Spring Cleaning Tips to Prevent Pest Infestations

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SanitationSpring weather is finally here!!  And when you are checking off each item on your to do list, don’t forget to include pest prevention efforts.  One of the easiest ways to control pests is to prevent infestations from the start. Maintaining a high level of sanitation can help to deter pests from entering any building. Use this helpful information as a guide to assist in obtaining a greater level of cleanliness.

  • Keep lunchroom & kitchen counters and cabinets clean. Clean up spills, crumbs and food scraps.
  • Do not store opened food materials in desks, cupboards or pantries, as they may attract pests. Store opened food products in containers with tight-fitting lids.
  • Use plastic liners in garbage containers.
  • Wet garbage should first be wrapped in newspaper and then put in plastic bags.
  • Outdoor garbage receptacles should be located as far from the door as possible.
  • Empty indoor garbage containers daily.
  • Thoroughly rinse recyclable containers and discard in a container with a tight-fitting lid.
  • Don’t leave dirty dishes out overnight.
  • Be careful not to over-water potted plants.
  • Keep moisture/humidity at proper levels. (Not too dry or too humid).
  • Store mops upright, to allow them to thoroughly dry.
  • Immediately clean up any spills.
  • Maintain good drainage.
  • Screen doors should open outward and have 1/8″ mesh to exclude all insects.

If you are experiencing an infestation you cannot control, please do not hesitate to contact us.  We are always happy to help!

How to Keep Wildlife Out of Your Life — and Your Home or Business

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Nuisance Wildlife - RaccoonWisconsin has a great variety of wildlife, including birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.  Some people might enjoy attracting and observing wildlife, but it definitely has its downside.  Squirrels and raccoons can invade your attic and chimney, rabbits can destroy your garden, deer can run into the road in front of cars, and many animals can spread disease.

Once you come to acceptance that we must coexist with wildlife, you can take steps to prevent conflicts whenever possible.  It is more difficult to solve wildlife problems once animals have claimed a food source, nest site, or shelter.  Good information and the willingness to act will allow you to minimize or avoid most common wildlife problems.

Before you come up with a defense plan, you must identify the species causing the problem.  If you use an inappropriate control method, you will waste time and money.  To do “wildlife detective work”, you can browse patterns, tracks, hairs, droppings, or examine tooth marks to determine the culprit.  Once you have identified the species, do research and learn about the animal’s habitat.  Knowing where it hides, when it is active, and what it eats can help you in planning your strategy.

State or federal law protect the vast majority of Wisconsin wildlife, so you must be aware of what you can and cannot do with regard to relocating, harassing, or killing any wild animal.  An integrated wildlife damage management approach will be best, because it uses randomness and diversity.  Since wildlife are creatures of habit, you can upset an animal’s daily routine to make them less likely to stay in the area.  By randomly employing management methods, you can prevent animals from feeling safe on your property.  Diversifying your management approach will increase your chance for success in resolving a wildlife damage problem.  For example, you could combine a visual scare tactic with a scare tactic using noise.  Randomness and diversity reduces the possibility that an animal will habituate the method you’ve chosen to resolve or reduce the damage problem.

One way of controlling or eliminating a wildlife problem is to exclude them, or keep them out.  This can be done by installing a fence, chimney cap, plastic mesh net over fruit trees or berry bushes, or a wire or wooden skirt around a deck.  This is a much cheaper and easier way to prevent a problem, rather than dealing with trying to eliminate a problem later.

Another way would obviously be to remove the animal from the affected area.  Moving live animals around is a complicated and controversial issue, and a professional pest control company should be contacted for assistance.  Movement of problem animals may create problems for someone else, could spread disease, and could increase the chance of injury and stress for the captured animal(s).

Scare tactics are a great way that homeowners can frighten the animal away from the site.  This can be done by using loud noises, mylar or plastic streamers, owl decoys, propane cannons, “scare-eye” balloons, etc.  You can also make the area less attractive by modifying their habitat.  This includes mowing long grass used by meadow mice, removing brush piles that harbor rabbits, eliminating nest/roost sites in buildings used by sparrows or pigeons, and more.  Finally, changing human behavior can be effective at preventing or eliminating a wildlife problem.  Don’t feed wildlife; use wildlife-proof trash cans, and plant gardens that have plants less likely to be damaged by wildlife.

If you are experiencing an infestation you cannot control, please do not hesitate to contact us.  We are always happy to help.

