Many of us picture rats, mice, and moles when we think of wildlife pests. But cute, cuddly-looking animals often do just as much damage as their less genetically blessed friends. If your Richmond, VA home or business has become a playground for the area’s wild animals, the wildlife control experts at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control can help.
Your Attic Is Alluring to Wild Animals
Raccoons are good at climbing and are most often found in cities or suburbs. They’re smart and highly capable of breaking into your home as they seek food and warmth. Attics in particular are hot spots for raccoons, squirrels, and bats. Bats are one of the most worrisome invaders, since they’re known to spread rabies and a potentially fatal disease called Histoplasmosis. Their waste can also damage insulation. Rodents spread disease as well, and their habit of chewing electrical wires creates a fire hazard.
Hole-Digging Wild Animals in Richmond, VA
Groundhogs are notorious for digging. They don’t just dig holes in yards; they also create large burrows and even dig mazes for use as underground shelters. Moles are equally crafty, building subterranean tunnel systems complete with chambers supported by dirt mounds. Raccoons and skunks are more likely to dig into your trash than your yard. Besides leaving trails of garbage wherever they go, these animals sometimes bite when cornered.
What to Do About Wildlife Pests
You may enjoy watching deer graze and birds flit around, but some animals’ habits and biological makeup can endanger your household. The good news is that you’re not helpless when it comes to defending your family and property from wildlife. Try these preventive measures:
Seal all gaps around your home’s exterior.
Consider installing new or more effective fencing.
Store trash in cans or bins with tight-fitting, latching lids.
Use hanging bird feeders designed to keep squirrels out.
Don’t leave pet food or water outside for extended periods of time.
Research which plants attract and repel different kinds of wildlife, and landscape accordingly.
Keep bushes and trees trimmed away from your home to discourage animals from climbing onto your house.
Never attempt to remove an animal yourself; call wildlife control specialists trained in safe procedures.
The Wildlife Removal Experts
Certain simple housekeeping and landscaping tricks can help keep wildlife pests at bay. However, resist the temptation to physically remove them on your own. Enlist the aid of the wildlife control professionals at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control, serving residential and commercial customers in Richmond, VA and other East Coast communities.
Washington, D.C. was recently ranked the fifth most rat-infested city in America. Whether you’re in the city proper our out in the suburbs of Silver Spring, MD, you may have noticed a few more nosy rodents than usual. The D.C. Department of Health says they are seeing a large increase in rat extermination calls this year, compared to the last four years where the number of calls actually declined. Things have gotten so bad, Mayor Muriel Bowser is looking into how the city can counteract this rodent problem.
Why are rodents rising up now? And what does this mean for your Washington, D.C.-area home or business? At Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest, it’s our job to keep your property protected from mice, rats, and other local pests. We’ve done the research – here’s what you need to know about this rodent revolution and how you can keep rodents from eating you out of house and home.
D.C.’s Rodent Woes
As of last month, the city of Washington, D.C. received 4,869 complaints about rats in 2017, compared with 2,300 in 2015 and 3,500 in 2016. Things were especially bad in the 23 city parks controlled by the National Park Service; for example, at Dupont Circle park alone the city discovered 150 active rat burrows with up to nine rats per burrow – that’s 1,350 rats just within the traffic circle!
How did the number of rats double in less than two years? Well, if you know anything about rats, you know they can reproduce at an alarmingly fast rate. Female rats can have up to five litters a year of anywhere from seven to 14 rat pups each. Doing the math, in favorable conditions a rat population can grow by a factor of 10 in just 15 weeks. So, if you started with two rats on January 1st, in only a year’s time that family would number close to 15,000 rats.
Favorable Conditions for Rodents in Washington, D.C.
