How Do Ants Get In My House?

How do ants get in my Wisconsin house - Batzner Pest Control

It sometimes can seem like ants appear in your home overnight. Not only are ant problems often unpredictable in your home, but they’re also difficult to get rid of without the help of a professional. To avoid the discovery of an ant problem altogether, it’s important to learn how to eliminate common ant hotspots in your home. This can help stop ants from getting inside in the first place. At Batzner Pest Control, our ant experts are dedicated to helping our customers learn how to stop ant problems once and for all. Read on to learn our expert tips!

Ant Hotspots in Wisconsin

There are a few areas in your home that are especially vulnerable to ant infestations: kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other rooms that get a lot of moisture. These are common ant hotspots due to the fact that they provide ants with either food or water. If even a few ants find what they are looking for, ants will leave a pheromone trail for their colony to follow suit. Before you know it, a small ant problem can turn into a big infestation. An ant colony can nest in the walls of your home, and crawl into your various rooms through cracks and crevices. Once they’ve established themselves, it can be difficult to control an ant problem.

Ant hotspots in Wisconsin homes - Batzner Pest Control

3 Tips to Stop Ants

The key to ant control is prevention. Ants can get in your house easily if you don’t take the steps to make your house less attractive to them in the first place. The easiest ways to keep ants out are to:

  1. Clean up food and water spills. Ants go for fatty, sweet, or greasy foods. Crumbs and pet food on the floor can be a huge draw for ants. To prevent ants, it’s important to regularly clean up spills and vacuum on a regular basis to deny them access to any of your food.
  2. Eliminate excess moisture. Excess moisture from leaky pipes or plumbing issues can attract ants to your bathroom, kitchen, crawl space, and more. Always fix leaks and other moisture problems as quickly as possible.
  3. Look for and seal cracks or crevices. Ants will make use of the tiniest cracks or holes to get inside, especially at the base of your foundation. On a regular basis, inspect your home for these tiny openings and consider sealing them with caulk.

Dealing With Nonstop Ants?

If you’ve taken all the steps to prevent ants and still are finding them inside, there may be a larger problem that needs to be addressed by your local ant control team. At Batzner Pest Control, we work to get rid of ants and help keep them away with prevention services. Contact us today to get started and say goodbye to ants for good!

How to Identify Carpenter Ants: Signs and Damage in Wisconsin

A carpenter ant seen in Wisconsin - Batzner Pest Control

It’s easy to mix up carpenter ants with other kinds of ants, or even termites! With their wood-tunneling habits and their many physical similarities to common ant species, it’s no wonder that people don’t often catch carpenter ants until they’ve done significant damage. Here in Wisconsin, we have seen carpenter ants cause some seriously expensive damage before ever being discovered. So, how can you tell apart carpenter ants and other pests?

What Does a Carpenter Ant Look Like?

Carpenter ants look a lot like other types of ants in Wisconsin, but they do have a few characteristics that you can distinguish them from others by. These are:

  1. Their size: Carpenter ants are larger than most ant species in the United States. They reach up to 1.5cm in length in some cases.
  2. Their color: Some kinds of carpenter ants are plain black all the way through like other ants in the area, but some subspecies have a unique yellow-red tint that becomes more prominent toward the back of their bodies.
  3. Other features: Some distinguishing features of carpenter ants are their swarmers’ long wings and their workers’ large mandibles. If you see winged carpenter ants in your home, it is a bad sign that there is already an active outbreak of them causing damage to your home.

How to Tell if You Have Carpenter Ants

If you aren’t sure that the ants in your home are carpenter ants based on how they look, there are a few more indicators to look for. Carpenter ants tunnel through the wooden structures in homes just like termites do, but the difference between them is that termites eat the wood that they chew and carpenter ants don’t. This means you’ll often find trails of wood shavings where they’ve been present.

Other signs of carpenter ants are:

  • Swarmer wings that have broken off
  • Wood damage
  • Ant activity in crawl spaces and attics

It’s a good idea to check your vulnerable spaces for ant activity routinely. When you do find ants in the house, try to find out whether or not they are carpenter ants. When it comes to carpenter ants, it is crucial to act quickly to get rid of them.

