Bald Faced Hornets Nest

I shot this video last summer. Luckily it was low enough in the bush that I could get this close without having to be on a ladder. (Because ladders do not provide a quick getaway should you need one)

Inspecting Your Home For Rodents

The inspection serves three useful functions:



1. Identifies the rodent species involved.

The most common rodent pests in livestock operations are the house mouse, Norway rat and roof rat. The house mouse is easy to recognize, generally 5-7 inches in length and gray in color. The common Norway rat, a large rodent usually 13-18 inches in length, weighs 12-16 ounces with reddish brown fur. The roof rat, found primarily along the west coast and in the southeastern United States, is a smaller black rat weighing between 6-9 ounces.

Rats and mice have unique behavioral characteristics. By identifying the species you can select rodent control products and strategies appropriate to that particular pest.


2. Determines the severity and location of the problem.

During the inspection, note where you've seen signs of rodents, which include burrows, droppings (rat droppings are about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in length; mouse droppings are 1/4 inch), gnaw marks, and rodent pathways. This information helps you determine the size of the infestation and where rodents are living and feeding. In that way, you have a better idea of how much bait to use and where to place it for optimum results. Rats and mice are nocturnal and are most active from dusk to dawn. Seeing them in the daylight usually indicates a heavy infestation.


3. Identifies where sanitation and rodent proofing are needed.

Look for the rodents' sources of food, water and harborage indoors and out, and wherever possible, get rid of them. Also note areas or entry points where rodents are getting into buildings, and, wherever feasible, fix or eliminate these entry points to "build rodents out."

Sketching a diagram of your facility that indicates problem areas is useful for keeping track of your baiting efforts. It'll help you evaluate what is working or where adjustments are needed in your rodent control efforts.


Steps to setting up a baiting program inside barns, and animal living spaces :


Place Rodent Bait Stations every 30-50 feet along the inside walls of all buildings. If necessary, stake or anchor the bait station to the ground or a permanent surface to prevent it from being moved and to keep the bait away from other animals.

Place bait blocks in bait stations.

For mouse problems, you could also place Mouse Bait Stations every 10-20 feet around the inside perimeter of buildings or wherever you've seen signs of mice. Be sure that these bait stations fit flush along walls or in corners with the point directly into the corner. They can also also be placed along walls adjacent to entry ways to intercept rodents as they enter.

Place one single-feeding type bait in each Bait Station. Inspect stations frequently until you have activity under control. Increase baiting in areas that have high rodent activity.

You may need to adjust the placement of the bait stations depending on the level of rodent activity. More frequent inspections and baiting may be required in some areas in the fall when rodents head into buildings for the cold season.

Keep up a fresh supply of bait. Rodents will reject rancid or spoiled bait. Bait securing rods also help bait blocks stay fresh longer by elevating them above the floor of the bait station, away from any moisture build-up.

Burrow Baiting.

Often the best way to control Norway rats is to bait their burrows. Place loose pellets deep in the burrow or crevice where you've noticed rodent activity. Try not to disturb the burrows.

Check burrows in 7 to 10 days after baiting. To monitor activity, close the burrow with wadded-up paper or cover with soil. Return the following day. A re-opened burrow means rodents still exist. Continue baiting. Check burrows periodically as part of your monthly maintenance program.


In Grassy and Weedy Areas.

The inspection may reveal rodent pathways leading to buildings. If you haven't already set up an outside perimeter baiting program, do so to intercept rodents as they move from their burrows or neighboring fields into buildings. Again, try not to disturb the rodents' habitat during baiting or they will migrate to other areas. Once you've gotten the population under control, trim back weeds and grass to get rid of rodent harborage.

Mouse Facts

• Mice travel over their entire territory daily, investigating each change or new object that may be placed there.
• Mice have poor vision, hence their activity patterns rely heavily on smell, taste, touch, and hearing.
• Mice use the long sensitive whiskers near the nose and hairs on the body as tactile sensors. The whiskers and hairs enable the mouse to travel in the dark, adjacent to walls in burrows.
• Mice also have an excellent sense of balance, enabling them to walk along telephone wires, ropes and similar thin objects.
• Mice are excellent jumpers, capable of leaping at least 12 inches vertically.
• Mice can jump against a flat vertical surface using it as a spring board to gain additional height.
• They can run up almost any vertical surface; wood, brick, weathered sheet metal, cables, etc.
• They can easily travel for some distance hanging upside down.
• Although they are good swimmers, mice tend to take to water only if left with no other alternative.
• Mice are basically nocturnal in nature.
• House mice breed throughout the year and can become pregnant within 48 hours of producing a litter.
• There are usually about 6 mice to a litter and females may produce as many as ten litters (about 50 young) per year.
• It takes 18 to 21 days for gestation, and 35 days for a mouse to mature. Most mice live anywhere from 15 to 18 months.
• They make their nests out of the same types of soft materials as rats, and as many as 3 females may use the same nest.
• They commonly nest in insulation in attics, also in stoves and under refrigerators.
• Mice do not travel far from their nest, about 12 to 20 feet.