Batzner Joins Effort to Support Walk Now for Autism Speaks – Milwaukee

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Team Batzner at the Walk Now for Autism Speaks - MilwaukeeBatzner participated this past Saturday, April 8, 2013, in the Walk Now for Autism Speaks which took place at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Batzner joined hundreds of teams in an effort to help raise funds for research, awareness and compassion, all in support of the fastest-growing serious developmental disorder in the US – Autism.

Over 38 Batzner employees and their families experienced a great time taking part in the center court Bucks entertainment, Kids Zone and performances by Energee! dancers and Rim Rockers acrobatic slam dunk team.

Sara (Accounting Assistant at Batzner), her husband Bobby, and their 2 children, Logan and Chase, took advantage of the face painting, bouncy house, and a fun stroller ride on the walk around the track.

Jerry L. (Director of Service at Batzner) and his daughter Jenna, appreciated the opportunity to get some exercise while helping out a worthy cause.

A delightful time was had by all!

15 signs of Pest Infestations to Look for When House Hunting

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Look for pest infestations when house huntingHouse hunting can be stressful as it is without the worry that there may be a pest infestation present. Is the roof leaky? Are there any electrical problems? How is the insulation? These are all common questions that can run through a potential buyer or renter’s mind.

Whether or not there might be a pest problem in a home you are interested in may be the last thing on your mind; or maybe you just don’t know what to look for. The truth is, pests are very good at hiding, but there are many signs you can look for that could signify a larger problem or infestation.

Here is a list of 15 red flags to look for when renting or buying a home:

1. Active pests: This might be quite obvious, but it is very important not to forget. Do some research, and learn to identify different pests in order to understand what type of infestation might be present. Pests are very good at hiding, so be sure to look in places like the kitchen and bathroom, or outdoors under leaves and rocks.
2. Dead bugs indoors: Check window ledges and basements for dead bugs. If there are many bugs of the same species, they probably live on the property.
3. Pest droppings: This is classic evidence that a pest infestation may be present. As gross as it may sound, it can benefit you to research what different pest droppings look like, so you can identify what type of pest you may be dealing with. Be sure to also search for roach egg cases and signs of bed bugs.
4. Evidence of nesting: Rats and mice will make nests out of whatever they have available to them. Using a flashlight, search all the nooks and crannies, including behind appliances in the kitchen and inside cabinets, for red flags such as shredded paper that might be used for nesting.
5. Pest control products: Check under sinks and in the garage for large quantities of pesticides. If you find numerous partially-used bottles, there is a chance that the previous homeowner or renter was attempting to deal with a pest infestation.
6. Odd smells and sounds: There are certain recognizable smells that pests give off. Experts claim that bed bugs have a sweet, musty odor. Mice tend to give off a musty, urine smell, and rats smell like ammonia. Roaches have been said to have an “oily” odor comparable to “fecal soy sauce”. I don’t even want to know what that smells like! The smell of garbage is also a bad sign, because it can attract more pests.

It is equally important to keep an ear out for the pattering of rodents’ feet. Rats and mice love to hide under floorboards or behind walls. You might often hear scratching on the walls, gnawing, squeaking, or scurrying. Larger bugs might also be heard if you listen closely.
7. Holes and gnaw marks: Small holes in the walls and floors, or holes in or around the property are a giveaway of a possible infestation. Burrows in garbage areas and weedy areas near the property are also a bad sign. Rats love to gnaw on things, and finding little gnaw marks can be a sign of an infestation. Be on the lookout for chewed-up electrical wires, and other things that rats might have destroyed.
8. Grease marks and tracks: Rats and mice tend to travel the same paths every day, and can leave evidence and tracks along the way. Rats run along the walls, and can leave dark grease marks. Fecal droppings, urine trails, and footprints through dust paths may also be seen as a sign of a possible infestation.
9. Signs of termites: This is an important thing to be aware of, because termites are extremely destructive pests that dine on wood, causing structural damage to a building. These pests can eat your wooden furniture as well, and create unsafe conditions for you to live in. Check the wood in the potential home or rental unit for signs of termite damage. This includes visible holes or sagging floors, and wood that sounds hollow when tapped. Shed wings of termites, or fecal pellets that are tan and resemble sawdust may be signs of an infestation.
10. Complaints from former tenants/owners or neighbors: If possible, contact the former owners or tenants to ask about the history of any pest problems. You can also try asking the neighbors if they have ever experienced problems that might affect your property.