Get Rid of Carpenter Ants in Wisconsin

If you’ve found carpenter ants in your house in Wisconsin, don’t worry about them biting you or causing disease. What you should be worried about is the amount of damage they could cause or may have already caused. The safest way to stop carpenter ants is to tell your local pest control company about them. The ant control experts at Batzner Pest Control can eliminate active infestations and set up preventative measures to stop future infestations. For a free ant control quote, contact us today!

Sealing Your Home From Pests With Caulking

Caulk can seal windows and prevent pests in your Wisconsin home - Batzner Pest Control

Pests can get into your home easier than you think. Ants and other small bugs in particular are able to squeeze their way inside through the tiniest openings. One of the best things you can do to prevent pest problems, then, is to seal your home off to them! Caulking is an easy, cost-effective way to pest-proof your property every year. By sealing the tiny gaps, holes, and cracks that can happen over time in your property, you can deny access to pests and save yourself the frustration of an infestation. With pest season nearly underway here in Wisconsin, the experts at Batzner are here to share their top tips for sealing your home from pests with caulking.

Inspecting Your Home for Pest Entryways

The first step to caulking is to conduct a thorough inspection of your property. This helps you locate any spots that can be sealed off. Look at your window and door frames from both inside and outside, as well as your baseboards, crown molding, and more. If you discover major problems with your door or window frames, you may consider replacing them entirely or investing in weather stripping. Otherwise, caulking is a great solution for small fixes.

How to Pest-Proof With Caulking

Using caulk to seal your home from pests is an easy and quick way to pest-proof your property.

Here’s how:

  1. Pick the best caulking. When you get to your store, you’ll notice several types of caulk. In general, silicone caulk is the most commonly used caulk for this purpose as it is resistant to moisture. It’s also a low-cost option. If necessary, purchase a caulking gun as well.
  2. Thoroughly clean the area. Before you apply any caulk, make sure to clean any areas you will be applying caulk to. This includes removing any old caulking, old paint, dirt, and anything else that could jeopardize the adhesion of the new caulk.
  3. Apply the caulk. When applying caulk, begin in one corner of the crack or gap and tilt the applicator at a 45-degree angle. Steadily apply the caulk in a smooth, slow line while applying steady pressure.
  4. Let the caulking dry. If needed, smooth any bumps or fill any gaps with a small spoon. Remove any excess caulking. For best results, let the caulk dry for at least 24 hours.

Pest Prevention With Caulking

Caulking is just one of many ways you can seal your home off from pests. With spring and summer quickly approaching, it’s the best time to make sure you are protected against the onslaught of pest problems. For more information on caulking or other ways to pest-proof your Wisconsin property, contact the experts at Batzner today!

5 Reasons Why You Need Winter Pest Control [2021 Update]

Spiders are common winter pests in Wisconsin - Batzner Pest Control

It’s a common misconception that with the cold weather rolling in, pests will pack up and leave until next year. The truth is in the colder months, crawling insects and other pests that don’t go dormant in the winter can make their way into our homes and draw in mice and other rodents, looking for warmth. Additionally, winter in Wisconsin brings its own set of insects and other pests to stay on the lookout for. The team at Batzner Pest Control is here to share all you need to know about winter pest control.

What Pests Are Common in the Winter?

