Don’t Let Pests Crash your 4th of July Party

Independence Day is a time for food and fun with family and friends. There are also some uninvited guests that will undoubtedly try crashing your party.

Common cookout-invading pests include mosquitoes, stinging insects such as wasps and hornets, pesky ants like carpenter ants and pavement ants. The combination of holiday cookouts and high pest activity can make for a less than enjoyable experience if you’re not properly prepared.

Before and during your 4th of July festivities, take the following measures for an enjoyable and pest-free celebration:

  • Check your screen doors and patch any holes to keep pests out of your home.
  • Eliminate any source of standing water around the outside of your home to reduce the threat of mosquitoes.
  • Stinging insects love sweet treats and drinks. Keep food and beverages covered.
  • Consider using clear plastic cups for beverages. Cans and bottles make for great hiding spots for stinging insects.
  • Trash cans should be covered and kept away from the party area.
  • If possible, it’s best to serve food indoors and keep the outdoor space for eating.
  • Clean up any food or drink spills immediately.

Keep the bugs away and have a safe and happy 4th of July!

A Guide to Carpenter Ants

In the busy summer pest season, there is one pest that stands above the rest. Carpenter ants are a nuisance pest that many home and business owners have come to know all too well. They are relatively large when compared to other ants, ranging in size from 0.3 to 1 in., and are dark in color. The most common species found in and around homes in the United States is the black carpenter ant. Carpenter ants are vital to the balance of nature because they nest in dead wood and aid in the process of decaying. Although the carpenter ants play this important role in the natural cycle, they can become pests to home and business owners when they make their home in the wood structures of buildings.

What are carpenter ants?

Carpenter ants, one of the largest ant species found in the United States, reside both outdoors and indoors. They need a constant water source to survive and their habitat consists of moist areas or decaying wood. The carpenter ants can create elaborate passageways in the wood for nesting and movement throughout the colony, connecting them to different food sources. Although carpenter ants make their homes in decaying wood, they do not feed on the wood. Rather, their diet consists of dead insects, sweets, meats, and fats. Carpenter ants forage for food around their nest, carry it back to the nest, and share the meal with the rest of the colony members.

Although most carpenter ants do not have the ability to fly, there are winged male and female members of the species. In particularly warm and humid weather, these winged ants leave their nests to mate in a process called “nuptial flight.” After mating, the female seeks out a suitable place to create her nest and grow her colony. If winged ants have been located, it is possible that a new colony will be forming soon.

Signs of a Carpenter Ant Infestation

There are several signs that homeowners can look for that may signal a possible carpenter ant infestation. Areas around and under windows, roof eaves, decks, and porches are common areas of infestations. The most common method to identify an infestation is the sighting of carpenter worker or winged ants in the home. Although worker ants (ants without wings) can be seen in a home without an infestation, the identification of winged ants often indicates a mature colony that is ready to reproduce and form new colonies. Additional signs of an infestation can include the location of sawdust-like wood debris (frass) from tunnels created by ants. A rustling sound can also be heard as the ants build tunnels throughout the wood in a home.

Pest Control Tips for Carpenter Ants

There are several steps that can be taken to avoid carpenter ant infestations. Be sure to trim all trees and bushes so that they are not touching the house. Additionally make sure to correct all plumbing and flooding issues as soon as possible. These issues create moist wood that can attract ant colonies. It is also a wise idea to store and wire wood off the ground and away from the home.

If you believe that you have an infestation, contact your local pest control expert to safely and effectively eliminate the problem.

Centipedes and ants and bees, OH MY! 10 of the deadliest insects in the world.

Centipedes are a common pest in commercial properties in New Berlin WI - Batzner Pest Control

There are about 900,000 different kinds of insects in the world, making up about 80% of all of the world’s species. That’s right; insects far outnumber humans. The following list includes 10 of the deadliest insects in the world. While some are not the deadliest, they still have caused reported human deaths.

