Scorpion Identification & Prevention

What are scorpions?

Scorpions are a type of arachnid; like all arachnids, they have eight legs. They have a segmented tail that curves up over their back, and the last segment of their tail has a stinger attached that they use to capture prey or to defend themselves. Because of their venom-filled tails, no homeowner wants to discover living in their yard or home. Scorpions are predators, and feed on a variety of prey, including insects, spiders, other scorpions, and even lizards. A unique fact about scorpions is that they give birth to live young (average litter size is about 31). After being born, they climb onto their mother’s back until they have their first molt and then become independent.

One of the most common species of scorpion living throughout Nebraska is the striped bark scorpion (Centruoides vittatus). These scorpions have a yellow or tan body with two wide, black stripes on the top of their abdomens.  Striped bark scorpions have long, slender, claw-like structures they use to capture and hold onto their prey.

Are scorpions dangerous?

Scorpions are poisonous and can be a health risk to people. Worldwide, there are about 1,500 species, and of those, only about 25 species pose significant dangers to people. You should always be careful around scorpions, including the striped bark scorpion. Depending on the sensitivity of a person, a sting could result in pain and localized swelling or a severe reaction that requires medical attention.

Why do I have a scorpion problem?

Striped bark scorpions are active foragers, which means they don’t wait for their prey to happen by; they actively hunt down their prey. Properties with a lot of insect and spider activity are often attractive to scorpions. Scorpions, like any other creature, need water for survival, and they prefer to live in cool, damp areas. When the weather outside becomes too hot and dry, scorpions often move indoors to get out of the heat.

Where will I find scorpions?

Scorpions are mainly outdoor pests that live in sheltered areas that keep them hidden during the day. Scorpions become active at night, hunting for food. Spaces under rocks, logs, firewood piles, and fallen trees are common hideouts for scorpions. They can also be found in flower beds or gardens hidden under dense vegetation or mulch. Many species, including the striped bark scorpion, are excellent climbers, and you’ll find them on trees and on the walls both inside and outside of our homes.

Scorpion

What are scorpions?

Scorpions are a type of arachnid and therefore related to spiders, mites, and ticks. Scorpions have many eyes but poor vision. They rely on touch and vibrations to hunt their prey. They are excellent hunters and, despite being dangerous when living near people, they are beneficial. Scorpions feed on populations of nuisance insects, arachnids, small lizards, and small rodents.

One of the more common species living in our area is the bark scorpion. The bark scorpion is a smaller scorpion species, with adults growing to between two and a half to three inches in length. Their body is a light brown to brownish-yellow color and has darker bands that run lengthwise down their body. Compared to other species of scorpions, their pincers are much thinner and more elongated. They have a slender tail that curves up over their body and has a venom-filled stinger at the end.

Are scorpions dangerous?

The Arizona bark scorpion is the only scorpion living in the United States that causes significant health concerns. While a sting from a bark scorpion can be fatal, that is rarely the case. However, being stung by a bark scorpion should never be taken lightly. Their stings are excruciating and cause symptoms that include numbness, muscle twitching, and difficulty breathing. Young children and the elderly are more likely to have a severe reaction to their venom than a healthy adult.

Why do I have a scorpion problem?

Bark scorpions thrive in the area because of our desert landscape. They will make themselves at home on any property that provides them with ample hiding places, burrowing spots, and prey to hunt. Another reason that bark scorpions are attracted to your property is that it offers them a source of water. Leaky pipes, dripping air conditioners, and clogged gutters provide bark scorpions with areas of cool, damp soil that help them to maintain their moisture needs.

Where will I find scorpions?

Outside, in our yards, scorpions regularly hide behind tree bark, and under things like rocks, logs, fallen trees, woodpiles, and mulch in garden areas. They often live in the soil or on trees located close to our homes. Scorpions excel at climbing, and can easily scale a home’s exterior walls and move inside through torn windows screens, vents, gaps in exterior walls, and spaces around windows or doors. They also move inside through cracks in the foundation or spaces they discover under exterior doors, and regularly invade garages and sheds, hiding in dark corners or moving into boxes and other storage containers.

How to get rid of Scorpions

Scorpions can be an issue that many have to deal with. While they may be an issue not all scorpions are the same. There are also different things they are attracted to, different reasons why they may enter your home and special ways that you can provide treatment to get rid of the scorpions.

it can be fairly simple to recognize a scorpion by the shape of a body, but not all scorpions are created equal. There are many different species of scorpions that you will be able to find in fact, there has been an estimation of 3-5 species that you will see

Bark scorpion: These scorpions tend to stay in very dry climates. During the day they hide because they are delicate to the loss of moisture from their body. Most of the water they have in their body the get from their prey. They choose to go indoors when they want to leave the outdoors and generally choose a place that has more food sources. They commonly use a gap they find under doors or ground-level windows; they may also use gaps they’ve found in your foundation.

Striped scorpions: This species of scorpions usually habitat under rocks, debris or boards. They will stay either outdoors or indoors; they are considered to be bark scorpions because they are associated with fallen tree logs, dead vegetation in the earth and human dwellings. These scorpions like most stay out of sight during the day and come out at night. This helps them from losing too much water and it regulates their body temperature.

corpions will feed off of insects, spiders, centipedes, small lizards, snakes, and mice. The majority of the time they will feed on insects and mice, but they don’t have to eat often… they can go without eating for six months.

Practical Guide To Scorpion Control

Whether or not you’ve been stung by a scorpion before, you probably believe us when we say you don’t want these pests in your home. There is a reason many people are scared of scorpions! In order to lower your chances of an encounter with one of these stinging arachnids, keeping them out of your home is a good place to start.

the most common is the bark scorpion, sometimes called the striped bark scorpion. They are pale yellow or tan with two dark stripes on top of their abdomen. Scorpions are easily identifiable by their long, segmented, curved tail. At the end of their tail is the stinger, which they use to inject venom into their victims. Scorpions are nocturnal, so they are most active at night.

Scorpion Dangers

Scorpions are a dangerous pest because their venom can be painful and dangerous for humans. In most cases, a scorpion sting will be sore for a day or two and then may feel itchy for several days. Some people may have a more severe reaction, including swollen limbs, rashes, fever, or more. If you are stung by a scorpion, especially if it’s the first time you’ve been stung, you should seek medical attention.