Pests are common in Wisconsin year-round. In the winter, home and business owners must frequently deal with the following pests:

  1. Mice and rats. Mice and rats require only a tiny opening or crack to gain entry into your home. They can enter through your attic and gnaw on the wires, wood beams, electrical wires and insulation.
  2. Wood destroying insects. Carpenter ants and mosquitoes destroy the home from the inside out, so you really never see the damage until it is too late. If you find carpenter ants indoors during the winter, it is an indication that they are nesting inside walls, floors, or decaying wood.
  3. Sealing your home. The early winter is the best time for Batzner’s pest control team to seal up all openings before mice seek shelter in your home or business. They will check the areas where utilities and pipes enter the home. A mouse can fit through a hole the size of a dime.
  4. Dormant insects. Many insects will hide in the attic or basement in late fall and early winter to escape the frigid winter temperatures. Spiders, cluster flies, Asian lady bugs, and boxelder bugs will remain dormant until spring. Then as the weather warms, they can easily find their way into your living spaces.
  5. Spider webs and nests. Removing webs, nests and egg cases may help prevent pests from reemerging in your home when the weather becomes warmer. Some creatures are hardwired to return to certain places, but if you get rid of all the reasons for them to return, you increase the probability that you’ll finally be saying a permanent “goodbye” to them.

How to Prevent Winter Pests in Wisconsin

Before the wintertime, it’s important to learn how to guard your home against pest problems. Some of the best winter-proofing tips for homeowners include the following.

  • Replace loose mortar and weather stripping around the basement foundation and windows.
  • Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home. Mice and ants can make their nests in woodpiles and easily gain access to your home if the pile is nearby.
  • Rodents can hide in clutter, so keep storage areas well organized, and store boxes off of the floor.
  • Eliminate all moisture sites, including leaking pipes and clogged drains. Extra attention should be paid to kitchens and bathrooms as these areas are particularly vulnerable to cockroach infestations.
  • Install door sweeps and repair damaged screens in windows.
  • Screen vents to chimneys. Keep attics, basements, and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.

How Does Batzner Prevent Winter Pest Problems?

Winter pest control service in Wisconsin by Batzner Pest Control

Our fall and winter pest control services are targeted at your home’s interior. One of the first things that our team looks for is anything that has changed since their last visit. It’s extremely common for Batzner specialists to find new openings that didn’t exist at their most recent visit. They’ll also check out any rodent protection equipment that they’ve put in place.

Batzner’s residential services are tailored to the homeowner’s individual needs, and in winter, our trained service experts focus primarily on the interior of the house, searching for any openings where pests could enter. Our winter pest control specialists. will notify the homeowner if any such openings are located, and seal those openings to ensure pests remain outside. In the meantime, spider webs will also be knocked down and cleaned out in the home’s interior. Your pest control expert will also target your home’s basement for a preventative pesticide treatment for crawling insects.

Annual Winter Pest Control Services

Don’t mistake winter as a time to lay off on the pest control services—it allows you preparation time for the warm seasons ahead! Batzner is your trusted pest control expert. Contact the residential pest control pros at Batzner today to learn how we can prevent pests this winter and all year long.

Afraid of Rodents and Bugs? 2021 May Not Be Your Year

Batzner pest control in Wisconsin - Serving New Berlin, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison, Racine and surrounding areas

Entomologists from Batzner’s parent company, Rentokil Provide their Pest Predictions for 2021

READING, Penn. (Jan. 4, 2021) — As if 2020 didn’t present enough challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 could be a banner year for pests around the country.

To help residents prepare for 2021, entomologists from Rentokil used field knowledge and data to provide their predictions for pests in the upcoming year.

1. Rodents, Rodents Everywhere:

With shutdowns across the country, it’s no surprise that rodents are on the rise nationwide. Empty buildings, the scarcity of food and warmer winters have combined to create a rodent apocalypse.

“We’re seeing more rats in urban, suburban and rural settings because of the shutdowns,” said Marc Potzler, Board Certified Entomologist. “Food sources are cut off, and rats are having to travel to scavenge for food. We’ve seen rats out in public during the day, which is highly unusual.”

Warmer winters have also allowed for mice populations to boom in residential areas as it allows for a longer breeding season and there is a lower population loss due to hard freezes.

“Right now is the perfect time to rodent-proof your home,” said Potzler. “Make sure to repair any gaps on the exterior of your home, such as around garage doors, windows or pipes.”

2. Mosquitoes on the Move:

Mosquitoes populations have been increasing over the last few years. Aedes species, which are disease-carrying mosquitoes, are also moving to new areas. These mosquitoes can carry West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Zika virus, among other diseases.