Outdoors
11. Nearby breeding grounds: Note if the building is adjacent to an unkept alley with garbage piling up. Also, look for electrical wires hanging in unenclosed areas, as rats and mice love to gnaw on them. Rodents also love to dwell around water and gas pipes. If the property is near a pond, lake, or other stagnant water, this might present a mosquito problem in the warmer months.
12. Damaged plants: Look for insect trails or gnawing on the edges of grass blades and any garden plants. Check the edges of the leaves of any perennials present.
13. Damaged patches: Patterns of lawn damage, such as uneven grass length or large circular brown areas, may be a sign of a pest infestation.
14. Mole holes: Moles eat insects and grubs, which tend to dwell in grass. When moles are in the grass eating insects, they tear up your lawn in the process.
Look for raised ridges traveling across the lawn, accompanied by piles of dirt that look like a mini volcano.
15. Ant hills: Check along fence lines and in pavement cracks for piles of coarse grained dirt with a small hole on top. You can often see ants traveling in and out of the hill.

If you are experiencing an infestation you cannot control, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to help.

Inspecting hotel rooms for bed bugs

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Batzner Pest Management explains how to inspect your hotel room for bed bugs in this comprehensive guide for travelers. Don’t take home any unwanted guests! Learn how to protect yourself, and what to do if you do run into a bed bug problem!

What to do once you know you have an ant problem

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As you learned in our previous blog, proper ant identification is the first step in any control program.  Now that you know how to identify the common types of ants found in Wisconsin, you can learn what to do to prevent and control ant infestations.

In addition to being able to identify different species of ants, it is important to understand the behavior of ants.  All ants live in colonies, which consist of an egg-laying female (queen), sterile females called workers, and short-lived males.  Ants seen foraging in gardens or kitchens are worker ants.  When they find food, they communicate with other works by depositing a chemical message on the substrate as they crawl back to the nest.  This “trail pheromone” helps other ants find the food at the end of the trail.  Ants have a wide food source range, feeding on sweet, greasy, and starchy substances, along with wood and plant and animal materials.  They like a lot of the same kinds of foods that we do, which is where they can become a nuisance.

Though there are many different species of ants, there are really only two categories of ants that will be encountered with an ant problem.  How you control the problem depends on the type of infestation.

The first category is ants that live outside and forage in the home.  To control this type of ant infestation, you must first seal any cracks or crevices to eliminate entry into the home.  Next, be sure to clean around entry points with a detergent to remove trail pheromones.

The second category is ants that live and nest inside the home.  These ants don’t feel like leaving once they have found a source of food indoors.  They may be present year round, but they will be more active during the warmer months.  The most direct way to eliminate this ant infestation is to locate and destroy the nest.

One main type of home-inhabiting ant is the carpenter ant.  These ants cause structural damage to wood by tunneling and nesting inside wood structures.  They often invade wood that has become wet and started to decay.  Locating the nest can be difficult because nests may be within walls or roof rafters.  The most common places to find carpenter ant nests are where there is wet and weathered wood, like window sills, porches, in rafters under a leaky roof, or in rotting wood around the foundation of the home.

Carpenter ants forage at night, both inside and outside of the home.  If you spot the ants, you can follow them to find out where the nest is.  When carpenter ants tunnel into wood, they push the sawdust and dead insect parts out small holes in the wood.  A small, fresh pile of sawdust under the nest timber is a usual sign of an active carpenter ant nest.  To prevent infestations, trim all bushes and trees so branches do not touch the house. Correct moisture problems such as leaky plumbing and roofs and paint and/or seal exposed wood before it becomes wet. Replace any rotted, ant-infested, or water-damaged wooden parts of the structure and get rid of wood/soil contacts.  Remove any dead stumps from the property and store firewood off the ground and away from the structure.

Ants are a nuisance to homeowners, and an infestation is not easy to control.  With a combination of good sanitation, removing pheromone trails, sealing entry points and eliminating active nests, ants can be controlled.