How To Prevent Being Stung

Scorpions are not especially aggressive toward humans. The vast majority of scorpion stings happen because a person did not see the scorpion and accidentally put a body part in the scorpion’s space. A scorpion will sting because someone steps on them, sits on them, or reaches into an area where they are hiding

The best way to prevent being stung is to practice being more observant and checking for scorpions around your house. Here are some areas where scorpions might be hiding:

in laundry baskets

in beds

in furniture

under sinks

in the back of a cabinet

under a box

in basements and attics

in dark corners of closets

outside under rocks and logs

Scorpions

Scorpions are one of the most feared pests in the area! Even the name, Scorpion, sounds like a name from hell.

There are three different types of Scorpions in the area:

Devil Scorpion

Desert Hairy Scorpion and

Bark Scorpion

The Bark Scorpion is a tough creature. When it senses a pest spray, it can sometimes slow down its metabolism big-time. This behavior allows the scorpion to just barely survive while the pest spray dissipates whereupon the scorpion can resume life where it left off. Even when scorpions do encounter enough spray to kill them it can still take up to 2 weeks.

How To Get Rid Of Scorpions

If you have a scorpion problem please call or text us. We have helped many customers get scorpion problems under control over the past 20+ years and we will be happy to help you too.

Tip: One of the most effective ways to quickly limit an active scorpion population is to use a black-light flashlight around the exterior of your home at night to locate scorpions (they glow green under black-light) and spray them directly with specific over-the-counter aerosols that will kill them.

Scorpion Stings

I’ve experienced a scorpion sting personally and it’s not a pleasant thing. If you have infants or children in your home, and you have a scorpion problem, we can provide tips to help you protect your children from scorpion stings while we get your scorpion problem under control

What do ants look like?

Ants are common insects that inhabit every continent of the world except Antarctica. Though they come in different colors, they all have three body regions: the head with antennae, thorax, and abdomen.  If you see flying ants, that means they’re mature males who will soon die after mating. Wingless ants are the ones that will infest your property.

At some point, it’s likely homeowners will need to know how to get rid of ants in their yard or residence. Ants are hardy insects that can easily make colonies in the ground and inside buildings. Not only can some species eat wood, but they can also cause painful bites.

While all ants can bite, not all species are likely to bite humans. Fire ants are the most aggressive species and are the most common biters. A blister with red spots forms soon after a fire ant bite. Carpenter, pavement, acrobat, field, and crazy ants can also bite humans when provoked repeatedly. It is usually easy to tell when you’ve been bitten by an ant because the area swells and has a stinging sensation.

What are ants doing in my house?

Ants are part of nature’s cleaning crew: they efficiently find and remove food left around the house. The problem is, sometimes humans don’t want their help.

You’ve probably noticed ants more commonly come indoors in summer – that’s largely because most insects are more active in the warmer months.

Ants occasionally come inside in search of water, particularly during dry periods. In this case you may see them in bathrooms or other humid parts of the house.

Heavy rains can also cause ant nests to flood and force them to relocate to nearby buildings, such as your house.

Home remedies for ants

So which home remedies and DIY solutions can you use for ants? Find out below!

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is often regarded as an effective DIY ant control option. It is believed that cinnamon acts as a natural repellent as ants can’t stand the smell.

This home remedy for ants involves using cinnamon essential oil as opposed to sticks or powder. It is believed that soaking a cotton ball in a solution of cinnamon essential oil and water and wiping down common ant hot spots, such as doors and windows, will help repel ants.

Will cinnamon get rid of ants?

Well yes, to a certain extent. A study in the International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications revealed that cinnamon essential oil can be used to both repel and exterminate ants.

However, there is a catch. The effectiveness of this DIY ant control solution depends on the concentration of the cinnamon oil, as well as the placement. For this home remedy to work, a high concentration of cinnamon oil needs to be used and it needs to be placed in the common areas where ants are entering your home. Identifying all the places where ants are exactly entering your home can prove difficult without proper training.

Vinegar

If you’ve read any of our other myth-busting DIY pest control tips, you’ll know that vinegar is often a common home remedy for insects. Ants are no exception.

To use vinegar as a home remedy for ants you simply need to fill a spray bottle with a solution of vinegar and water and apply it to the common ant hot spots and places where food is kept, such as cupboards and work surfaces.

Is vinegar a successful home remedy for ants?

Yes, but only for a short period of time. It is suggested that the aroma from vinegar masks an ant’s scent trail, preventing it from finding food. However, once the solution has evaporated it will no longer be an effective DIY ant control method.

To add to this, although it might help stop ants from finding food in the first place, it will have little to no effect on any infestation already in your home.

Lemon

Like vinegar, lemon is another home remedy for insects including ants. This DIY solution is thought to work as the acidic property of lemon juice masks ants’ scent trails and as a result, deters them.

For this DIY ant control option, rub lemon juice around door frames, window sills and other common entry points for ants.

Is lemon a successful home remedy for ants?

No, not really. Although lemon juice may seem like a successful home remedy for ants, it is not a foolproof solution. Yes, it may repel them for a short period of time, but in the long run, it has little to no effect.

Chalk

A common home remedy for ants is to use a piece of chalk to draw a border around the common entry points for ants.

It is thought that this works as ants won’t cross the chalk line, disrupting the scent trail.

Is chalk successful against ants?

No. Although it may disrupt an ant’s scent trail for a short period, the ants will soon find another way to continue on its hunt for food.

Carpenter Ant Control

Carpenter Ants are controlled through the application of insecticides and sprays in various forms. These forms include liquid concentrates, baits, dusts, and foams.

• Non-Repellent Insecticides – Used as perimeter spray.
• Baits – Used on Carpenter Ant trails.
• Dusts – Used in voids and galleries
• Foams – Used in voids and galleries

1. Inspection

The first step in controlling carpenter ants is an inspection. The purpose of the inspection is to determine if they are located outside and simply foraging inside for food, or if you have a colony or satellite colony inside your home.

2. Determine Control Measures

Once you complete your inspection and identify nest locations and foraging trails, the next step is to determine which control measure to use.

• Baiting – used on carpenter ant trails
• Spraying- Non-Repellent sprays used as permiter treatment, may be used with baits
• Treating Voids – Foams or Dusts used in voids or galleries where carpenter ants are nesting

3. Prevention

The final step is to prevent further infestations by ant-proofing your home and yard, by clearing away rotting trees and lumber piles, fixing plumbing leaks, etc.

Little Black Ant Prevention

Homeowners should consider working with a licensed pest professional to employ a preventative pest management plan. There are also a few things that can be done around the property to prevent a little black ant infestation.

Homeowners should seal cracks and crevices in exterior walls with a silicone-based caulk, ensure firewood is stored at least 20 feet away from the home, and keep shrubbery well trimmed. Location of the nest is also important. While it can be difficult to see these ants due to their small size, their nests can be found by following the trial of workers back to the colony.