Of course, Washington, D.C. isn’t the only northeastern city to struggle with a rat problem. New York City is now the second most rat-infested city, losing its top spot to Chicago in 2017. However, there are a few other factors unique to the District that may be the cause of such a sharp increase this year:
Population boom. The city is growing fast, with more and more people moving to D.C. in the past few years. This means the construction of new restaurants and bars, which means more trash. And to the common rat, which will eat anything from wiring to insulation, unattended garbage is like a smorgasbord.
New housing and construction. With gentrification of older areas and the expansion of the suburbs, construction is everywhere around D.C. at the moment. Unfortunately, when these crews tear down an old building or break ground on a vacant lot, they’re unearthing subterranean rat burrows, sending these rodent refugees scurrying to find shelter in nearby businesses and homes.
Unseasonably warm weather. In the end, it’s those “favorable conditions” that are the main factor in this massive rat increase. “The reason the rats are so bad now, we believe, is because of the warm winters,” says Gerard Brown, program manager of the Rodent and Vector Control Division of the D.C. Department of Health. Without a long, deep freeze of a normal winter cycle, rats can continue breeding and will survive until the spring thaw.
There Goes the Neighborhood
If you live in a suburb like Silver Spring, MD, away from the heart of downtown D.C., you may be wondering what this means for you. Just like with humans, when a rat population grows too large and too crowded, it begins to spread out and colonize other areas. Your home could be a target and you might not even know it until it’s too late.
Though winters may be getting warmer, it’s still not pleasant for rats to be outside, so they’ll be looking for place to hide this time of year that can provide them with food, water, and shelter. According to the National Pest Management Association, more than 20 million rodents enter homes each year. Even if you think your house is protected, rodents are exceptionally good at finding their way indoors; rats can fit through gaps as small as a quarter, and mice the size of a dime. And if the hole isn’t big enough, they’re perfectly comfortable chewing their way through virtually any obstacle.
How You Can Fight Back Against Rodents in Washington, D.C.
Though it’s nearly impossible to stop a determined rodent from entering your home or business, there’s a lot you can do to make things extra difficult for them. Taking just a few simple steps may be enough to convince a rat or mouse that your home isn’t worth the effort, and they’ll look for easier entry elsewhere.
Inspect both inside and outside your property for droppings, potential burrows, and rub marks along baseboards. Rodents don’t have great eyesight, and will often stick close to walls to travel through buildings.
Seal any cracks or holes in the outside of your home or business. Check for gaps underneath doors and replace window screens. Even if it looks too small for a rodent to enter, it’s better to seal it off anyway to prevent entry from other household pests.
Clean kitchens and dining areas of food waste and keep food items in tightly sealed plastic or metal containers.
Remove leaf piles and cut back trees or bushes a few feet from your home to prevent rodents from using them to reach hidden access points like the gutters or roof.
Resist the Rodent Revolution with Help from Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest
Rats may be trying to take over the Washington, D.C. area, but that doesn’t mean you have to sit there and take it. At Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest, we have over 70 years of pest control experience in the DMV area, and we’ll work closely with you to determine the extent of your rodent issues and offer a convenient, effective solution. If you suspect your home or business may have a rodent problem, contact us today to schedule your free inspection.
If you’re of the opinion that no cockroach is a good cockroach, we get it. They’re incredibly hard to stop, and one roach variety stands head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to getting through cold winters in Manassas, VA. Oriental cockroaches are pesky enough to warrant cockroach control at homes and businesses around the city. Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s explains why you may still be seeing these roaches during the winter months.
About the Oriental Cockroach
Oriental roaches are also sometimes called black beetles, shade roaches, or water bugs. The female is wingless and measures up to 32 mm long, while the smaller male reaches up to 25 mm long. Although it has wings spanning three-fourths of its body length, the male is also flightless. These roaches move more slowly than other cockroach varieties. They emit a musky scent as a form of group communication; if you smell it, you’ll know that a major oriental roach population has invaded your home or business.