10. House Centipedes

Terrifying, I know. I personally turn right back into a two year old girl when I see one of these scurry across a wall or carpet in my house. Jumping on top of couches and throwing shoes, I can never seem to actually make the kill. Centipedes pack a painful sting, but it is usually nothing to worry about. However, every couple years, someone does die from a centipede bite, usually due to allergic reaction to its venom.

9. Fire Ants

I sat on a pile of these once; they are no joke. These ants kill their prey by stinging and injecting venom called solenopsin. When a human is bit and injected with a fire ant’s venom, it provides a burning sensation, hence the name. Around 5% of people bitten by fire ants die due to anaphylactic shock.

8. Siafu

What is that? They are similar to fire ants, and they are mainly located in Africa or Asia. They live in colonies of 20 million ants, and a group called soldier ants are the ones who sting to kill prey. Young and elderly people are very susceptible to the bites of these ants, and some have died due to complications. Around 20-50 people die every year from a Siafu bite.

7. Wasps and Bees

This sounds familiar. I feel like the bees were really bad this summer, at least here in Wisconsin. They are just about everywhere you go, and are attracted to sweet things. Most people have experienced a bee or wasp sting, which can be very serious if you are allergic.

6. Asian Giant Hornet

Keeping with the theme, the Asian Giant Hornet is the biggest hornet in the world at 2 inches in length and a wing span of 3 inches. The sting from its 1/4th inch long stinger has been explained as feeling “like a hot nail being driven into your skin.” Definitely not something I want to experience. The venom released by the stinger contains about 8 different compounds that can not only induce discomfort and damage soft tissue, but can release an odor to attract more hornets. Around 70 people die each year from either an allergic reaction to the bees or a direct result of a chemical called mandaratoxin.

5. Africanized Honey Bee

Yes, more bees. These bees hang around in swarms, so if you do get stung, expect to be stung more than once. These bees have been known to take down a horse.

4. Kissing Bug

I know what you’re thinking: “You’re kidding, right?” Nope. The name sounds cute, but they actually get the name because they typically bite people on their faces. There are around 138 known species in existence, most within the U.S. They are able to transmit a harmful parasite that can be fatal. Around 45,000-50,000 people die every year from kissing bug bites. The parasite that the bugs spread causes Chagas disease, which usually leads to death.

3. Tsetse Fly

House flies are annoying enough; a fly that lives off of human blood? No thanks! The tsetse fly is found in the Kalahari and Saharan deserts. Around 250,000-300,000 people die every year from a disease spread by the flies called sleeping disease.

2. Rat Fleas

Fleas can kill? I bet you’re wondering how your pets are even alive. Thankfully, these type of fleas only live on rats. They are known to carry devastating diseases and bacteria. The bacteria called the Yersinia pestis is responsible for killing around ¾ of Europe during the 14th Century. This was referred to as “the Black Death”, a plague that killed between 350-375 million people.

1. Anopheles Mosquito

Don’t get confused, it’s just the regular old mosquito we’re talking about here. They are everywhere, and much like the bees, they were abundant this hot and dry Wisconsin summer. Most mosquito bites only result in a small, red, itchy bump that goes away with a little lotion and time. However, sometimes a bite can lead to serious illness or death. The most popular diseases mosquitos can spread are Malaria and West Nile Virus. There are 1-3 million deaths from Malaria alone each year.

Protecting your Pets and Home from Fleas

It’s a great time of year to enjoy the company of a dog (but then again, it always is). Late spring has brought warmer temperatures and nice weather – meaning it’s time for walks, dog park visits and generally more quality outdoor time with your four-legged friend.

Unfortunately, the more you and your canine companion are on the move; the more likely you are to encounter fleas. Contact with and exposure to other animals is the easiest way for fleas to be transmitted. The best way to stop fleas before they enter your home through a pet is to contact a veterinarian about flea control products.

However, dogs and other pets aren’t the only way fleas can enter your home. Once fleas are in your living environment, your dog could be at risk.

