Category: Northern Pest - page 2

Rodent Bait Stations

A mice infestation is a common household problem that brings several health risks and hazards to a home or business. Once you spot a rodent scurrying around, there are likely dozens more nesting on the property. The most effective way to get rid of these pests is by using bait stations. Unlike trapping devices that catch and kill a singular rodent, or unsafe piles of rodenticide left in various corners, bait stations are tamper-resistant devices that hold rodenticide bait blocks. Pesky rodents are attracted to the bait within the station, they eat and leave as they normally would, and they die outside within a day or two in search of hydration.

Bait stations only work as long as there is enough rodenticide for the rodents you are trying to control. Our recurring rodent services will regularly come out as scheduled to check and refill stations. We not only make sure to use the appropriate bait, but we will ensure that the bait stations are strategically placed both indoors and outdoors. For hassle-free pest control, call Northern Pest today!

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are starting to wake from their dormant state. One of the most common signs that you have an invasion of carpenter ants is wood damage. Piles of sawdust, similar to pencil shavings called “frass,” is actually the excavated wood that they chopped up with their mandibles and discarded near their nest entrance. Carpenter ants don’t eat wood; they burrow through moist structures to build their colony, typically beginning near a window or door frame, along rooflines, and areas with water damage.

Another tell-tale sign is their size; carpenter ants can be 5x larger than a common black ant, and the reproductive ants are winged. The sight of flying carpenter ants indicates that the colony is well established and searching for new settlements. They are identified by their heart-shaped head and single node below their rounded thorax.

A carpenter ant colony will not go away on its own. If you notice any of the mentioned red flags, it is imperative to seek professional pest control services asap. Our professional extermination services will not only prevent future invasions by sealing up cracks and open voids, but we go the extensive length to make sure no ants are left behind (as just a few can rehome a new colony.) We are also licensed, bonded, and insured to make the necessary repairs caused by wildlife damage, bringing back the integrity of your home or office to pre-pest condition.   

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From Home, the Lake, Camp, or Your Business -Northern Pest Has You Covered!

Northern Pest is licensed and insured to provide insect and wildlife control. Comprehensively, our restoration crew is licensed builders with the expertise to not only track wildlife entry points but also repair any damage caused by insects or wild animals. Northern Pest is a member of the MDAT and the NWCOA. We are certified by the IICRC offering professional mold mitigation services caused by animal damage. At Northern Pest, we do it all!

During home inspections, one of several things we look out for is the existence of wood-boring insects. While many of these pests are beneficial in converting deadwood into the soil, having them in your home can be dangerous as they compromise a house’s structural integrity. The prevalence of wood-boring insects is heavily dependent on the region’s climate. In Michigan, carpenter ants thrive due to the relatively colder environment. While carpenter ants don’t consume wood, they chew and chop it up using their mandibles, preying on moist, damaged wood, to construct their colonies in the portions they’ve tunneled out.

If you notice piles of “frass,” which looks like sawdust, this is the excavated wood shavings that carpenter ants have tunneled out near the nest entrance. Also, the presence of large black ants, especially those that are winged and fly, consider this a red flag and that you potentially have a carpenter ant infestation. The nest may not necessarily be inside your house, however. Instead, carpenter ants may have a nest outside but enter your home searching for food and water. Carpenter ants usually emerge at night, feeding on sugary and fatty foods.

How To Check for Carpenter Ants:

• May through July, use a flashlight at night to look for foraging workers.
• After dusk, pay close attention to the attic, basement, and garage. You may be able to follow the worker ants to their nests.
• Always check for carpenter ants in areas with damp wood, possibly due to leaks, poor ventilation, defective flashing, and condensation.

Over time, the outdoor parent colony will fill capacity and send their winged, reproductive ants to find new colonies, this time – they may be in your home. To get rid of carpenter ants, you need to locate and eliminate the parent and satellite nests. It’s imperative to reach all the ants in the colony, as a few stragglers will create a new settlement.

A carpenter ant colony will not go away on its own. If you notice any of the above-mentioned warning signs of a pest invasion, it is imperative to seek professional insect control services. At Northern Pest, our professional extermination services will not only prevent future infestations by sealing up cracks and open voids, but we go the extensive length to make sure that no ants are left behind (as just a few can rehome a new colony.) We are also licensed, bonded, and insured to make the necessary repairs caused by wildlife damage, bringing back the integrity of your home or office to pre-pest condition.  

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Northern Pest is a local, family-owned, and operated insect and wild animal control company spanning six counties in Michigan’s central upper peninsula. We’ll help you find the least invasive and most cost-effective plan to handle any irritating pest problem affecting your home or business. We are licensed and insured to provide pest control services, building maintenance, and repair work caused by wildlife damage. As a comprehensive animal and insect control company, Northern Pest is honored to give our customers peace of mind by providing solutions for troublesome wildlife. Contact us today at www.northernpest.com or call 906-553-4841 to learn more.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Beyond sneaking into our residences and breaking into our food supply, rodents are also a significant concern because they can transmit several diseases to humans through waste and other forms of contamination. Mice and rats can carry more than 35 different diseases, so getting rid of them at the earliest sign of an invasion is imperative. Read on to learn about some of the diseases they carry.