Oriental Roach Behavior
Outside, dark, wet places like sewers are common habitats for oriental cockroaches. In your home, they’re likely to head for your basement, crawl inside plumbing pipes and fixtures, and remain near some source of water. While these scavengers can live for a month without food, they can only survive without water for half as long. Food plays a big part in the child-rearing process, though. Females are likelier to head indoors for the winter to lay eggs near a food source.
Preventing Cockroach Infestations
Depriving these bugs of food and water is an effective form of cockroach control, at least in a preventive sense. However, if you see signs of a roach infestation in your Manassas, VA home or business, calling a reputable pest control company is a must this winter. These bugs transmit salmonella, E. coli, and other potentially dangerous bacteria.
Lean on the Professionals
From seeking out damp, dark spaces to laying eggs near a food source, Oriental cockroaches find ways to exploit residential and business properties in Manassas, VA. Take preventive measures to keep roaches at bay, and get in touch with your local pest control professionals right away if you see signs of a roach invasion. Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s provides safe, effective cockroach control treatments for both homes and businesses. Contact us today for an appointment.
Now that we are well into fall and the kids are back in school, it’s time learn about some new techniques for keeping pests out of our homes. As you may know, kids going to school means a lot of contact with other children, and this brings the risk of pests like lice and bed bugs. Here at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s, we want to teach you how to stay safe from these nasty little pests.
Bed Bugs Getting out of Bed?
That’s right! While they are commonly referred to as “bed bugs,” these pests can be found anywhere you go! They can easily catch a ride to your home by clinging on to clothing, purses, laptop cases, and backpacks.
Bed bugs are brownish-red little oval shaped insects, no bigger than an apple seed, and their size and color may actually change depending on their last meal. While these parasites don’t have wings to fly from place to place, they are easily transferred by contact, so be sure to check for these critters on your kids now that school is back in session.
Although a bed bug’s small size makes it difficult to spot, one obvious sign of an infestation is red spots on your skin. Bed bugs are parasites that feed on blood and their bite marks are a clear indication of their presence. However, not everyone’s skin reacts this way, so it is very important to check elsewhere.
As their name suggests, they often nest in beds. Be sure to check your sheets as well as any other furniture for little red and brown spots and tiny molted exoskeletons that they may leave behind.
Having Lice is Not Nice!
One of the most common infestations that passes through schools is head lice, so it is of the utmost importance to keep an eye out for them. These tiny wingless insects like to live in people’s hair (gross!) and will lay small white eggs known as knits. If you catch wind of a lice outbreak at your children’s school, be sure to check their hair for these pests right away. They are only about the size of a sesame seed when fully grown, so they can be tricky to find, but you can usually spot them around the ears, base of the neck, or top of the scalp.
Ain’t No Bugs on Us!
Although bed bugs and head lice may be common, there are many easy prevention measures you can take to stay pest-free. When it comes to lice, avoid sharing any head-touching objects from other people. These can easily spread them, so make sure to wear only your own hats and headphones, and to use only your own brushes, and towels. For bed bugs, it’s important to be wary of any secondhand furniture you bring into your home, so carefully inspect it for any possible signs of bed bugs so they don’t nest and spread.
If these pests manage to sneak into your home, don’t fret, just give Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control a call. With over 70 years of pest control experience in the DMV area, we can help you get rid of these freeloading parasites, as well as any other pest issues you may have!
As usual, summer has come and gone in the flap of a dragonfly’s wing, and cold spells are already hitting the DMV area. But just because the weather is cooling off, that doesn’t mean pests are chilling out. And although some pests may be preparing for a long nap over winter, some are just getting ready for their big debuts. Here at Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s, we want to give you some pointers to help you keep these pests out of your home this fall.
Sometimes It’s OK to be a Buzzkill
Fall is a great time to open your windows and let a refreshing breeze into your house, but be careful because that’s also a great way to let unwanted pests in. Mosquitos may buzz on in and sting you and spiders may crawl through that cracked window to put up cobwebs around your furniture. Keep them out by putting proper-fitting screens on all of your windows and routinely checking for holes that may let the pests in. Remember, rats can squeeze through holes the size of a quarter and mice can squeeze through holes the size of a dime.