“There is an increase of mosquitoes across the country, but notably on the West Coast, and they are adapting each year,” said Eric Sebring, Associate Certified Entomologist. “We have seen evidence of behavior adaptation, where mosquitoes lay their eggs strategically to hatch throughout the season.”

Protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes by removing any standing water on your property. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as one teaspoon of water. Also, wear EPA-approved insect repellent while spending time outside.

3. Bed Bugs:

The chatter about bed bugs was quiet in 2020, but that’s not because they have gone away.

“As people begin to travel again, we will start to hear about bed bug infestations,” said Sebring. “Bed bugs can be dormant for several months at a time, so they can emerge when a food source, humans, become available.”

Bed bugs are considered hitchhikers, traveling from place to place on people, luggage, clothing and other personal belongings. Homeowners and businesses such as hotels, colleges, hospitals, senior living facilities, retail stores, and libraries have experienced problems with bed bugs.

If traveling, inspect the bed by pulling back the sheets to examine the mattress. Check your luggage before packing and unpacking, and look for signs of living or dead bugs the size of an apple seed or black fecal smears.

4. More Time Outdoors = More Pests.

From hiking to gardening to dining al fresco, there is no doubt that the pandemic has forced people to spend more time outdoors.

In 2021, we will see the outdoor pest pressures continue:

Ticks: Ticks are responsible for transmitting several diseases, including Lyme disease, to humans and animals. These small insects are found in grassy areas and in the woods, so it is important to inspect yourself and your pets after spending time outdoors. Cover as much skin as possible while outdoors, wear long pants, long sleeves, closed-toed shoes, and tuck pant legs into socks. Light-colored clothing will also help any ticks you pick up stand out.

Ants: “As soon as the weather starts to warm up, we will see an increase in ant populations,” said Tom Dobrinska, Board Certified Entomologist. “Most of the ants we are dealing with are odorous house ants. When spending time outside, make sure to clean up any food, water or sugary substances and ensure that your home is free of any holes or cracks for them to enter.”

Stinging Insects: Stinging insects, such as wasps and yellow jackets, emerge at the first sign of warm weather, and as warm weather seasons are getting longer, stinging insects have more time to create issues. Make sure you check for nests early in the spring as they are smaller and get early nest treatment. Make sure to keep windows and doors shut, and secure outside bins so stinging insects are not attracted to the contents.

5. Mosquitoes Aren’t Going Anywhere

Mosquitoes are a pesky problem, and unfortunately, are not going anywhere. Mosquitoes can cause extensive damage to structures, especially homes. As people are moving out of cities during the pandemic to more suburban areas, education about termite protection is key.

“We received more calls for mosquitoes this past year than we have in many years,” said Potzler. “It’s important to raise awareness for homeowners now to have proactive protection to keep from costly repairs in the future.”

6. Pests in the News:

There are a few pests that will continue to steal the limelight in 2021.

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is an invasive pest that has been making its way across the country since it was first introduced from Asia in 2001. Besides its pungent odor, this stink bug has become a nuisance for homeowners as it gathers in large numbers on the sides of houses and buildings and enters through small cracks in the home. “The brown marmorated stink bug is here to stay,” said Dobrinska. “We will continue to see this species emerge in late spring in large numbers.”

The Spotted Lanternfly will continue to wreak havoc across the Northeast and beyond. The invasive pest, first found in Pennsylvania in 2014, is spreading across the Northeast, with New York reporting its first sighting this year. The pest can significantly damage trees and plants.

“The Spotted Lanternfly is becoming a big problem in the Northeast, and it will continue to spread,” said Potzler. “It can be devastating for agriculture and is a nuisance for homeowners.”

The egg masses look like a smear of mud on trees and outside of homes. It’s important to scrape the egg mass off, put it in a bag with rubbing alcohol and throw it away, and then call the state department of agriculture.