Termite Control

As spring kicks into high gear, it’s time for all of us to start thinking more about pest control. In particular, we know that many customers are worried about termite control. There are many steps you can take to ensure that your home or commercial property is safe from termites and other wood destroying insects. However, we think they can be broken down into three main categories: prevention, vigilance, and action.

Prevention

The best way to recover from a termite problem is to never have one in the first place.

While sometimes even the most responsible homeowner ends up with termites, there are several steps you can take to keep the termites at bay:

Minimize wood-to-soil contact. This means not storing firewood or other wood debris close to your home, not affixing wooden trellises for plants directly to your walls, etc.

Keep your home as dry as possible. Fix leaky faucets, leaky roofs, and other problems that might lead to moisture where you don’t want it to be.

Install vapor barriers and automatic ventilators to keep the places of your home you can’t see dry and inhospitable to termites.

Contact us for a termite prevention plan. We can work on both existing structures and new construction projects.

Constant Vigilance

Even if you’ve taken preventive measures, it’s important to keep an eye out for possible termites or termite damage

While it can be hard to catch termites early, it’s certainly not impossible. Here is what you should watch out for:

Wood damage: The easiest way to tell if you have termites is to see if they have already damaged your wood. Test wooden surfaces like windowsills by gently tapping them with the handle of a screwdriver or other lightweight tool. If the wood sounds hollow, you could have termite damage.

Mud tubes: Termites use tubes made of wood and soil to protect themselves. Look for these tubes (about the size of a straw) around your baseboards, pipes, chimney, etc.

Dead insects: You may not be able to tell the difference between a dead termite and a dead ant or other insect. However, seeing large numbers of dead insects is never a good sign.

Best pest control company

The right company should have reliable, professional technicians:

Pest technicians are the core of a pest control company. They perform any treatment that occurs in and around your home. Pest control operators understand this, so if a company’s technicians seem unprofessional, sloppy, or rude, odds are the rest of the company is not being held to a high standard. Beyond this, remember that these technicians would be treating your home with chemicals, so you will want to choose someone who is correctly trained.

The right company should have good reviews:

Pest control is a service industry, and most of a pest company’s revenue comes from long-term customers. Because of this, a good company that cares about its public image and strives to keep customers satisfied. When considering a pest control company, ask your friends and neighbors who they use for their service

You can also check online for Google Reviews and testimonials about the company. These will give you a good idea of how a typical customer feels about the service. Since Google reviews can be left by anyone, you will also get a better idea of how the company treats customers across its entire service range.`

The right company should have certification and documentation:

For a pest control company to operate legally, most states require some form of training and certification. Unfortunately, some less honest companies will choose to operate illegally without any licensing, and thus their training and treatment methods are not audited in any way. Homeowners should we wary of companies that are hesitant to show proper certification.

The right company should have correct service procedures:

There is a lot more to pest control than just spraying chemicals. A technician should be a pest expert with extensive knowledge about the treatment products and procedures that he employs. While a technician cannot be expected to know the answer to all of your questions, they should be friendly and willing to find out for you.

How To Choose Termite Exterminator

An investment as precious as your home is one that you certainly want to protect. You may or may not be aware of the costly damages that termite infestations can cause. Each year there is an estimated $5 billion in property damages from termites alone.

Look for a long-standing reputation – See how long they have been in business. Generally, a longer standing reputation is an indication of a pest control company who likes to build long-term relationships with local home and business owners.

Find values that align with you – Read about the company and learn their story. You want a company that is passionate about what they do. It’s also nice if they are locals, this means they have a good grasp of the pest threats in the area.

Choosing a Pest Management Company to Protect Your Home Against Termites

Termites are severe wood-destroying insect pests present in all Oklahoma counties. They cause hundreds-of-millions of dollars of damage annually to wooden structures and homes across the United States. Termite pressure (risk) may range from very heavy in southeastern counties to moderate-to-heavy in the rest of the state

Termites are soft-bodied, measuring approximately one-quarter-inch to one-half-inch long, creamy colored pale insects that consist of several different forms (castes). The different castes in a termite colony consist of the founding king and queen (primary reproductives that start a new colony), the wood-destroying form – workers, soldiers that defend the colony, and young, winged kings and queens (Figures 2 and 3). The winged forms (alates or swarmers; kings and queens) have two pair of wings that are nearly equal in length. When termites are swarming, this easily visible form is what homeowners call pest management professionals about. The wood-damaging workers are not usually visible unless their mud tubes or tunnels are broken open to expose crawling termites.

With termites, the thorax and abdomen are broadly connected, both about the same width, with a wide waist. That is, there is no narrowing or constricted waistline between these two body regions like that seen with ants. Bodies of termites are oval-tubular, not flattened. Figure 2 illustrates two castes, a worker and a soldier, showing body characteristics that are useful for identification. Figure 3 shows a top and side view of a winged termite swarmer (new reproductive).

Generally, subterranean termites must maintain contact with soil to survive. However, there are occasions where native subterranean termites can live above ground in structures and be completely cut off from soil contact, although this is not common. The probability that termites will attack a wooden structure within a few years after construction is high in Oklahoma. Termite attack could even begin within a year after construction because termites are everywhere in Oklahoma soils. Proper treatment of the soil with a liquid termiticide (insecticide formulated for termite control) before construction (pre-construction application) significantly reduces the threat from subterranean termites. If you know or suspect that your home is infested with termites, it is recommended the building owner retain the services of a professional pest control company. Termite management and termiticide applications require expensive specialized equipment, professional knowledge, and experience and training. This fact sheet reviews decision-making steps that will help you select a pest control company.

Do not become overly alarmed.

There is no need to become unduly alarmed if you learn that your home has a termite infestation. Termites work slowly so your house will not be quickly destroyed or collapse overnight. The termites have been present for several months or perhaps a few years, so taking a few days to determine your best termite management options is acceptable.

Tips for Choosing a Pest Control Company

When you have a pest problem, you want to know that you are going to get the professional service that you need. You expect the best, and you need it taken care of as quickly and efficiently as possible.

There are so many pest control companies to choose from, how do you pick the best one?

How long has the firm been in business? Longevity and experience are two keys to providing superior pest service.

Find out if they have experience with your type of pest problem. Sometimes, pest control companies specialize, but you will want one with expertise with your specific pest problem.

Get references. There really is no substitute for this, so go with one that comes with referrals from your friends or relatives that have used the company.

Find out if they are trained and licensed and if ongoing education of their field personnel is important to them.

Look to see if there are any guarantees. If they are dealing with termites, you also want to know if they have liability insurance just in case your termite problem is not resolved.

Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are complaints against the company. Your state will also have a similar list.

