave droppings on your roof, it can lead to clogged vents. These vents are an essential part of your home, allowing water to flow through drains without creating a vacuum. If a pigeon clogs a drain vent for your toilet or sink, it could lead to a water backup.

2. Fire Hazards

Pigeons can also cause fire hazards with the nests they build. If a pigeon builds a nest too close to a chimney, it could be a fire hazard. Pigeon nests can also make it difficult for your chimney to ventilate smoke out of your home, which can reduce indoor air quality.

3. Diseases

Like many animals, pigeons are known to carry certain diseases. Pigeons nest in their own feces, which means they're prone to mites, parasites, and other diseases that they can pass on to humans. If you want to avoid parasites and diseases, pigeon removal services are a big help.

4. Cleanliness

You want your home or business to look good, but pigeon droppings have the opposite effect. A clean property makes for a more aesthetically pleasing home and drives more customers to your business. If your home or business is covered in pigeon droppings, calling a professional is the best way to put a stop to that problem.

5. Noise

Pigeons aren't the noisiest birds, but they're not exactly quiet when they're nesting on your roof. If you're tired of dealing with the constant noise, pigeon removal services can do the trick. For many home and business owners, noises are the first sign that they have a pigeon problem.

You don't want to let pigeons make a home out of your house or business, and you don't have to with the help of an expert. If you need pigeon removal services to help put a stop to your pigeon problem, call Essential Pest Control today to schedule an inspection.

Bees in Arizona Have Their Way at Dutch Bros

Bees in Arizona Have Their Way at Dutch Bros.

Dutch Bros -the popular coffee and caffeinated drive-thru drink giants, who have grown tremendously in the last two years is having plenty of success. According to fast-food trade magazine QSR, Dutch Brothers opened 133 stores last year with a total of 671 locations in 14 states.

And the bees have taken notice.

locations in Arizona have noticed bees swarming around Dutch Bros drive-thru lanes across the Phoenix metro area. The major attraction for the bees - Coffee syrup.

These Dutch Bros caffeinated liquid delights rely on the sweet, artificially flavored corn syrup. The open windows of drive-thru coffee hutches give bees easy access, and what follows sounds a lot like insect mayhem.

A freelance beekeeper was hired to remove hives from the source of temptation, until Dutch Bros canceled its contract. Their response, “Dutch Bros uses a professional service to identify and address hives within a several-mile radius of our shops. We do our best to be responsive to issues surrounding bees and ensure we’re meeting the needs of our customers and crews. Thanks.”

It is possible that there are bee problems in other states as well.

If you are aware of any potentially dangerous areas involving bees, give Essential a call 520-886-3029. We provide bee control for both commercial and residential locations.

Pest Prediction: What to Prepare for in Early 2023

With natural disasters, climate, pest behaviors, here are the predictions for problematic pest in 2023. We hope you can use this information to take a proactive approach to your home, family, and pets from pests in the New Year.

Rodents

Rodents are intelligent and resourceful creatures, they relocated to areas where there was plenty of food and less competition for it. Urban neighborhoods, where people provide the rats with everything they needed to survive. With unsealed foods, easy access to pet foods and water.

Bed bugs

High travel has created spikes in bed bug activity for years. The more people that are out traveling ,(especially using public transportation) the more opportunities bed bugs have to feed, reproduce, and spread. Adult bed bugs are tough and have the ability to survive without feeding for months.

To help avoid bring home bed bugs while traveling, thoroughly inspecting baggage and personal belongings before checking out. If you think you have bed bugs at home, don’t try to solve the problem yourself. These resilient pests are difficult to eliminate without the help of a professional.

Ants

Most ant colonies live underground and thrive in warmer climates. Milder winters provide populations with the resources needed to grow larger and further spread into new areas. Homeowners can expect to see an increase in ant activity in 2023, some of which may include species of ants that have relocated.

If you notice these pests, or any other bug issues, give Essential Pest Control a call for a free inspection. We are here to help. 520-886-3029

Vet Meds Have Potential Against Bed Bugs

Two readily available drugs that veterinarians use to kill parasites on pets could be a solution to getting rid of bed bugs. Both fluralaner and ivermectin, medications used to kill fleas and ticks on pets, could also kill bed bugs. The newer, longer lasting fluralaner showed very strong potential.

This new research comes from a North Carolina State University (NCSU) study that examined the drugs and their effectiveness in controlling bed bug populations on poultry farms.