Pests are no Picnic
Picnic season may be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean the armies of food-stealing ants have fully retreated. In fact, as the weather gets colder, they may advance into your home! One simple way of keeping your home ant-free is by thoroughly cleaning up food scraps. To humans, these may seem like insignificant little crumbs, but to ants, these are MOUNTAINS of nourishment. Make sure to wipe down surfaces right after you eat so you don’t find a trail of ants bringing crumbs to their new camp in your home.
Pests on Pets
Speaking of mountains, fall is a great season for hiking, especially with all the beautiful trails in range of the DMV area. If you’re the type to take your dog, cat, or any other pet on your hike, make sure to check for fleas and ticks. These little critters are tiny, but they can do major damage. Ticks even latch on to skin and suck blood like a vampire!
They’re also carriers of the Lyme’s disease, which causes chronic flu-like symptoms and fatigue and has no known cure. Keep yourself and your pets safe and check for these little buggers after you go out exploring in the brisk fall weather.
An Unconventional Attraction
Leaving dirty dishes in the sink may seem like a smart way to clean, but it can actually create a paradise for unwanted pests. Cockroaches are some of the most resilient pests around, and they’re drawn to standing water. These pesky cockroaches may not need a fallout shelter in the event of a nuclear missile strike, but this standing water could serve as a safe haven during colder weather. Keep your home roach-free by keeping your sink free of dirty dish build-up.
Connors is Here to Help
With over seventy years of experience in the DMV area, Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s has the know-how to keep pests outside the walls of your home. We offer a full range of services dealing with all types of pests in all seasons. So, no matter what critters the wind blows in this fall, we can help keep your home pest-free!
As our previous blog post mentions, warm summer weather brings out mosquitoes. And, unless you are very lucky and live in Iceland, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and The Seychelles–the only places in the world that are mosquito-free, you’ve probably experienced the discomfort and annoyance that comes with a mosquito bite.
Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control is here to help you break off that unhealthy summer romance with mosquitoes. You can either call Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s today to have them perform a home and yard treatment or you can read our Fly-By Facts on how to deter mosquitoes. Think of it as the opposite of preparing for a date. You learn the likes and preferences of the other person and you try your hardest to act the opposite, in ways you know they will hate.
Mosquitoes enjoy carbon dioxide, lactic acid, octanol, and dark colors while they dislike pale clothing, citrus, and smoke. Keep yourself cool and keep the mosquitoes away this summer by wearing some light clothing and sipping a citrus cocktail (or mocktail). That sounds like a win-win! If you’re trying to keep mosquitos away, stick to the citrus cocktails because beer increases your body temperature, and mosquitoes prefer higher-temperature bodies. Body temperature can also be affected by how much you work out or your pregnancy status.
Unfortunately, there are just some things we can’t control when it comes to mosquitoes’ attraction to us. People with Type-O blood are two times more likely to be bitten than those with Type-A blood. Mosquitoes also pursue about 20% of people more than anyone else, so if you’ve ever wondered why you seem to get more mosquito bites than anyone else, you might just be part of that unlucky 20%.
As the end of summer is typically the warmest, use this information to help avoid attracting mosquitoes, and if you are just an unlucky one, call Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control and they’ll take care of you!
It’s finally October, and as the temperature drops we will soon be retreating inside our homes to drink hot cider and eat Halloween candy. But as you take refuge in your cozy abode, it’s important to make sure you know how to get rid of stink bugs and other unwanted pests that may try to sneak in with you!
What are Stink Bugs?
Stink bugs are small brown insects native to western Asia that are known for being agricultural pests. In the past two decades, they have become widespread across the U.S. and have caused significant crop damage in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. They feed on leaves and fruit, and are particularly active in apple orchards. Stink bugs also emit a strong odor which they use as a defense mechanism whenever they feel threatened. This makes them a tough pest to deal with on your own.