Get at least 2 or 3 estimates before you buy, then compare services offered and price before you choose one.

Find out how long the service is good for. There will be a contract, and it will state how many months they will service your home or business.

Ensure that the company you hire follows Integrated Pest Management protocols. Learn what chemicals they use and how they are distributed in your home or business. In most cases, you want to go for limited amounts and limited distribution. Note that warmer climates may require a wider usage.

Understand how often treatments are repeated and how many treatments are covered in the contract.

For termite contracts, find out if the damaged wood will be replaced, and when re-inspections will be performed. Also learn about where treatment stations will be placed and the types of chemicals used, ask for a copy of the labels.

Find out what the company will do in the way of prevention, how long it will take, and how often they need to return for inspections, cleanup, etc

Depending on the particular pest, your service professional should always perform the services as covered in the Agreement. Do not expect anything to be done for you if it is not in print. Make sure that you understand all aspects of the Agreement, too, before you sign anything. Ask questions if you need to

How to Repel and Scare Possums

Possums, also known as opossums (Didelphis virginiana), can decimate your garden, especially your vegetables and fruit-bearing plants. These cat-sized omnivores eat everything from fruits and veggies to snails and birds. Although the marsupials are generally harmless, you can keep them away from your plants with nontoxic repellents, physical barriers and harmless scare devices.

Simple Scare Tactics

These harmless scare tactics will startle any possums that come into your yard so that they’ll be unlikely to return:

• Tie helium balloons around your yard to sway in the wind and startle the possums away.
• Place pinwheels, found in party supply stores, in the soil around your plants. The pinwheels will spin in the wind.
• Set up an oscillating fan in your garden with an extension cord. Tie a few ribbons to the fan so that they stream out when the fan is running. The sight and sound of the fan should scare the possums away.
• Play a portable radio in your yard. The noise will scare away the possums, but check with your neighbors to ensure that they aren’t disturbed.

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Them

Possums can cause serious problems to the people who use to remain peaceful and quite environment. They are very small in size and supple animals that are always in hunt of food. They are nocturnal and used to sleep during the day. You cannot see them, but they used to leave some signs of their presence through mucks, pathways, overturned pet foods, garbage cans, and damage plants. If you found any sign of possums around your house, you need to think about their elimination. Some Possum repellent methods are needed to get free of them rapidly. The main and important issue is that often prevention method fails because they are a minuscule organism and use one’s place for several motives.

1. Cleaning the Location

Cleaning the location includes the removal of unnecessary litter and garbage. One should put all the unnecessary junk like dead leaves, dropped trees and plants into the trash bins and keep them away from the house. Cover all the pet foods and clean the barbecue grill as well. Clean all the fruit on the ground and in trees and collect garbage can and place it in the trash bins.

2. Use Mothballs

Mothballs are unbearable to them as their smell annoy them. You should use mothballs in eliminating the possums as it is the cheapest way. It is designed to keep the possums away from eating any kind of fabric. It can help to make possums empty the closed area such as underneath the sofa and porch.

3. Cover the Vents

Possums can enter through holes, loose ventilators, additional spaces, and chimneys. They can also climb to reach the rooftop. So, you need to cover all the openings towards your house. Block all the unnecessary entry holes with rocks. Sealed all the open spaces, if necessary use the fence of 4-inch long. You can also use the electric fence as well.

4. Cut Down Long Branches of Trees

Make the place unfavorable for them by cutting all the branches of trees and trim the bushes. Remove thick herbaceous border and trees that give entree to the roof. Keep the fresh water and fallen fruits clean. Examine your rooftop and doorway properly, mend all the cracked tubes and pipes, etc.

What about disease?

While it is possible for just about any animal to get rabies, the disease is extremely rare in possums since their body temperature is too low for the rabies virus to thrive.

Possums can and do, however, carry other bacterial diseases, including tuberculosis, spotted fever and tularemia. Additionally, possums could pose a health hazard if they get inside your home and leave behind droppings.

What about children and pets?

As mentioned earlier, it is very unlikely that a possum would ever attack a human or pet, but they will defend themselves if they have to. This is why it is important to teach your children to respect and never harass or try to feed wild animals.

As for pets, a possum is much more likely to be harmed by a dog than the other way around – and since possums and cats are approximately the same size, those animals rarely bother each other.

Possum in the Rafter’s Situation?

It is important to note that any good pest control in your home should involve blocking off the access points that allow these creatures entry into your property.

Possums prefer to live in places like the wall cavities in your roof void and have been found to leave under your house. You should look there first when you are serious about getting rid of possums permanently.

Solving the problem begins with identifying the point of entry. Here are some tips to do so:

• It’s difficult but you need to make an attempt at spotting the creature headed in or out before it becomes dark.
• Follow the droppings and they could lead you to the nest itself.
• Eaves tend to be a commonly used entry-point, check if that’s the case with your home too.
• Check for tree branches that are looming over your roof or home’s structure. 

Opossum Problems and Solutions

Problem: There is an opossum in my yard. What do I do?

Solution: Nothing. Leave the opossum alone and enjoy watching wildlife in your own backyard. However, if the opossum is injured or an orphan (less than 7 inches from nose to rump) then contact the Opossum Society of the United States, a local wildlife rehabilitator, a veterinarian, or your local animal shelter for help. Opossums are beneficial eating unwanted pests around your home and garden such as snails, slugs, spiders, cockroaches, rats, mice and snakes. Opossums are free gardeners!

Problem: They make my dog bark!

Solution: A dog will bark at anything it sees or hears. The best thing you can do for the opossums AND your neighbors is to train the dog or keep the dog indoors at night. This will also prevent the dog from injuring or killing an opossum.

Problem: Will an opossum attack my pets?

Solution: In general, opossums are docile, non-aggressive animals and will not attack your pets. They prefer to avoid confrontations. If escape is not possible then the threatened opossum may  “play ‘possum”, show its teeth, or bite in self-defense, as any animal would.

Problem: Will an opossum bite my children?

Solution: Children should be taught not to attempt to feed or touch a wild animal. Opossums are nocturnal, that is they sleep during the day and come out at night, so the chance that a small child will come into contact with an opossum is slim. Opossums prefer to sleep in dark, secluded places. If your children are playing in this type of area then there is a greater danger of being bitten by a poisonous spider or snake.

Problem: The opossums eat the fruit off my trees.

Solution: Opossums prefer to eat the rotting fruit that have fallen to the ground. Keep opossums out of trees by cutting branches away from the ground, fences and roof. Cover the trunk with heavy plastic sheets obtained at hardware stores and secure with duct tape. This will prevent the opossums from climbing. A cut-up plastic trash can will work.