Salmonellosis
Caused by the bacterium salmonella, this disease can be spread through contaminated food. The bacteria causes food poisoning; symptoms of which include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
This potentially life-threatening disease spreads through deer mouse waste by means of direct contact with urine or feces, consumption of contaminated foods, or bite. This virus can take one- to five weeks to completely develop symptoms, which typically manifest through fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, chills, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, or other abdominal issues. The virus can also become fatal if not properly treated.

Rat-Bite Fever
This disease is caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis and Spirillum minus bacterium. It spreads to humans through contact with an infected rodent or eating contaminated food. Symptoms generally manifest three- to ten days after exposure and can include fever, headaches, rash, vomiting, and muscle pain. Antibiotics can cure this ailment.

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM)
A viral infection caused by contact with rodents, this can be transmitted via a mouse’s urine or feces, touching its nesting materials, or a bite. Symptoms come in two phases which include fever, muscle aches, lack of appetite, headache, nausea, and vomiting to start. Then, those infected can experience stiff neck, drowsiness, confusion, sensory disturbances, motor abnormalities, paralysis, and brain inflammation. It’s not usually fatal but can cause hospitalization or permanent neurological damage.

Bubonic Plague
The most famous rodent-caused sickness due to its deadly effect on humans during the Middle Ages, the bubonic plague (also known as Black Death), is transmitted through rats. Fleas with the bacterium Yersinia pestis infect the rats and can also infect humans through handling a contaminated animal, fluid, or tissue. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes. Antibiotics can treat this disease quickly, but it can be fatal if left untreated.

Tularemia
Caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, this disease can spread through rabbits, flea and tick bites, airborne dust particles, and contaminated water. The most common symptom of tularemia includes skin ulcers or swollen lymph nodes. It is usually curable through antibiotics but can be life-threatening.

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Do you have a rodent issue? Contact Northern Pest and let our pros handle the problem today.

Northern Pest is a local, family-owned and operated insect and wild animal control company spanning six counties in Michigan’s central upper peninsula. We’ll help you find the least-invasive and most cost-effective plan to handle any irritating pest problem affecting your home or business. We are licensed and insured to provide pest control services, building maintenance, and repair work caused by wildlife damage. As a comprehensive animal and insect control company, Northern Pest is honored to give our customers peace of mind by providing solutions for troublesome wildlife. Contact us today at www.northernpest.com or call 906-553-4841 to learn more.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Mice are the most common rodent found in peoples’ homes. Using whatever materials they can find to make their nests, these pests invade homes by squeezing through tiny holes and voids within walls or other areas. They can also gnaw through drywall and insullation with ease.

Mice prefer to snack on grains, fruits, seeds, crackers, nuts, and other dried goods. Depending on what’s available, mice will chow down on just about anything, including insects, food scraps, and more.

Numerous issues can result in a home due to the presence of mice. From physical damage to your cabinets, electrical wiring, insulation, papers, boxes, and other materials to health hazards, mice should be removed from your infrastructure as soon as possible. Mice carry microbes and pathogens which can be transmitted to humans, such as hantavirus. They can also trigger asthma in humans if allergic.

Foraging for food isn’t the only reason mice infiltrate your home; they are also looking to build nests and raise their pups. Mice can reproduce swiftly, as females can give birth up to six babies every three weeks.

Especially during the cold winter months, mice can cause extensive damage to a home. Moreover, mice can get into your garage and climb in your vehicles to stay warm, chewing and nesting near the engine.

Do you think you have a mouse in your house? Here are some signs:

• Damaged or chewed-through food boxes or food with nibble/teeth marks
• Nests made from shredded napkins, boxes, papers, etc., found in drawers, closets, and more
• Tiny, thin oval feces droppings
• Electrical damage within walls or under the hood of your car
• Oily marks on walls or tiny footprints on the floor

If you spot one or more of these signs, you might have a mouse problem. Take action by cleaning up crumbs, storing leftovers, sealing holes, removing nests, etc. To remove them altogether, you will need to call a professional.

At Northern Pest, our techs are expertly trained and ready to remove rodents from your home or business. Contact us to get rid of mice invaders today!

Northern Pest is a local, family-owned and operated insect and wild animal control company spanning six counties in Michigan’s central upper peninsula. We’ll help you find the least-invasive and most cost-effective plan to handle any irritating pest problem affecting your home or business. We are licensed and insured to provide pest control services, building maintenance, and repair work caused by wildlife damage. As a comprehensive animal and insect control company, Northern Pest is honored to give our customers peace of mind by providing solutions for troublesome wildlife. Contact us today at www.northernpest.com or call 906-553-4841 to learn more.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.