Signs of Infestation
Pet Scratching Typically, humans are alerted to a flea infestation by the way their pets behave, repeatedly scratching and grooming themselves on their necks, shoulder blades, and at the base of their tails. The flea activity causes discomfort as the adult fleas feed on the pet’s blood. Bathing pets and combing through the fur to look for black pellets or adult fleas is the best way to confirm the presence of the pests.
Bites People also may experience bites which leave behind a breakout of small, hard spots that are swollen, itchy and red along the ankles and legs indicates flea activity.
Feces Adult flea feces, commonly referred to as flea dirt, also can indicate activity. Flea dirt looks similar to coarse ground black pepper and may be seen in pet beds, carpets, rugs and other areas where the animal host rests.
Adult Flea Sighting Fleas are easiest to see in their adult stage, especially if the homeowner and their pets return to the house after a long vacation or other absence during which the resident flea adults were not able to take a blood meal. Upon returning, the homeowners are often greeted by fleas jumping around and trying to land on them and their pets.
Flea Eggs Flea eggs that were deposited by the female adult, fall off your pets as they move, allowing them to be disbursed throughout the environment where a pet spends time. Eggs are found in out-of-the-way places like:

  • Behind, under or in furniture
  • In a pet’s bedding
  • Inside cracks and grooves in the floors
  • In carpets
Damage

Both humans and pets have adverse reactions to the salivary secretions released by fleas when feeding, ranging from mild irritation and rashes to anemia in extreme cases. Flea saliva can cause skin dermatitis in humans, which usually appears on patches of skin as itchy bumps or a rash. Pets can also react to flea bites and will commonly develop a flea hypersensitivity or flea-bite dermatitis. As a result, animals may develop crusty lesions and may constantly scratch at their skin, often leading to fur loss.

Perhaps the most serious aspect of a flea infestation is the time and effort it takes to remove. Dealing with the problem requires treating infected animals, cleaning flea-infested areas, and taking preventative measures to keep the fleas from returning.

As with many pests, fleas are not a pest to handle alone. If fleas are introduced into your home, Batzner offers a flea service to eliminate the threat of fleas. Learn more about fleas in the Batzner Pest Library.

Bed Bug Myths and Facts – The Truth About What You Should Know

Bed bugs are one of the most dreaded pests for home owners and property managers, and the number of infestations seems to grow every year. Despite this, there are still several myths concerning bed bugs that we frequently encounter. Not knowing the difference between fact and fiction can be an expensive and uncomfortable mistake, so make sure to read up on these common misconceptions about bed bugs!

MYTH: Bed bugs are a result of unsanitary conditions in the home or apartment.

FACT: Bed bug infestations have nothing to do with the cleanliness of the home or the people living there. While cleaning up excessive clutter and frequent vacuuming can prevent largescale infestations, the truth is that bed bugs don’t discriminate. Infestations can happen anywhere.
MYTH: The only way I can tell if I have bed bugs is if I am bitten; they’re too small for me to see.

FACT: Regularly inspecting your room is a good way to avoid a full-blown infestation, because adults, nymphs, and eggs are all visible to the naked eye. Adult bed bugs are about the size, shape, and color of an apple seed. They are oval shaped, flat, and about 1/4 inch in length. Nymphs are translucent and are about the size of a pinhead. Eggs are the size, shape, and color of a half grain of rice. Additionally, most people don’t actually show signs of bites, and for those who exhibit symptoms it can take two to four weeks for them to appear.
MYTH: Bed bugs only come out in the dark, sleeping with the light on will prevent me from getting bitten.

FACT: Bed bugs activity level has nothing to do with the amount of light in a room. Instead, bed bugs adapt their activity level to the schedule of the host to amplify their feeding time. For example, the bed bugs present in someone’s home who works third shift will be active during the day and inactive at night, while the opposite would be true for someone who works first shift.
MYTH: Bed bugs only live on beds, throwing out my bed will get rid of the problem.

FACT: Their name is a bit deceiving, as bed bugs live and hide in a wide variety of places besides mattresses and linens. These places include spaces behind wood trim, inside electrical boxes, in floors, and behind wallpaper. A new bed would likely be re-infested within a day. In fact, a major cause of the spread of bed bugs is the movement of infested furniture without a heavy gauge plastic encasement, and bed bugs frequently re-infest buildings through tenants bringing in used furniture that had been thrown out.
MYTH: Once I have bed bugs, I might as well throw out all of my furniture and belongings.

