Insects, rodents and other pests are outdoor creatures, but if given the choice they will always try to get in your home. Why? Easy! It’s because you make it so simple for them to find food or water or come in from either the cold or the heat. The trick to keeping them outdoors where they belong is to take every means necessary to prevent their getting in! The old adage holds true for pests as with everything else: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Here are some quick tips.

• Take a nice slow walk around the perimeter of your home. Observe your landscaping closely, and trim hedges and shrubs away from the sides of the structure: not just a few inches, but a foot or even more if possible. If you keep a woodpile, make sure the logs are stacked across the yard and away from the house. Inconvenient in the winter perhaps, but it will help keep pests out in the summer when they are most active.
• Check all windows and doors for possible entry points: remember, insects can fit into the tiniest of fissures. Mice and even rats can get into apertures measuring only 1/2 inch. Caulk all small cracks, and then stuff steel wool into larger areas such as gaps where the entry lines for your air conditioner enter the house.
• Now take a tour of the inside of your home. Check all screens on windows first to make sure you don’t have bent frames or space underneath that will allow insects to get in. Box elder bugs are especially good at getting in this way, and these pests multiply like crazy once they get in: in fact, you may have problems well into the autumn months!
• Use caulk if necessary around window and door areas: just as you did on the outside of your home. Check under your sinks and study areas where your water pipes come through the wall. Chances are there are spaces there where all kinds of critters can gain access: seal them off with steel wool.

And of course, for optimum protection you should always have a quality Utah pest control company like Beeline Pest Control come to your home at least twice a year. Beeline effectively gets rid of pests using only safe practices and products, so you can be sure the job will be done right. Beeline may not be able to do anything about your mother-in-law, but when it comes to unwanted guests that have wings or four legs, we’ve got you covered!

The return of robins and honeybees are not the only harbinger of spring: little furry pests are making a comeback too. If you live in a cold climate, unwanted rodents have either been surviving in a somnambulant state or were hibernating: and now that warmer weather is here they will be waking up hungry and looking for food on your property! Here are some tips for springtime rodent control.

Signs That You Have a Problem

Even if you never actually see a mouse or rat, there are some tell-signs to look for that will let you know you have unwanted visitors:

–Fresh or dried urine and feces in food pantries, cupboards, and basements

–Little tracks on newly-fallen snow or tiny muddy prints indoors

–Gnawed pieces of wood around door jambs or near your wood pile

–Burrows in earth banks and around walls

Health Problems

Don’t let those “cute” little mouse eyes fool you: field mice are dirty little creatures that will contaminate your food supply quick as a wink and they can sometimes transmit disease as well depending on where you live. Rats are much more of a direct health hazard: they spread many diseases, have been known to bite people, and may even kill small household pets and other animals.

What to Do

–Call a pest control expert immediately: you could waste your money on pellets and traps until you find one that works, or you can nip the problem in the bud immediately by bringing in a seasoned professional who knows exactly how to deal with rodents indigenous to where you live. A pest control technician can get rid of mice in the house and keep the areas immediately surrounding your home safe too.

–Don’t feed your household pets outdoors: if you leave cat or dog food in backyard dishes, it will attract mice and rats like a moth to flame.

–Beware standing water: If you have a backyard decorative pond, keep the pump running or install a small waterfall. Rats are attracted to standing water, but interestingly, they leave running water alone. If substantial amounts of standing water accumulate after heavy rainstorms, install a drainage system.

– Keep wood piles well away from the house: mice and rats as well as many pesky insects love to make a home between the logs.

Taking active steps to get rid of your rodent problem before it becomes severe will help keep your family healthy and will give you greater peace of mind.

As the snow begins to melt and temperatures warm up a bit in Utah, robins and crocuses are not the only signs that spring has arrived: chances are good that you’re also being invaded by newly-awakened pests. Insects that have lain dormant all winter are now in search of food, and they are most likely to come indoors to do it. Here are some of the earliest “unwanted guests” in the Beehive State and what you can do about them.

Ants

It should come as no surprise that ants are the Number One pest problem in the United States, and they certainly make their presence known in homes up and down the Wasatch Front. Both odorous and non-odorous species are potential threats, but they all have one thing in common: they’ll eat virtually anything! If food is not readily available, they’ll go elsewhere. So, be sure to:

• Keep food in sealed containers
• Empty your kitchen garbage container often
• Wipe up spills immediately and keep counters clean
• Frequently vacuum areas where food is consumed: family room, dining room, kitchen, etc.
• Keep pet dishes clean and remove spilled food from their eating areas

Box Elder Bugs

Although box elder bugs are not dangerous, they are definitely a nuisance. Their feces can stain clothing and furniture, and they reproduce so quickly that it doesn’t take long for them to overrun a house. The best way to keep them out of your home is to be sure that all doors and windows are properly sealed along with other nooks and crannies: it is extremely easy for box elders to squeeze through any tiny openings.

If either ants or box elder bugs become a real problem, contact the Utah pest control professionals at Beeline Pest Control. Our experts can get your springtime insect issues under control early so that you can enjoy a more peaceful, pest-free season.