Why Now?
As the cold weather approaches, stink bugs are looking for places to hibernate during the winter, which often results in them crawling into your home. They often begin nesting during the fall, and may stay hidden in places like walls, attics, or crawl spaces during the winter. Once they lay eggs and emerge with offspring after winter, they may continue to return in larger numbers each year, so it’s important to stop them before they settle in during the fall.
Are People Powerless to these Pests?
No! In fact, there are many ways to prevent a stink bug invasion. Be sure to check your screens, windows, and doors for small cracks or holes. These provide ideal spots for the bugs to slip in, so it’s important to seal these with weather stripping or get a new fully functioning screen to keep them out.
Check your clothes too! Stink bugs won’t shy away from latching onto sweaters, pants, or other articles of clothing, so make sure that you give yourself a look over before walking inside.
Lastly, keep an eye out for stink bugs on hotter days. They are particularly fond of warmer weather so this may encourage stink bugs to emerge from their hiding spots and reveal themselves. If you spot them early on, be sure to contact a pest professional right away.
What if I’m Too Late?
In the event that stink bugs have already infiltrated your home, Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control is here to help. We know that having pests in your home stinks, so give us a call for any of your pest control needs! With over 70 years of experience in the DMV Area, we have seen it all, and we are happy to help keep your home pest-free year round!
With unusual weather this winter and spring across most of the U.S., people everywhere can expect a few more pest problems than normal. It’s worth noting that both warm, wet winters and cooler springs can exacerbate pest problems.
According to Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., chief entomologist and vice president of technical and regulatory affairs for the NPMA (National Pest Management Association), ticks, mosquitoes, ants, and other pests will be more plentiful this spring and summer. He told PestWorld.org that people should be especially vigilant about pest prevention, as pests can spread Zika, Lyme Disease, and more.
Beware of Ticks after a Dry, Warm Winter.
Higher tick populations can be found in the Northeast after a warmer and drier winter. Ticks are small arachnids that drink the blood of their host as their source of food. They are most commonly known for spreading Lyme disease and can cause harm to both humans and animals.
Be sure to check yourself and others after a day outside, especially if you have been traveling through grassy or wooded areas. Also, try to bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors to wash off, and inspect your body for any ticks that may be crawling on you. Don’t forget to check your gear and clothing for ticks that may have latched on during your time outdoors.
April Showers May Bring More Than May Flowers.
Mosquitos proliferate when spring rains form the puddles where these bugs multiply. Mosquitos are transmitters of many diseases, including malaria, and leave itchy bumps wherever they bite. Prevent mosquito bites by wearing loose, long sleeve shirts and long pants when heading outdoors.
To prevent both tick and mosquito bites, use a repellent that contains 20% to 30% DEET on any exposed skin and clothing for protection.
Earwigs Might Try to Nest if Spring is Cool.
When spring temperatures dip lower than normal, pests like earwigs may try to escape the chill by taking up residence in your house. Despite popular beliefs, earwigs do not burrow into the ears of people while they sleep and they do not spread disease. However, they are still not something you want to be cozying up to at night.
Earwigs can infest many different areas in a home, so it may be necessary to use several insecticide products to control them effectively. At Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s, we have the products and equipment to control earwigs effectively.
Make sure you are aware of pests around you and taking necessary preventive measures to avoid one of these potentially dangerous pests – and the diseases they may spread – this season.
Valentine’s Day is here and we are not the only ones celebrating it. Bugs everywhere are finding their mate and falling in love. This romantic season is filled with love bugs that come in all different shapes, sizes, and methods of wooing their crush.
Bed bugs
The first duo to cozy up in the Valentine’s spirit is not a pair you would like to find snuggling up in your bed: Mr. and Mrs. Bedbug. This pair, like one would assume, is not so cuddly. Their mating habits are just as disturbing as expected. When bedbugs mate, it’s a traumatic experience. Since the female lacks a genital opening, the bedbug of her dreams pierces her abdomen in order to mate and begin the process we all hate the most; bedbug reproduction.