The infamous “Murder Hornet,” also known as the Asian giant hornet, grabbed many headlines, causing homeowners to panic trying to decipher the difference between stinging insects in their yards and this aggressive species. The Asian giant hornet is the largest hornet species in the world, growing up to 3 inches in length. Currently, the Asian giant hornet has only been found in the Pacific Northwest.

“We know that there was one colony found and eliminated in Washington State,” said Sebring. “Unfortunately, if there is one, there will be more.”

While your chances of being stung by an Asian giant hornet are fairly low, the sting can be dangerous as the venom volume is higher, causing more pain. The hives are primarily built underground or in hollows in trees. If you suspect it is an Asian giant hornet or any stinging pests, call your pest management provider to assess the situation as soon as you spot activity.

Pest Seasonality in Wisconsin

Stink bugs are a seasonal pest problem in Wisconsin - Batzner Pest Control

Here in Wisconsin, pests are a problem all year-long. Different weather conditions and seasonality plays a large role in what pests are most active during certain parts of the year. Some pests that prefer warmer weather nearly disappear in the winter, while other pests in the fall will overwinter in your home until spring rolls around. To better prepare yourself for a possible infestation, it’s important to know which pests are common during certain parts of the year. With information from the NPMA, we are here to share all you need to know about pest seasonality in Wisconsin.

Fall & Winter Pests

Colder weather and snow will always drive more pests indoors in the fall and winter months. In 2020, it has been predicted that a milder winter than usual will result in prolonged Asian lady beetle and stink bug activity. Tick problems may also be active for longer this season. Other pests to be wary of during the colder months of the year in Wisconsin include rodents, boxelder bugs, carpenter ants, and more.

Winter pests in the Great Lakes United States map
Beetles
Stink Bugs
Ticks

Spring Pest Problems

Pest activity springs back into action once winter comes to an end. Blooming flowers, warming temperatures, and heavy rainfall encourages pests of all kinds to resume activity and reproduce. The common spring pests in Wisconsin include:

  • Ants. Certain ant species will forage for food in the warmer months. Rainy weather also drives ants out of their colonies and into homes for shelter.
  • Mosquitoes. Every spring, mosquitoes leave their nests to mate and start new colonies. This is called “swarming”.
  • Mosquitoes. When we experience heavy rainfall, mosquito season will burst into life. With their peak season in the months following, they start to be more active in the spring.
  • Bed Bugs. While these are a year-round problem, increased traveling in the springtime always leads to an increase in bed bug activity.

Summer Pest Threats

Summertime in Wisconsin is the busiest pest season. Summer temperatures cause many types of pest colonies to mature and grow in size. Here are the ones to look out for in Wisconsin:

  • Mosquitoes. These parasitic insects lay more eggs in the summer and tend to be our biggest pest problem this time of year.
  • Stinging insects. Wasps, bees, and hornets are at full force in the summertime. They can build nests near residential areas.
  • Flies. Summer is the peak breeding season for flies. They are infamous for being a nuisance at outdoor summer events.
  • Mosquitoes. Warm weather is when mosquitoes are able to thrive and cause the most damage.

Year-Round Pests in Wisconsin

To better prepare yourself for an infestation, it’s important to understand the pest seasonality here in Wisconsin. Our colder winters may deter some pests, but they also can drive certain pests right into our homes. To protect your property from pests year-round, contact the pest control experts at Batzner.

6 Ways to Keep Your Outdoor Space Pest-Free

Tips to stay pest-free in your Wisconsin yard - Batzner Pest Control

Are you spending more time in your backyard than ever this year? If so, you’ve likely noticed just how many insects are sharing that space with you! Mosquitoes in your pond, flies around your barbecue, or wasps building a nest on your deck can all quickly ruin your time enjoying your outdoor living space. It can be hard to avoid insects altogether outside, but there are a few things you can do to make your yard less appealing to pests. The experts at Batzner have gathered their top tips to keep your outdoor space pest-free. Read on to learn more!