FACT: Almost everything can be salvaged. Most furniture and clothing can be treated.
MYTH: Bed bugs spread diseases.

FACT: While they are a huge nuisance, causing itchiness, irritation, and a loss of sleep, bed bugs are not known to spread disease.

Because bed bugs feed on blood, there’s a common belief they can transmit disease just like mosquitoes and ticks can. This partially stems from the belief mosquitoes and ticks can inject blood from other victims into new victims. But that’s not how it works. In fact, a mosquito can get the malaria parasite in their system from feeding on someone who has the virus, but the virus lives in the mosquito’s saliva. When the mosquito injects the anti-coagulant to feed on the blood, the saliva itself transmits the disease.

Bed bugs tend to have a very confined area in which they feed. They don’t have wings, so they don’t fly all over the neighborhood feasting on other people and risking catching a virus or disease. Thus, bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases like other blood-sucking insects. The biggest problem they inflict upon people is psychological in nature. Being feasted upon at night is something that disturbs most people and can cause loss of sleep.

All that being said, scratching bed bug bites does increase the possibility of putting bacteria from dirty fingernails into the wound, but the risk is minimal.
MYTH: If I am being bitten in my bed, sleeping in a different room of my house will offer some relief or will leave the bed bugs without a food source.

FACT: Bed bugs will follow their food source, and this would just result in spreading the infestation to more rooms of your home, making treatment more difficult. They are likely living or hiding in belongings that you would take to the new room as well, or they can migrate on their own. Alternatively, bed bugs can go into a dormant state and live up to nine months without feeding, only to reemerge when you reenter the room.
MYTH: I can take care of the problem with over the counter products.

FACT: We strongly recommend not using a DIY treatment. Nearly 90% of bed bugs are genetically resistant to common household insecticides. Only professionals can access the products and training necessary to control bed bugs, and an over-the-counter insecticide could cause the bed bugs to disperse to multiple rooms, making effective treatment more difficult.
MYTH: Once I’ve gotten the infestation treated, I’m in the clear.

FACT: Bed bugs can re-infest a building just like the original infestation. You still need to remain vigilant and frequently inspect critical areas. As with other pest issues, it is extremely beneficial to be as proactive as possible and contact a pest control professional as soon as possible.

Identify and Control Webbing and Casemaking Clothes Moths

With the holidays quickly approaching, and Jack Frost nipping at my heels, I was enthusiastic about swapping out my summer clothes for my favorite cozy sweaters, mittens and scarves. Snatching up the box marked “Winter Stuff” from the closet floor, I yanked out a long, cream colored cashmere scarf. Immediately, my heart sank. As with all lessons learned, this was bound to be another hard one.

In my “spring-fever” haste, I carelessly shifted my box of winter duds to the back of the closet—the dark side—where THEY fed silently, and undetected, ON MY FAVORITE SCARF! A similar encounter with a grey, wool sweater, the year before, hinted to the culprits being clothes moths. If only I had taken the time to safe-guard my clothes.

Avoid a “lesson-learned” moment. Find out how you can keep your clothes safe year-round.

What do clothes moths look like?

There are two species of clothes moths, webbing and casemaking; they are similar in size and appearance. Adults and larvae measure approximately ½ inch long. A webbing moth is goldish-tan in color; whereas, the casemaking moth has dark specks on their wings. The larva, for both species, is cream with a brown head.

Early signs of detection are: Moths, larvae, cocoons, and/or damaged clothes, rugs, etc.

 

 

What do clothes moths eat?

The moths do not eat clothes; the larva stage is when they are the most destructive. Clothes moth larvae will consume anything made from animal-based fibers, such as fur, wool, cashmere, feathers, alpaca, and even dead animals. These are the very same fibers that are often found in rugs, chairs, curtains, blankets, socks, gloves, sweaters, scarves, coats, taxidermy collections, hairballs from a pet, lint, tapestry, vintage clothing, teddy bears, and knitting yarn.