Bedbugs, however, don’t typically know who they might be interacting with so some encounters could be, well, awkward. Luckily for them, nature has developed an alarm system to defend against these unwanted embraces. Those who are not mature enough to mate are given the ability to release a certain pheromone that tell those love-struck bedbugs to back off and look elsewhere for a partner.
Mice
The next pest that you would hate to find getting busy in your bedroom is in the rodent family. Since mice are polygamous, males often mate with several different females. This means they have one big and quickly growing family. They tend to mate throughout the year and females typically give birth to about five or six little ones. No wonder those infestations happen so quickly!
Bees
Valentine’s Day can be the day that leads to the dreaded birds and the bees talk. But have you ever wondered how bees actually mate? Well, all bees go to one lady to grow their family: The Queen.
When a virgin queen flies to a site where thousands of male honey bees may be waiting, she mates with several males in flight. The tragedy of this love story is that the male has two options after starting a family: die after mating with the queen or be ejected from their nest after serving their sole purpose in life. A lonely and sad end to this Valentine’s tale, but quite noble of the male honey bee to sacrifice his life so other generations have a chance to live.
Cockroaches
The next pest no one wants knocking at their door has a love that never dies and if you are unlucky enough to have these unwanted guests in your home, be prepared for a long stay. Cockroaches will cozy up in your home and woo all the ladies that come by.
Unlike the previously mentioned pests, cockroaches engage in a courtship ritual to win over the lucky lady. The female cockroach begins this love affair by raising her wings, exposing her integral membrane, and releasing a pheromone that attracts the male suitors. If a male catches wind of her interest and wants to see if the feeling is mutual, he flaps his wings in her direction. If all goes well on this date, mating would commence with the male backing into the female in hopes to begin fertilization. Like mice, this can result in a fairly large new family—that’s why it seems like we can never get rid of them! So this Valentine’s season, instead of worrying about what your pests are up to, call Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s to have them removed. The only love bug that you should be thinking of is your significant other
Of all the unwelcome pests to have in your home, rats are one of the worst. Though they are commonly found in small nooks and crannies like walls, ceilings, and attics, they may also be found in an unlikely spot: your toilet. While this is not extremely common, it does happen and according to rodent control in Washington DC, they receive a few complaints a year about it. So how can a rat make its way to your toilet anyhow?
First, the rat must sneak into the sewers. Although, this isn’t a difficult task. Rats can easily make their way to the sewers through grates or manhole covers open to the street. Rats then may be tempted to explore the residential sewer pipes that feed into the main tunnel. Getting through the maze-like toilet pipes is the hardest part of the trek, but with the rodents’ powerful survival instinct and their ability to squirm through extremely small spaces, they have a fighting chance of surviving the expedition.
Still, how do they get through all that water? National Geographic describes rats as great swimmers with excellent stamina that can tread water for 3 days straight. Rats use their back legs to swim and their front legs to steer, also using their tail to help them along the way. The rodent can also hold their breath for up to three minutes, giving them time to find pockets of air in the U-shaped bend of the toilet pipes.
The good news is, you aren’t likely to see a rat in your toilet anytime soon. Animal Control experts say this is usually an uncommon occurrence. However, your home may still be susceptible to traditional rodent infestations. In the cold winter months, rats are known to enter homes in search of warmth and food. <>
With rodents can come safety hazards, electrical wire damage, and even disease. The hantavirus can be spread from rats to humans through exposure to rodent urine, feces, or bites. Catching the virus may result in acquiring the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a potentially fatal respiratory illness that causes difficulty breathing.<>
To protect you and your family from the risk of HPS, it is best to hire a professional when you suspect rodents have infested your home. Call us today and put your trust in Ehrlich Pest Control, formerly Connor’s Pest Control to protect your home from these unwanted visitors.