Problem: How can I keep opossums out of my home or garage?

Solution: Close all doors, pet doors and unscreened windows before dusk. Put food away so the opossum will not be tempted to enter. If an opossum enters, provide a safe exit route and leave the room.

Pest control while protecting our bats

All bat species eat insects and as such do play a part in insect pest control – a single bat can eat thousands of insects each night. Bats are also considered to be one of our bio-indicator species – where there is a healthy bat population, there is a healthy local environment.

We’re just beginning to realise what that means not just for plants and wildlife present, but for us too. The health of our surroundings is closely linked with both our physical and mental well-being.

Sadly all of the bat populations have declined massively due to habitat loss and persecution. However, populations are starting to stabilise, albeit at much lower levels than originally. This article explores the role awareness and best practice within the pest control industry can have to contribute to their protection.

Which bats use buildings?

Bats are often found using buildings for roosting (somewhere to sleep, raise young etc), particularly as their natural roosting places in tree holes and caves become scarcer as they are destroyed or disturbed. Bats can use all areas of a building, however they are most commonly found in the walls, eaves and roofs. Unlike birds or rodents, bats do not make nests when roosting in buildings or cause structural damage

Pipistrelle bats

There are three different species of pipistrelle: the common pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle and the rarer Nathusius pipistrelle. They sometimes use houses as maternity roosts, choosing confined spaces such as cavity wall voids. However, roosts are usually on the outside of buildings, using features where these crevice dwelling bats can rarely be seen, such as under hanging tiles or fascia boards.

Bats

How to identify Bats

Bats are typically small, furry creatures with long, thin wings and large ears. Their wings are hairless, but their bodies are covered in glossy brown or black fur. Even though many people believe that bats are blind, the flying mammals can see despite their relatively poor eyesight.

Signs of an infestation

Inside houses, bats can be heard rustling in attics or squeaking. Spotting their droppings on home exteriors also indicates the presence of bat infestations. Alternatively, homeowners can wait outside until dusk and watch for bats exiting attic roosts.

Bats Removal

Attempting to handle bats can result in injury or illness. Inexperienced homeowners should never try to remove bats on their own. Instead, call the wildlife control experts at Orkin Canada. Our bat removal technicians can safely take care of bats in the attic, sanitize affected areas, and help seal the home against future bat infestations. Bats are a protected species under Canadian law, and it is best if they are managed and removed by wildlife professionals.

How to prevent Bats from invading

Seal all gaps in siding. Close all attic windows, install screening over chimneys, place screening over vents, be careful not to seal bats inside.

Habitat

Ideal foraging sites for bats include open fields, marsh areas, and grasslands where they can freely hunt for insects. Bridges, caves, and rock crevices where the pests can hang from ceilings to rest during the daytime serve as the perfect roosting sites for communal species. Solitary bats may choose to roost in hollow trees or underneath overhanging ledges.

Bats: Farmers’ Secret Pest-Control Weapon

Visitors who watch the nightly exodus of Mexican free-tailed bats from Bracken Cave come for the moment when millions of bats stream from the cave’s mouth. While they do know the bats are off foraging for insect prey, they usually exclaim when they learn just how many bugs the bats can eat in a night.

“Something that always gets a lot of ‘wows’ from our visitors is when we tell them just how many tons of insects the bats are eating—mostly agricultural pests,” said Fran Hutchins, BCI’s director of the Bracken Cave Preserve. And as they munch their way through 140 to 147 tons of insects—nearly 300,000 pounds of bugs each and every night during the growing season—bats provide a huge, yet mostly hidden, service to the United States’ agricultural communities.

In this region of Texas, bats’ nightly foraging occurs over huge tracts of land planted in corn, cotton and sorghum. Their prey: primarily moths, especially the adults of corn earworm and cotton bollworm moths. With each female moth capable of laying up to 1,000 eggs, every moth consumed by a bat represents a major reduction in the millions of dollars of potential damage that could occur.

John Worth Byrd, a fourth-generation pecan grower in San Saba, Texas, is one farmer who says he does everything he can to encourage bats to forage among his trees at night, including erecting his own homemade bat houses around his orchard. Byrd also builds houses for others who are interested in doing the same.

“A bat eats one moth, and that’s 100 more pecans, in theory. If they’re doing that every night, that amounts to something,” Byrd said. “All my life, you can go out at night and there have always been bats. I don’t know how it would be without them.”

Bat Removal, Bat Control, Batproofing

Bats are not flying rodents, even though they resemble mice with wings. They have fur, give birth to live young, and are the only mammals that have achieved true flapping flight. There are almost 1,000 bat species in the world, but only a handful are native to our geographical region. They play a huge part in controlling insects, as this is their primary food source. Fall is the time of year they’re searching for hibernation sites during their mating season. This can affect you and your home and could also be a health risk.

Big brown bats will form small colonies in the summer, but normally roost alone in the winter. Female roosting sites range from barns to attics while they’re mating and birthing baby bats. Males prefer tree cavities, buildings and other cracks and crevices outdoors. It’s not rare to see Big Brown bats in below freezing temperatures, hibernating in crevices.

Little Brown bats require locations that are several degrees above freezing and have no air flow or drafts. These types of bats are known to return to the same site year after year to roost unless the site is disturbed more than once. It’s almost like they have internal homing devices! LOL.

Food

These particular bats are of the first to come out of hibernation in the spring. The Big Brown bat will forage on insects all night long, every night, but is most active just after dusk. Little Browns prefer to hunt over water close to their roosting spots during the day, but can also be found above trees. They seem to enjoy beetles and hard-shelled bugs and will eat their entire body weight indulging in this activity. Picture this: a colony of 25 bats can eat a pound of insects each night! How’s that for “green” pest control!?!

Lifespan

How long does a bat live? You’re not going to believe this, but Little and Big Brown bats have proven to live up to 20 years!! That would be under natural wild circumstances though. Hibernation disturbance, accidents, intense weather, predators and even pesticide poisoning are all factors that could shorten their natural longevity.

Bats

Bats have been called “flying rats” and they have been associated with things like witches, vampires and the supernatural. Bats are actually a vital part of the ecological system of this planet and can provide a valuable service, but when they decide to make their home inside your attic they become a pest.

Fortunately, Western Exterminator professionals are experts in bat removal and prevention. We can help get rid of bat colonies that have decided that the spaces inside your home would make a good place for them to hang out. We can also identify and block access points and prevent bats from returning.

Bats are mammals, not flying rats. They are the only species of mammal capable of true flight. Most other mammals that can soar through the air usually just glide from one place to the next.