 

Toronto Public Health

Bed Bugs


Introduction
Over the last couple of years, Toronto Public Health has received an increase in calls regarding bed bugs. It is possible for anyone to become infested with bed bugs, which are small biting insects that multiply quickly and travel easily. An infestation can cause anxiety and a feeling of shame. They can also cause secondary infections, allergic reactions and financial hardship.






For the public
If you are concerned about bed bugs.
http://www.toronto.ca/health/bedbugs/infoforpublic.htm


Fact Sheets
Learn how to prevent or treat infestations.
http://www.toronto.ca/health/bedbugs/factsheets.htm


Toronto Bed Bug Project Survey
Fill out our confidential online survey
http://www.toronto.ca/health/bedbugs/survey.htm


The Toronto Bed Bug Project
Community partners seeking solutions.
http://www.toronto.ca/health/bedbugs/torontobedbugproject.htm

7 Questions to Ask a Bed Bugs Exterminator Before Hiring

So you have studied everything about bed bugs and have first hand everyday experience of what they look like and what their bites are like. Now you are one step away from getting qualified help but how do you select the right bed bug exterminator?

The internet has made this quest easier. Very often you do not need to even leave your chair to get dozens of companies and telephone numbers. However, if you want to get rid of the bed bugs, there is some important information that you will need to know before and not after workers start treating your infested house.

I will provide you a list of questions that you should ask companies that provide pest management services. A confident and certified exterminator company will be glad to answer all your questions, address your concerns and develop a strategy specifically for your case. Here are the questions:

1. Do they have references of the people whose premises they have cleaned of namely bed bug infestation? It is probably the most important question as it will give you information from the third party about practical skills and experience of the company.

2. Do they have a full license? License is, in a way, another third party reference but from a qualified and accredited source. If the company has no license you should be ware of them and whatever their other answers are, I would recommend finding somebody with a license.

3. Do they have all needed insurance: like public liability and professional indemnity? Obviously, you want to find someone who has both of them.

4. What is their experience in the business? If they have been working in extermination for several months, let them learn and gain experience in somebody else and not your house. You need a company with at least years of experience and good track record.

5. What is their standard procedure? You have probably studied enough by now to know that there should be an integrated approach and strategy to extermination and not just random spraying of questionable identified insecticides.

6. Do they include you in their plan? They should do it. There is some due preparation for treatment that can be done only by you. Any professional exterminator should give proper recognition to the important stage of pre-treatment. You will have to wash up clothes and clean the places that have been contaminated by the insect infestation. If the prospective provider neglects your participation and all these important measures, contact a better one.

7. What do they guarantee? Some guarantee is due but no one can guarantee a 100% effectiveness of the methods they use because bed bug infestation is difficult to handle even by experienced and fully equipped exterminators.

Answers to these questions will help you get a better understanding of how the candidate operates and see whether they will indeed be able to handle your case. After all you want somebody who will deliver the best services. These people will go inside you house and you need to be sure of who you choose.

Do your homework and it will save you a lot of time, money and frustration. Learn more about choosing a Bed Bugs Exterminator. And when you're ready, find pre-screened local Bed Bugs Exterminators for free.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=RC_Symonds

Exterminating Spiders - How to Get Rid of Their Hiding Spots

If you ever had to deal with spiders then you probably remember that even after a good clean up around your house you can still expect some of them to reappear. This usually happens due to the fact that spiders tend to have their own secret hiding spots where they wait patiently for their prey. There are different ways to exterminate spiders but if you really want to completely get rid of them you will also need to find out how to get rid of their hiding spots.

People often come up with original ideas on spider control but they never think about eliminating the cause of their appearance. Spider webs can be found in places where people don't have time to clean up regularly or don't live there anymore. However, if you see spiders in your house but you do live there and always keep it clean then you are probably experiencing a sort of spider infestation. This might intensify during the winter when they search for warmer places to spend the cold season.

We came to the conclusion that one of the best ways to eliminate spiders and completely keep them away is to get rid of their hiding spots regularly. This can be done by doing an attentive inspection of your house and checking all the possible spider hideouts. They usually seek wood products to hide and build their webs. They can also hide in your clothing and almost any other items in your house. Be careful and check them all. We can also recommend you to keep sticky traps in places like closets and basements.

Use an ordinary sweeper in order to get rid of the webs in their hiding spots. If you have the necessary free time you can carefully do it and it is going to keep them away in the long run. There are many sources from which you can learn how to get rid of spiders On our spider pest control blog we teach people the best spider extermination methods for free. We think that everyone has the right to know how it is done.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hasan_Trubad