From the fibers mentioned above, webbing and casemaking larvae create feeding tubes on which they feed. Casemaking larvae will carry the tube with them, feeding from either end. Webbing larvae will spin silken tunnels over the fibers they are feeding on, forming a place where they can safely hide. These silken tubes and tunnels take on the color of the materials being consumed.

New or freshly laundered fibers are not very appetizing to clothes moths; they prefer a slightly seasoned meal—bodily fluids and spills are a plus—a soiled area rug is a smorgasbord! Larvae may also feed on the surface of soiled cotton and synthetic fabrics, causing damage to the surface area only, as they are unable to digest plant-based and synthetic fibers. However, they will feed on cotton and poly blends containing animal based fibers, leaving a holey aftermath behind.

Where do clothes moths come from?

Clothes moth eggs can inadvertently be transported into your home on new or used purchases. They can survive frigid conditions while in the egg stage, but prefer warmer climates. Be sure to look over any goods before storing them among your treasured items. Larvae can be found under folds of clothing, such as cuffs, collars, buttons, and seams.

What other types of insects feed on clothes?

Cockroaches, crickets, carpet beetles and silverfish have also been known to feast on a fiber or two. However, unlike the carpet beetle, cockroaches, crickets and silverfish do not consume the fiber; they are merely feeding off what’s on the fibers – oil, food, sweat, starch, etc. Having your clothes, carpets and furniture professionally cleaned periodically will help to reduce soil residuals.

How do I prevent clothes moths from coming inside my house?

Unfortunately, because clothes moths are active year-round, span international borders, and their eggs have been known to survive up to three years before hatching, there is not a surefire way to guarantee they won’t find a way in. However, you can lessen your chances by becoming a bit of a detective and taking a proactive approach by protecting the food sources needed for their survival—your clothes, furniture, rugs and anything else containing animal fibers.

How do I protect my clothes from clothes moths?

If the moths are already present, call a professional to assess the situation and to set up pheromone traps to track the source. Dan Stawicki, Associate Certified Entomologist and Batzner Service Operations Manager, recommends cedar lining your closet or using cedar blocks in your drawers to keep clothes moths away from items made out of animal fibers. Also, regular and thorough vacuuming is a must for reducing pet hair and fibers located under baseboards, beds, dressers, couches and return air vents.

If moths are not present, a good safeguard when storing goods is to store them in tightly sealed plastic bins, zipper bags, or vacuum sealed bags. For more tips, check out the Alternative DIY section below.

Clothes Moth Infestation: Battle Won!

Dan Stawicki’s clients had been battling a clothes moth infestation for four years. When they finally brought in professional help, the infestation had spread throughout their 7,000 square-foot home. Since clothes moths do not feed on clothes, pinpointing where the eggs resided and larvae fed was difficult (considering they hideout in dark spaces – closets, attics, boxes, etc.) However, after a few weeks, Dan had tracked them back to a box spring containing wool fibers—providing the perfect hideout spot and breeding ground.

Giving a step-by-step account of how he treated the infestation, Dan explained, “I initially set up pheromone traps to catch the adult moths and help ascertain where the infestation had originated. I then applied a liquid treatment to the baseboards, followed by a dusting to small cracks and crevices located behind woodwork and paneling. After finding larvae in the cold air returns, I also recommended to the client to have their air ducts cleaned, removing animal fiber debris that had gathered over the years.”

Dan did such a thorough job, the client’s home is now completely free of clothes moths.

Alternative DIY Solutions

  • Lavender oil or dried flowers are a non-toxic, natural deterrent. However, it is not effective on larvae.
  • Cedar blocks are non-toxic and a natural deterrent. When used in a sealed container, red cedar contains oils that will kill larvae.
  • Deep freezing is an effective way to kill all stages of clothes moths. Seal items in a zipper bag and place in a freezer at 18°F for 12 days.
  • Dry cleaning and self-laundering is also effective. When self-laundering, items should soak for 20-30 min in 120°F water.
  • Moth balls have been used for years. However, there are some concerns regarding the toxic chemicals – naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene – found in moth balls. If they are used, it is recommended to make sure the container or closet they are placed in is airtight. When exposed to air, mothballs emit a gas that is suspected of causing cancer as well as other health issues.