Bat wings are really evolved forearms and fingers. The “ribs” of bat wings are actually fingers they use to fly by moving those digits rather than just flapping their wings like a bird. The spaces between those fingers are covered with a thin membrane that allows bats to fly

Approximately 70% of bats are insectivores, which means that their primary food source is insects. Bats can devour huge amounts of mosquitoes and other annoying insects. Some species of bat are fruit-eaters and at least one bat species are fish-eaters. Not to mention the vampire bats that feed on blood.

Bee, Wasp and Hornet

Being stung by a wasp (yellow jacket), hornet or bee is a painful experience and can be life threatening to anyone who may be allergic to stings. However, it is possible to reduce these risks by taking sensible precautions when outdoors and ensuring that wasp nests or bee hives are properly managed.

How to Deter Bees and Wasps from nesting

Monitoring is key if you want to avoid problems with bees and wasps, especially if you know the area you are occupying has this pest problem. It is always easier to prevent a problem before it happens, rather than to wait for them to invade your home or garden.

Check for nests – Check your home and garden for nests, usually walnut or golf ball in size at the beginning – early small nests have fewer wasps and are easier to treat quickly. Look for nests in garages, sheds, cavity walls or under eaves.

Secure bins – Ensure outside bins have tightly fitting lids. Keep bins at a distance from doors and windows so wasps are not attracted to the contents.

Keep windows and doors shut – To prevent wasps entering inside your home.

Keep a safe distance – If you have spotted a nest, make sure you keep children and pets away from the area.

How to Deter Unwanted Bees

Seal potential entry points – Bees can enter any structure or object that contains a hole that is a quarter of an inch or larger.

Why Wasps Are Attracted to Your Home

Have you ever wondered why there are wasp nests near your home when it warms up outside? It’s worth knowing what these annoying pests look for when choosing a location for their nests. We’ll also give you a few tips on how to dissuade wasps from moving in around your home.

What a Wasp Thinks About When Searching for a Home

Humans look for a home that provides shelter from the elements and enough space to live comfortably. Unfortunately, wasps aren’t as selective. They’ll build their nests just about anywhere, so long as they have a sturdy, horizontal base to hang from.

Eaves, Ceilings and Overhangs

The favored nesting spots for wasps are eaves, porch ceilings and overhangs. They often choose a corner spot where the nest will be more protected.

Supply of Weathered Wood

Paper wasps, a very common species, get their names from the nests they construct. They build nests using wood fiber, therefore they need a construction resource near the nest. The queen wasp scrapes wood fiber from wood materials, and chews it to mix the fiber with her saliva, creating a paper pulp. She then spits it out at the desired build site to shape and create the nest. Gross, but very efficient for building.

Insect Food Supply

The one good quality wasps have is that they control the insect population by eating other bugs – placing them in the category of beneficial yard pests. The bad news is that if they decide your home is a good nesting location, that probably means there’s an ample food supply nearby.

Complete guide to Wasps by pest control specialist

So a wasp nest has settled around your property. What can you do keep those pests under control?

The wasp settles in little crevices around food sources such as ground holes, sheds and other organic matter. Wasp infestations occur every year during the warmer season and this time it just happened to be around your house, shed or other nearby location. Pests such as wasps are hostile and demonstrate a territorial behaviuor. They control their environment by defending their nests and food sources. Bakeries, restaurants and other food waste contributors create the ideal location for the queen to settle in and start their colony just as well as the compost in your garden! 

Can I get rid of the wasp nest myself?

Although wasps are not known to spread any diseases they are known as a bother and a health threat not just to you but also for your neighbours and other people nearby. If wasps infestation persists in your area their colony will grow and expand their territory in search for additional food sources. As wasps use gaps, openings and cracks in various buildings it can be very difficult and dangerous to control jaspers and, and those pests will become hostile if you disturb their nests.   Using commercially available products for wasp control without the protective equipment and the pest infestation knowledge will make it easy for the survivor wasps to relocate to a new location or persist and infest the area again in the near future.  

Health Risks

Wasps often appear in the summer during the warmer season and can lead to life-threatening stings for people with allergies. Even especially during a mass attack of the wasps. The possible side effects include breathing difficulties, skin rashes, dizziness and a red spot where the wasp injects the venom. Despite the fact that a single sting does not usually lead to a serious health situation, a mass attack by the colony can lead to critical health conditions.    Youngers are affected more often due to their tendency to get startled and panic at the sight of wasps, often becoming their victims. As wasps are active during the daytime, pest control specialist track their movement to locate the nests, estimate its size and devise a plan of action for efficient wasp removal.

Can I get rid of the beehive myself?

By attempting to remove the wasp nest alone you put yourself and your neighbourhood at risk. It is not as simple as using a smoke machine to lure bees out; doing so will only agitate the wasp. The wasps will become hostile and scatter. If the nest is destroyed the queen wasp will relocate and build a new colony nearby, so it’s advisable to hire a wasp control and pest infestation professional to reduce the risk of pests appearing again.

How long does it take for wasp nest fully develop?

There are multiple species of wasps with various life cycles, but there are a few common truths about all wasp nests. The hives life cycle is only one year which starts when the fertilized wasp queen creates the first layer of the nest. Each day the queen can lay between 200-300 larvae in the most optimal conditions for 24 consecutive days. Worker wasps seek nutrition for the colony, build the nest and protect against predators. With an average hive size of 30 wasp, the queen job continuously produces eggs to replace dying off wasp and create more future queens for future colonies. The wasp queens wake up in around April in the UK and colony’s grow throughout the summer until early October where future queens begin to hibernate and get fertilised by the male workers before they die off in the winter harsh conditions. 

How Can I Find The Best Wasp Service Near Me?

Are you seeing flying insects around your property? Stinging insects such as paper wasps, mud wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets are most active in the summer months in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Before you try to take care of wasp nest removal on your own, follow this guide to answer the common question of “Do I have wasps?”

Paper Wasps     

Nest: Resembles an upside down umbrella with a honey comb pattern.

Insect: Brownish orange or yellow and black. 3-4 inches in length.

Behavior: Not inherently aggressive, but will sting if provoked.

Mud Wasps

Nest: Long, thin tubes OR looks like mud was thrown at a wall and splattered.

Insect: Defining feature is their thread-like waist. Can be blackish blue or have yellow and black stripes. Legs hang below the body when they fly.

Behavior: Not likely to sting as they are solitary wasps.

Hornets

Nest: Football-shaped. Large and grey.

Insect: Yellow and black or brownish red.

Behavior: Large populations live within each nest. They are aggressive and will sting if provoked.

Why do I have a wasp nest?