Tips to Keep Your Outdoor Space Pest-Free

There are likely a number of things in your backyard that, unbeknownst to you, are attracting all types of pests. Each year, it’s important to implement a number of pest prevention methods to reduce the chances of an infestation inside or outside your property. These methods include:

  1. Getting rid of any standing water. Stagnant water is one of the biggest attractants for mosquitoes.
  2. Regularly trimming your lawn and shrubs. Ticks and mosquitoes will shelter in overgrown vegetation or tall grass.
  3. Keeping an eye out for ant hills. Even a tiny mound can contain thousands of ants inside.
  4. Inspecting all wood structures. Wood-destroying pests (carpenter ants and mosquitoes) will damage your wooden decks or porches.
  5. Applying an insect repellent. Most store-bought repellent containing DEET will help repel mosquitoes and ticks.
  6. Cleaning your patio or space regularly. Spills or leftover food will surely bring ants around.

What Pests Infest Your Yard?

Here in Wisconsin, we deal with many types of pests all year long. They are especially active this time of year, and may end up right in your backyard. Some can be dangerous, which is why it’s so important to learn how to keep them away. A few of the most common pests we get calls about this time of year include:

Need Outdoor Pest Removal?

If you’ve done all you can to prevent outdoor pests and still find yourself with an infestation, it’s important to act quickly. A professional pest control company can help get rid of pests in your yard and help you prevent future infestations from happening. Contact the residential exterminators at Batzner today to get started!

Prevent an Ant Infestation This Summer in 5 Steps

Prevent an ant infestation in Wisconsin this summer with tips from Batzner Pest Control

If you’ve had an ant problem before, you know what a pain they can be. During Wisconsin summers, ant infestations spike in numbers. There’s a reason why ants are considered to be the number 1 nuisance pest in the nation: not only are they annoying, they are infamously difficult to get rid of without the help of a professional! To avoid the frustration of ants to begin with, it’s important to learn how to prevent an ant infestation in the first place. The experts at Batzner Pest Control have years of experience controlling ants and are sharing their expert tips for keeping ants out.

Common Summertime Ants

Ants are a pest problem all year long. There are more than 700 types of ants in the nation, but thankfully, you’ll likely only encounter a few in your area. It’s important to know what type of ant you’re dealing with–different types of ants pose different dangers. Some of the most common types of ants you’ll likely encounter include:

6 Steps to Prevent an Ant Infestation

Once ants get indoors, they can spread easily. One ant colony can quickly turn into multiple! To avoid dealing with the distress of an ant problem, there are several things you can do to keep them out in the first place. Our expert tips for preventing ant infestations include:

  1. Keeping a clean home. Sweep your floors regularly to get rid of crumbs. Ants are attracted to sugary food sources and a few crumbs will keep them coming back for more.
  2. Storing food properly. Avoid leaving food out uncovered. Keep food in airtight containers or store them safely in cupboards and fridges.
  3. Sealing entry points. Ants can crawl through the tiniest of cracks. Inspect your property and use caulk to seal any gaps, holes, or potential entry ways.
  4. Avoiding excess moisture. Areas with standing water or leaks will attract ants quickly. Attend to broken pipes and clean up spills quickly.
  5. Trimming back trees and vegetation. Plants close to your home can encourage ants to come in. Make sure tree branches, shrubs, and bushes are trimmed away from the perimeter!
  6. Picking up your pet’s food. Crumbs and spills from your cat or dog’s food and water bowls can be a huge attractant for ants. Always clean up and store bowls between mealtimes.

Summer Ant Problems in Wisconsin

Preventing ants can seem difficult. Ants are pesky and will gladly enter your property to seek out food and shelter. If you’ve done everything you can to keep ants out and still are noticing the signs of an infestation, it’s time to call the Batzner ant exterminators. We are committed to providing you with ant-free living not just in the summer but all year long!

Fool-Proof Ant-Proofing Tips

Pick up pet food to avoid ants in your Wisconsin home - Batzner Pest Control

Ants are a fact of life in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, ant season is only just beginning. After a wetter winter, ant problems become a serious nuisance for homeowners. And if you’ve ever had ants before, you know they can be downright frustrating to get rid of. As the weather warms up, it’s important to know how to prevent ants in your property. Ant-proofing your property can work to keep ants from making themselves at home. Keep reading for expert ant prevention tips from the team here at Batzner Pest Control!