Here are some additional tips on how to control household ants safely and effectively:

  • Deny ants easy nest sites, food and water sources.
  • Keep kitchen, including counters, appliances and floor surfaces clean.
  • Remove organic wastes from containers before discarding, rinse recyclables before storage, and remove garbage daily.
  • Keep foods in plastic containers with tight-fitting lids or in glass jars.
  • Seal any cracks throughout the house where ants may be entering.
  • As discussed, to prevent a carpenter ant problem, remove or replace all decayed or damaged wood in your home. Ventilate bathrooms, attics, and damp areas.  Keep rain gutters clear of debris.  Store lumber and firewood above the ground and away from the home.  Remove tree stumps and dead branches close to the home.
  • Follow the trail of ants to find the entry point or nest. Once found, seal the entry.  If you cannot find a trail, set out food and wait for ants to appear and watch where they go.
  • Nests of carpenter ants outdoors may be on wooden porches, at wood-soil contacts near foundations, or under siding.  Indoor nests may be in foam insulation, hollow beams, hollow-core doors, wall voids, and in rotten woodwork.  Openings into the nest can be found by looking for small piles of coarse sawdust and insect parts known as “frass.”

If you are experiencing an infestation you cannot control, please do not hesitate to contact us.  We are always happy to help.

 

Win 2 tickets to a Milwaukee Bucks game!

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How would you like to cheer on the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center for FREE?

This is your chance to win 2 tickets to a Milwaukee Bucks game at the Bradley Center! So how do you enter? Visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/batznerpestmanagement and “like” us to enter! If you already like us, just fill out the form to enter!

For the rest of the month, we will be running a campaign and giving away a pair of Bucks tickets for every 25 new fans we get on Facebook! For each friend you refer to “like” us on Facebook and sign up, you will get a bonus entry for the drawing(s)! Just make sure they sign up through the special bit.ly link you will be provided! Once we get to 650 “likes”, we will pick a winner for the first pair of tickets to a future Milwaukee Bucks home game! Even more, for each additional 25 likes we receive after that, we will draw for another pair of tickets, until the contest is over!  So spread the word, it will help your chances! Check out the official rules here.

Hurry! Contest ends on Wednesday, February 27th! Good luck, and go Bucks!

 

Controlling ants begins with proper identification

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Few people think to consider the world of ants until they make an unwanted appearance in their lives. I’m sure you have all had a problem with ants at some point in your life. Whether they have invaded your picnic, your child’s playtime, or have somehow found their way in your home, ants can be a real nuisance.

There are many types of ants that can be found in Wisconsin: carpenter ants, field ants, pavement ants, pharaoh ants, and grease/thief ants, just to name a few.  Ants love heat, so Wisconsin ants have learned to adapt to their environment by living in the soil or other locations that allow them to regulate the temperature and humidity level.  They can move to deeper chambers or build special winter nests.  Most species in Wisconsin, however, do not live in the open soil.  Some might nest under the bark of a tree, like the carpenter ant, or under flat stones, like the pavement ant.

Some ants can be harmful to a human’s environment, while others are practically harmless.  Because control measures differ for different types of ants, it is important to first understand how to identify the type of ant you’re dealing with.    You can use a magnifying glass to aide in identification, and preserve it in rubbing alcohol to examine it.  It is wise to submit a sample to a local pest control company for further help in identification.

Here is how to identify common species of ants found in Wisconsin:

Carpenter ants: These ants are particularly concerning because they can cause structural damage to wood by tunneling and nesting inside wood structures.  They are large (about 1/4 to 3/8” long), and are black in color, however, they can be reddish or yellowish as well. The best way to identify carpenter ants is to look for two traits.  The first is a single node.  Second, their thorax is evenly rounded, and doesn’t have any dips or depressions in it.

Another type of carpenter ant to look out for is the small carpenter ant, which differs in two ways.  The first is their small size (3/16 to 1/3”).  Secondly, they can be any of the following color combinations: thorax or legs black, brownish red, or dark red; head black, brownish red, or dark red; or abdomen black.

Pavement ants:  These ants have a reputation for girdling plant stems and eating their sap and for storing seeds in its nest.  They usually nest under flat stones and pile up displaced soil on top of sidewalks, patios, and other surfaces next to the cracks through which they enter and exit the nest.  Pavement ants are about 1/8” long, are light brown to black in color, and have pale legs and antennae.  They have parallel lines on their head and thorax, and their antennae are made up of 12 segments.

Pharaoh ants:  These ants were originally introduced from the tropics, and can only live indoors in heated buildings.  They often live in close association with people and are sometimes carried in their belongings from place to place.  Their small size allows them to nest in unusual sites such as between layers of linens or sheets of stationary, and even inside electronic appliances.  Pharaoh ants are only about 1/16” long, and have a pale yellow to reddish body with black shading on top.  They have parallel lines on their head and thorax, and three body segments.