In spring and early summer, they return to create their nests and grow their colonies. Most wasps with the exception of yellow jackets build their nests high in trees, under lawn furniture, on playground equipment, attached to high up soffits, around windows, or attached to wooden decks. Once the nest is created, wasps begin to search for food to feed their nest. Your home has potential to provide an abundance of food sources such as smaller insects, nectar, vegetation, and fallen fruit. Although wasps are not known to eat wood, they will often use shavings to create their nest.

What to ask

If you have decided to take the next step in wasp nest removal, please ensure that the pest control company you choose has the necessary experience, knowledge, and tactics. Any reputable pest control company should be able to answer the following questions and provide comprehensive responses.

How Much Do Wasp Exterminators Cost? (A Simple Guide)

Did you know that wasps are beneficial to the environment? These brightly-colored insects are among nature’s most reliable pollinators, and they effectively function as predators to various garden pests at the same time.

But when threatened by our presence, wasps can deliver one of the most painful stings ever encountered by humans. Even worse, this sting contains certain proteins that can trigger severe allergic reactions.

One major factor wasps really care about when looking to build a nest is shade. So whether you like it or not, that tree in your garden, your porch, or even the eaves of your house make an ideal spot for this insect’s new home.

Have you ever seen a wasp nest?

Paper wasp nests look like round honeycombs with open cells. Its shape resembles that of an inverted umbrella and the texture of the material is almost identical to an actual piece of paper.

Why Make the Call?

Wasps are considered to be much more aggressive insects compared to bees. Even if you’re just trying to tackle normal daily chores outside your home, a particularly defensive wasp could get easily provoked into stinging you.

What Kills Bed Bugs and Their Eggs?

If you’re facing a bed bug infestation, you need to act quickly to control the problem. While there are many at home remedies you can try, be sure to do your research to know which do-it-yourself treatment will actually work and which ones will waste your time—and your money. Let’s start with a few of these remedies that simply don’t work:

DRYER SHEETS WON’T KILL BED BUGS

Contrary to what many people believe, placing dryer sheets on furniture or in your closets to repel bed bugs simply doesn’t work. The same can be said for plant oil-based repellents containing pyrethroids or plant oil. Based on research conducted at Rutgers University, no data shows that either method will prevent a bed bug infestation.

FREQUENT WASHING AND DRYING CAN KILL BED BUGS AND EGGS

Washing and drying your clothes and linens in hot water is an effective way to prevent and kill bed bugs and their eggs. It’s also important to wash and dry any other washable fabrics in your home, including items like couch covers.

Signs of Infestation

If you wake up with itchy areas you didn’t have when you went to sleep, you may have bedbugs, particularly if you got a used bed or other used furniture around the time the bites started. Other signs that you have bedbugs include:

• Blood stains on your sheets or pillowcases
• Dark or rusty spots of bedbug excrement on sheets and mattresses, bed clothes, and walls
• Bedbug fecal spots, egg shells, or shed skins in areas where bedbugs hide
• An offensive, musty odor from the bugs’ scent glands

Also, check the area around the bed, including inside books, telephones or radios, the edge of the carpet, and even in electrical outlets. Check your closet, because bedbugs can attach to clothing. If you are uncertain about signs of bedbugs, call an exterminator, who will know what to look for.

Can Salt Kill Bed Bugs?

Like most ideas that sound too good to be true, the suggestion to use salt to kill bed bugs simply doesn’t pan out. Bed bug experts on the Bedbugger forum went as far as to run trials with live bed bugs exposed to salt to see what would happen. After a few days of observation, it became abundantly clear that the table salt was having no adverse effects on the bed bugs in the testing area.

Not only will salt not work on bed bugs, but neither will most of the other home remedies you hear about on the Internet. We hear about them every day: rubbing alcohol, cedar oil, eucalyptus, and even household cleaners like Fabuloso are thought to work against bed bugs. These are recommended all the time, but they are not the answer to your bed bug problems.

How to keep bed bugs away naturally?

There are a few ‘natural’ steps you can take to get rid of bed bugs:

• Vacuum– Vacuuming will help you get rid of adult bed bugs, their eggs as well as the larvae. It is a great method of reducing hiding places for bugs.
• Diatomaceous Earth– DE powder is readily available in health food stores and home improvement stores. Buy a huge packet as you will need to use a lot of it. Make sure you treat all the rooms n your home. Sprinkle the DE powder all over your house-under the beds, furniture, in the box springs etc. Let it remain for 3 days. Then vacuum again. Diatomaceous earth rips the bed bugs’ exoskeletons and kills them instantly. Make sure the bugs come in contact with the powder – so apply it near the bed’s legs, in the headboards etc. Avoid sleeping in the treated rooms since this powder can be harmful for human lungs.
• Seal up all cracks and crevices– Caulk the cracks and crevices to prevent new bed bugs from entering your premises from neighboring houses.
• Wash all bedding in hottest settings of washer and dryers- Heat kills bed bugs instantly so wash all the bedding/ linen in hot water and bleach where applicable.
• Pull out all carpets right down to the hardwood floor. Spray natural bed bug sprays like Eco-Defense or lavender/tea tree oil. Continue using the DE earth powder. You must also continue this regime for the rest of your life!

Time to Treat

Now that you know what you’re up against, it’s time to wage war. There are a lot of different ways to get rid of bed bugs. The best way is to learn about the different methods available and combine them all.

Put All Fabrics in the Dryer

Take all the clothing, bed sheets, curtains, etc. out of infested rooms and throw them in the dryer. One full cycle in the dryer will kill them. Make sure not to overfill the dryer, though. If there are too many clothes in the dryer, the heat will not get to everything, and it won’t kill them all, so do smaller loads.

Vacuum

Your vacuum is going to be your best friend during this process. It’s a quick and effective way to suck up bugs, including the almost invisible babies.

1. Take the sheets and blankets off the bed, and then vacuum every single inch. The sides, the underside, literally everywhere.
2. After that, dry the sheets and put them back on the bed. Repeat this process every couple of days.
3. Vacuum everything in the house in the same manner, like the couches, chairs, other beds, etc. Even if something is not infested, this will make sure that a stray bed bug hasn’t found its way over there.
4. After you’re done, empty the vacuum into a plastic trash bag, tie it tightly so they can’t crawl out, and toss it in the trash.

Use Rubbing Alcohol

This is a great spot treatment. Rubbing alcohol will instantly kill a bed bug on contact.

1. Pick up a big jug of rubbing alcohol that is at least 95%.
2. Put on a mask (the smell can be pretty strong) and use it to get into the hard to reach areas.
3. For example, they can hide deep inside the couch where the vacuum can’t reach. Dumping rubbing alcohol onto those areas will kill the bed bugs on contact.
4. Do this daily for two weeks and you’ll see a tremendous difference.