The Rapid Reproduction Rate of Mice

If you’ve ever found one mouse in your house, you can “bet your bottom dollar” that there are more. If you’ve ever dealt with (or are currently dealing with) mice in your house, you might know this saying to be all too true. It seems no matter how hard you try, there are always more mice than you can keep up with. How is this possible? Are they magical little creatures?

How Fast Do Mice Reproduce?

The truth is they have amazing reproductive capabilities. You know the saying “multiply like rabbits?” Well, I think it should be rewritten to “multiply like mice”. These little guys reach sexual maturity at 4-6 weeks of age. With a short gestation period of just about three weeks, one mouse can give birth to 5-6 babies. A typical female mouse can birth between five and 10 litters per year. She can mate immediately after giving birth, meaning mice can birth a second litter in as little as 25 days after the first. This quick maturation process gives mice immense breeding capabilities. Living indoors enhances these capabilities, since they can then breed all year long. Outdoors, breeding only occurs during spring, summer and fall. The winter months are too harsh for successful breeding. This cycle continues until the mouse dies. By that time, her offspring’s offspring have likely also birthed a few litters, which are starting to breed. Look at the multiplication rate above and you’ll quickly realize you might be hosting quite a few more guests than you bargained for by the end of the year.

How Long Do Mice Live?

If you think you can avoid dealing with that mouse in your home by simply waiting for it to die, think again. The life cycle of a mouse makes it easy to see why these rodents are such common pests. While the average mouse lifespan is only about 12 months outdoors, indoors, this number can climb to 2 to 3 years. This is because indoors, mice aren’t exposed to harsh environments or natural predators. Predators like owls, hawks, cats along with harsh winter and summer conditions can help maintain a rodent population in check. Indoors, however, that is a different story. That leaves them with nothing to do but eat through your valuables, spread disease and breed future generations. At that point, you no longer have a mouse problem – you have a mouse infestation.

Knowing how effectively these pests reproduce should make you realize that it can be devastating to ignore one little house mouse, because that mouse could multiply and in no time at all, you could have a infestation on your hands.

How Do You Stop Mice From Multiplying?

So, now the real question is HOW CAN I STOP THE MAYHEM? Once mice are in, the most efficient way to get rid of them is to hire a pest control company. Exclusion and bait stations are the main two ways Batzner reduces and manages mice populations. Training and Development Manager, Steve Counsell, explains that “the idea is always to figure out the method of entry. It’s is much easier to control a known finite population than an unknown infinite population.” Using our experience to solve mouse problems is what we do every day. Call us at 866-591-3519 or contact us online to get a free estimate and move the mice out of your house for good.

Three Stinging Insects to Avoid in Wisconsin

They’re among the most feared pests out there. And they’re back. Fall is peak stinging insect season, and wasps, hornets and yellow jackets are once again a bothersome reality for people heading outdoors to enjoy the remainder of summer.

While many simply classify any stinging insect as a “bee,” there are important differences in behavior that set stinging insects apart. The National Pest Management Association and Batzner Pest Control offer helpful tips in identifying and preventing common stinging insects.

Bald-Faced Hornets

Bald-faced hornets get their common name because they are largely black in color, with a mostly white face. These social insects live in colonies that can contain between 100 and 400 members at their peak. They build nests that are at least three feet off the ground and in exposed locations such as trees, utility poles, overhangs, houses, sheds or other structures. Unlike many other stinging insects, bald-faced hornets do not reuse their nests season after season.

Sting Prevention: Bald-faced hornets are aggressive and will attack if their space is invaded. During the summer months, walk around the exterior of your home to inspect for nests on a routine basis, paying special attention to overhangs, eaves, the underside of porches and decks.

Yellow Jackets

These social insects tend to build nests in trees and buildings, as well as in the ground. They are slow to sting unless their nest is threatened, in which case they will become highly aggressive. Unlike bees, yellow jackets can sting several times and inflict severe pain.