Thief ants:  These ants get their name by sneaking into nests of larger ants and eating their larvae.  Like Pharaoh ants, thief ants can also use their small size (1/16” long) to nest inside small spaces indoors, such as countertops, in wall voids, in cabinet voids, and behind baseboards, making their nests difficult to find.  Also like the Pharaoh ant, the thief ant is pale yellow to light or dark brown in color, but the difference is that the thief ant has two body segments, as opposed to three.    

After learning to identify the type of ant, it is important to consider the number you see, where you see them, and other factors, such as the season.  You can decide if action is necessary, and if so, how to go about controlling the problem.  We are always happy to help here at Batzner.

Common Bed Bug Myths Dispelled

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There’s no doubt about it- everyone hates bed bugs. They are small, nasty, and creepy.  The phrase, “sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite” can haunt you once you’ve experienced an infestation.  No need to worry, however; bed bugs only exist in conditions of pure filth and dirty hotel rooms, right? Learn why this myth along with many others, are oh so false.

  • Myth 1: Bed bugs only exist in unclean or unsanitary living conditions.

FALSE! Bed bugs are not attracted to filth, but rather warmth, blood, and carbon dioxide.  Even highly regarded multi-unit establishments in the USA have had bed bug infestations lately, mostly due to domestic and international travel.

  • Myth 2: You can easily get rid of bed bugs yourself.

FALSE! Bed bugs are difficult if not impossible to treat on your own. Often times, it is best handled by a professional.

  • Myth 3: You can sleep in a different room or vacate the structure to get rid of bed bugs.

FALSE! This is not a solution and can make the problem more difficult to eliminate as bed bugs migrate.

  • Myth 4: You can’t see a bed bug.

FALSE! You should be able to see adult bed bugs, nymphs and eggs with your naked eye.

  • Myth 5: I have not been anywhere that has bed bugs, so I am not at risk.

FALSE! Travel is not the only source of bed bugs.  Bed bugs can easily be brought into your home on bed bug-infested items such as second-hand furniture or luggage.  You may have visited a bed bug-infested location such as a hotel, movie theatre, or work place, and not known it.

  • Myth 6: If you have bed bugs, you need to get rid of infested clothing and furniture.

FALSE! Clothing can be laundered in hot water to kill bed bugs. In most cases, furniture can be treated as well to eliminate bed bugs.

  • Myth 7: Bed bugs won’t come out if there is light.

FALSE! While bed bugs prefer darkness, keeping the light on at night won’t keep bed bugs from biting.

  • Myth 8: Bed bugs are only found on the bed.

FALSE! Bed bugs are commonly found in beds, on sofas, in chairs and areas near where people sleep or lounge.

  • Myth 9: Pesticide applications alone will easily eliminate bed bug infestations.

FALSE! Bed bug control can only be maintained through a treatment strategy that includes a variety of techniques and monitoring. Proper use of pesticides may be part of the strategy, but will not by itself eliminate bed bugs. Bed bug populations in different areas of the country have developed resistance to the ways many pesticides work to kill pests. If you’re dealing with a resistant population, some products and application methods may only make the problem worse. It is a good idea to consult a Batzner pest management professional if you have bed bugs in your home.

  • Myth 10:  You can only tell you have bed bugs if everyone in the house has bites.

FALSE! Everyone reacts differently to bed bug bites.  If two people share a bed and are both bitten, it is possible that only one person will break out with welts or sores as a result of bed bug bites, while the other person will not.

Win 4 Courtside Club tickets to a Milwaukee Bucks vs. Toronto Raptors game at the Bradley Center!

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What is a better way to break the winter monotony than cheering on the Milwaukee Bucks Courtside at the Bradley Center?

This is your chance to win four courtside club seats to the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Toronto Raptors game on Saturday, March 2nd at 7:30pm! So how do you enter? Visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/batznerpestmanagement and “like” us to enter! If you already like us, just fill out the form to enter!

What’s more? For each friend you refer by sharing a special link that “likes” us and signs up, you will get a bonus entry in the grand prize drawing! I bet you’re thinking, “Grand Prize? Does that mean there are more prizes?”  You would be correct! If we get to 575 “likes”, we will run a bonus drawing for a pair of tickets to a future Milwaukee Bucks home game! Even more, for each additional 25 likes we receive after that, we will draw for another pair of tickets, up to three pairs in total in addition to the grand prize.  So spread the word, it will help your chances! Check out the official rules here.

Hurry! Contest ends on Tuesday, February 5th! Good luck, and go Bucks!