Use Steam

Steam is great to get rid of bed bugs because it kills both the bugs and the eggs. Things like rubbing alcohol don’t kill the eggs. The vacuum won’t get the eggs, either. Bed bugs secure their eggs to surfaces with a glue that means no amount of suction is going to pull them off.

Picking up a good steamer is a great way to kill the eggs. A steam mop with a built-in steam is ideal, especially for wood floors. Bed bugs can hide in between those cracks, too. The detachable steamer can be used on dressers, couches, and so on.

Snakes

Snakes are legless reptile related to crocodiles and lizard. Their bodies are covered with scales and they can swallow other living things much bigger than their head.

Most snakes are timid creatures and they tend to avoid contact with human. They will only attack if cornered or provoked, in most instances, they attack as a form of defence.

However, there are also occurrences of snakes found in building compound and if you do come across one, it is highly recommended to contact the Fire or Wildlife Department for assistance.

Signs of snakes

Snakes are less common compared to other pest species in Indonesia, however they can potentially harm public when provoked. They typically found near garden, secluded open land, bush area or un-trimmed long grass.

The common signs to look out for on whether a snake is in your property are:

Shed skins — snakes shed their worn-out skin about 6 times a year. This process is called moulting.

Winding trails — can be seen on light dirt or sandy surfaces, particularly across secluded open land areas.

Ways to Keep Snakes Away from Your Home and Yard

Snakes are fearsome and frightening creatures. They’re so frightening, that science claims that Ophidiophobia – or the fear of snakes – is one of the most common phobias around.

While one might think they’re safe from snakes because they live in urban areas, there are still some instances of snake sightings in Indonesia. Some have even recorded incidents of large snakes slithering inside housing units or coming out from the toilet bowls!

Keep the rodents away

Rats are one of the major food sources for snakes, so make sure you don’t have any in your home garden. Thanks to the snake’s hinged jaws, they are natural predators of mice, rats and other kinds of rodents. Snakes use their tongue to “sniff” out and track prey, so catching the scent of a rodent inside your home might lead them there.

Keep grass short and trimmed

If you have an outdoor or garden area, always make sure to keep the grass short as this will discourage snakes from crawling about near your house. Snakes often use tall grass to avoid being seen by predators like large birds and stray cats or dogs. And since snakes are cold-blooded, they use the shade from shrubs as a resting place to stay cool when the sun is out, which is a good reason to avoid letting grass grow tall enough to be used as snake cover

Seal up cracks

Cracks and crevices are also an opportunity for snakes to enter homes. Since snakes have flexible bodies, they can easily fit themselves through even the flattest crevice without anyone noticing and might even use these cracks as their entry point.

Snakes In and Around the House

Snakes are generally shy animals who want nothing to do with people. They can be beneficial because they eat mice, slugs, grubs, insects, and other pests and they can be food for other wildlife such as hawks. Although most species of snakes in North America are harmless, there are some venomous species that can pose risks to people and pets. The National Pesticide Information Center collected the resources below to help you find ways to keep snakes away without posing unnecessary risks to you, your family, pets, or the environment.

Snake Identification

Because some snakes can be dangerous, don’t handle any snake if you are not absolutely sure what type it is. If you don’t know what type of snake you are dealing with, treat the snake as if it might be venomous. Don’t handle it and keep children and pets away. Snakes are most likely to bite when harassed. Consider taking a photograph of the snake if possible to aid in identification. There are many resources available to help you identify a snake, including your local cooperative extension office, and state wildlife agency. You can also look up the snake in a field guide, or search the internet for information on snakes in your area.

Snakes

Identify the type of snake(s) before choosing a treatment strategy.

Be cautious when moving trapped snakes. Snakes are more likely to bite when harassed.

Control rodent populations to help prevent snakes from entering your property.

Clean up piles of wood, trash, metal, and other debris to reduce snake habitat.

Cut shrubs away from the home, keep grass short, and manage weeds to reduce hiding areas.

Secure all door sweeps and window screens to reduce entry points to the home.

Check potential entryways into attics and basements. Seal holes larger than 1/4 inch and use galvanized screening to cover vents and drains.

Create a kid-safe zone using a snake proof fence in areas with many venomous snakes.

HOW TO HELP PREVENT SNAKES ON YOUR PROPERTY

In general, snakes get a bad rap. These slithering reptiles are an important part of their ecosystems, as they help keep other pests at bay. In addition, snakes don’t start their mornings thinking, “It sure would be fun to creep out some humans today.” In fact, they’re often likely to hide if they sense you coming

That being said, if you’re like most people, you probably prefer that your yard and garden be free of snakes. And we honestly can’t say we blame you. Especially if you live in an area of the country in which venomous snakes are common. So take a look at the following five tips for keeping snakes off your property

Keep your yard clear of clutter.

Snakes like clutter for a couple of reasons. First, it gives them a good spot to hide from predators. Second, snakes are reptiles, which means they need warmth to survive. Clutter like compost piles or stacks of wood can make a nice, cozy den that protects snakes from the elements. Look for alternatives that are less attractive to snakes

Cut Your Grass

You’ve heard the expression “a snake in the grass?” Well, there’s a reason that came about. Snakes like tall grass. It’s where their prey lives. It provides the perfect cover for hunting, and also keeps them protected from predators. Keep your grass trimmed, and snakes will be more likely to look for areas in which they’re not as exposed.

Learn about the snakes in your neck of the woods

Reading up on the snakes that are local to your region gives you a better idea of what their habitat is. Once you understand what conditions create the ideal environment for different snake species, you can purge your yard of the elements that make it a snake haven

Snakes are natural pest control

Snakes are natural pest control!

As a top-end predator, snakes are essential balancing agents in your garden, yard or farm. Rather than killing them, we should deliberately create habitat.

It’s truly incredible to me that many folks – even country folk that should know better – will kill the snakes in their yard.

Here’s why you shouldn’t. If you have ever complained about:

1. Rats

2. Mice

3. Cockroaches

4. Squirrels

5. Berry-eating birds

6. Frogs

…then you should hope you have snakes! Think about it this way: which do you prefer? 1 snake or 200 rodents

C’mon, don’t be a wuss. Seriously. Unless you have rattlesnakes around your property, you’re probably going to be fine. Their favorite place to live is generally gopher tortoise burrows. What you want is to leave space for good guys like rat snakes, black racers, garter snakes, ring necks, king snakes, etc. They’ll manage your pest control, plus add some slithery beauty to your homestead.