What Are Ants Attracted to in Homes?

Ants are like any other pest in that they are constantly looking for sources of food and water. They typically make their way indoors through cracks and crevices in your foundation, or through windows. Once inside, they are drawn to areas with excess moisture and will hide in crevices. Kitchens tend to be a hot spot for infestations. If you have crumbs on your counter tops, stove top, or floor, you can be sure ants will find them. They are also attracted to excess moisture problems–if you have a leaky faucet or pipe that causes a surplus of humidity or moisture, ants will likely be drawn to the area.

Best Ant-Proofing Tips

Ants are opportunists and infestations can be unpredictable. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can go about ant-proofing your property. Some of the best ways to prevent ants are as follows.

  1. Inspect the foundation of your home and seal any cracks or crevices using a silicone-based caulk.
  2. Keep any pet food bowls clean and always clean up after messes and spills. Pick pet bowls up off the floor after meal times.
  3. Make sure downspouts and gutters are all functioning properly so that water is flowing away from the foundation.
  4. Regularly check under sinks for excess moisture problems and repair leaky pipes promptly.
  5. Trim trees and shrubbery in your yard to be at least 6 inches away from the home.
  6. Wipe down any counter tops and sweep floors regularly to clean up spills and remove crumbs.
  7. Store food (including pet food) in airtight containers and refrigerate ripe fruit.
  8. Dispose of garbage on a regular basis and use trash cans with a tight-fitting lid.

What to Do When You Have Ants

You’ve done all you can to prevent ants but are still having issues with ant trails–what now? Although there are many store-bought and DIY methods to get rid of ants, your best chance is always to use a professional ant exterminator. At Batzner, our team can control any current pest problems you’re having as well as prevent future ones from happening with expert ant-proofing tips.

Springtime Pests to Prevent

Prevent spring pests by spring cleaning your New Berlin or Oshkosh WI home. Get tips from Batzner Pest Control!

Many rejoice the arrival of spring…pests included. As winter wraps up, many types of insects and pests will come out in search of food and to breed. Warmer weather encourages their activity, making it important to protect your home against the onslaught of pests now!  There are several things you can do to lessen the risk of an infestation in your Wisconsin home this time of year. Read on to learn more from the experts at Batzner Pest Control!

Springtime Pest Problems

While some of these pests are active year-round, there tends to be a peak in activity in the springtime. There are several types of pests in particular that cause property owners a lot of grief this time of year:

  1. Ants. With warmer weather comes hoards of ants in your home.
  2. Flies. In the spring and summer, flies are more active than ever and can be a big nuisance.
  3. Rodents. Although they’re active year-round, rats and mice are a problem in the spring.
  4. Stinging insects. Wasps and hornets are gearing up to build nests this time of year.
  5. Stink bugs. After overwintering, people report a resurgence in stink bugs.

Preventing Pests in the Spring

If you’re planning on doing some spring cleaning this year, it’s smart to implement pest prevention measures while you’re at it. Clean your windows and doors, and make sure there are no cracks or crevices. If there are, seal them properly. Consider deep cleaning your carpets by vacuuming, shampooing, or steam-cleaning them. Thoroughly sanitize your kitchen with a focus on your appliances. Crumbs and spilled liquids are easy bait for rodents, cockroaches, and more!

Remove debris from your yard, and trim back tree branches away from your home. Ensure your plumbing is working properly and fix any leaks. In general, tidy up your home. Clean under furniture, wipe down surfaces, and inspect areas of your home that need fixing up.

How to Get Rid of Seasonal Pests

If you’ve done all you can to prevent pests this spring but still are dealing with flies, rats, or stink bugs, it’s best to enlist the help of a professional pest control company. At Batzner, our exterminators will work with you to develop a custom pest control plan that will keep you and your family safe from pests all year long.