Veterinary scientists, along with entomologists from NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine tested bed bug death rates in different experiments. One included mixing blood with each of the drugs on a lab bench letting bed bugs consume it. In another test, bed bugs fed on chickens who received the treatments topically or through ingestion.

Both drugs killed most bed bugs and Fluralaner worked even better on bed bugs that showed resistance to common insecticides. Fluralaner was also highly effective at killing bed bugs that fed on chickens. Ivermectin did not work in that experiment, possibly because the chickens quickly clear that drug from their systems, the study authors noted.

Fluralaner is new and mostly used for companion animals, Europe and Australia have approved it for use in the poultry industry. Ivermectin is used on household pets, larger animals and for anti-parasitic purposes in humans, particularly in Africa.

If you are having issues with bed bugs, Essential Pest Control can help. Call 520-886-3029 or visit EssentialPest.com.

6 Tips to Help Keep Rodents Away

Around this time of year rodents are in search of warm shelter where food is easy to come by.

As temperatures drop and food is hard to come by, rodents begin to invade homes across the US. As many as 48% of homeowners in the US reported rodent issues. Capable of carrying and spreading 35 diseases it is important to implement a prevention plan to keep yourself and your family protected from possible disease threats.

Even clean homes are at risk of rodent infestations, thankfully these tips can help prevent such risks:

Install door sweeps on doors garage doors and repair damaged screens.
Seal cracks and holes around exterior of home.
Eliminate moisture sites - leaking pipes and clogged drains
Store food in sealable containers
Store firewood 15-20ft away from home and make sure all debris is removed.
Keep attics, basements and crawl spaces ventilated and dry.

If you think you may have an infestation, give essential pest a call at 520-886-3029 or visit essentialpest.com/residential

NPMA Fall/Winter Bug Barometer

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) released its bi-annual Bug Barometer ® forecast, a seasonal projection of the pest pressure and activity Americans can expect to see in their respective regions of the country based on weather patterns, long-term forecasts and pest biological behaviors. According to the group’s entomology team, a mild, dry summer season could cause increased pest activity throughout much of the U.S. as forecasts show looming predictions for below-average temperatures and increased snow this winter. Take a look below and see what may be instore for us in the South-West region.

Southwest U.S.
If warm fall temperatures persist, expect insects such as cockroaches and centipedes to remain active well into fall. As cooler temperatures finally settle into the region, prepare for an increase in rodent activity. if you want services to help prevent Cockroaches and more, give Essential Pest a call at 520-886-3029 or tell us what's bugging you via online form at essentialpest.com

You Might See These Pests This Summer

The official start of summer is just a couple weeks away. Along with the summer heat, Tucson and surrounding areas will be inundated with pests.

Here are some of the top bugs to look out for now that the temperatures are rising.

1. Africanized bees

Out of all of Arizona's venomous creatures, Africanized bees are responsible for the most deaths, experts state.

If you happen to come across bees or the hive, leave the area immediately. At the moment you think that they might be a danger to people or animals, call 911 or get in touch with your pest control provider. If you disrupt a hive, cover your head and run straight to shelter. Do NOT stop running until you've found safe shelter.

2. Scorpions

A common scorpion found in the area is the Bark Scorpion. It also has the most painful sting. Usually, people experience a sharp pain with numbness, tingling and possible vomiting. Their light brown/tannish color makes them hard to spot during the day. A black light can help you spot them at night. They can crawl up walls and scale furniture with ease and are more common in the rural areas.

3. Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are the number one transmitter of West Nile disease which kills roughly 800 Americans every year. Getting rid of any standing water and unwanted vegetation will help reduce the amount of mosquito reproduction around your home.

4. Ticks

Ticks can also transmit harmful diseases. After camping or hiking, inspect for ticks on you and your pets. Pets may show signs of tick paralysis if they've been bitten, and the tick hasn't been removed.

5. Spiders

Spiders will often be attracted to wherever many bugs live. Houses that have a lot of light may see an increase in spiders in their home and area. A bite from some of these arachnids like the Desert Recluse and the Black Widow can cause serious illness and skin damage. In extreme cases Results from these types of bites have been much worse. The best advice is if you come across any of these creatures is to call an exterminator as soon as possible to avoid stings or bites. If you find yourself in a situation where you are in need of pest control services, Essential Pest Control is here for you. Call 520-886-3029 today!