Sting Prevention: Yellow Jackets are especially attracted to sweets and proteins, so it is important to cover food and drinks during outdoor events and promptly clean up and dispose of food and garbage in a sealed trash container.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps get their common name from the paper-like material they use to build their nests. Their nests are typically made in the shape of an umbrella. These pests build nests on twigs and in tree branches and shrubs, as well as porch ceilings, eaves and similar covered places. Wasps are capable of stinging more than once and may use alarm pheromones to call for back-up in defending their nest.

Sting Prevention: Check for paper wasp nests before performing yard work such as shrub or hedge trimming. Treat wood fences and deck railings with a repellant oil to deter paper wasps from gathering cellulose for nest creation.

Attempting to self-treat a stinging insect nest is a dangerous task. When dealing with a stinging insect nest, it’s always best to leave the job to a professional.

Learn more about common stinging insects below.

 

Top 10 Signs of Mice Infestations in Homes

Along with pumpkin spice and chilly temperatures, fall is high season for mice to seek shelter in your home or business. They might seem somewhat harmless or an issue that you can take care of yourself with traps or other products, however, a mice infestation is a serious problem that should not to be taken lightly. Mice carry a wide variety of diseases and their continuous gnawing can cause damage to your electrical wiring, possibly sparking a fire. Additionally, if mice are not effectively driven out of your home or business, they can multiply very quickly.

While there are many DIY solutions available for mice infestations, the wrong product can be a waste of money, or even worse, it could drive them further into the walls where they will wait to re-enter your house weeks or months later.

So, how do you know if you have a mice infestation in your house? Here are the top ten signs of mice infestation:

  1. Look for nests of fine, shredded materials which are frequently found in garages, closets, attics and basements.
  2. Notice any gnawing on doors, ledges, baseboards or various materials you may have stored in your garage or basement.
  3. Seeing a mouse in person is obviously a very good indication of a mouse infestation. Night is the most active time for mice.
  4. Note if you hear sounds such as gnawing, climbing in the walls, running across the upper surface of ceilings and even little squeaks are common.
  5. When house mice are present, you might notice an ammonia-like odor, which is much more noticeable in smaller areas such as cupboards.
  6. You might notice droppings along hallways, in feeding areas and near shelters. They are about the size of a grain of rice, and are dark brown to black in color.
  7. Both wet and dry urine may also be present, and will glow under ultraviolet light, but keep in mind, many other materials do as well.
  8. Tiny mouse tracks can be noticeable on dusty or muddy surfaces.
  9. Look for dirty smudges along the baseboards. Mice don’t have very good eyesight, therefore, they stick to the same routes and guide themselves along the baseboards.
  10. Burrow holes are typically one inch in diameter, but mice can easily fit through holes as small as a dime. Look for these in baseboards, corners, walls, entryways and foundations.

If you suspect a problem with mice, it’s best to contact an experienced pest control provider right away. Batzner can determine the full scope of the problem and plan the best course of action to rid your home or business of these pesky, and oftentimes dangerous, intruders.

Put Wisconsin Spiders in Their Place Before Winter

Have you seen more spiders inside your home? Or spider webs in the basement? With the weather continuing to drop as winter comes around the corner, now is a great time to put spiders in their place. While many insects and rodents hibernate for the winter, spiders can withstand really cold Wisconsin winters. In fact, these cold-blooded creatures can survive in the temperatures around them. While you and I may avoid the great outdoors when the weather dips into the single digits, spiders live in below-freezing temperatures. Whether you reside in Milwaukee, Green Bay, Madison, Fond du Lac or Appleton, Batzner’s team of experts would like to share information on spiders and how to prevent them from residing in your home.

So where do spiders hide?

  • Outside your home under rocks, leaves or snow
  • Inside your home in cracks and crevices, wall voids and other undisturbed areas (basements, attics and crawl spaces)

What brings spiders inside your home?

  • Pests are drawn to moisture giving them something to drink
  • Spiders are attracted to flies, wasps and other overwintering pests as they provide a food source
  • Open trash provides a food source for other insects which draws spiders for a meal
  • Bushes and shrubs around your home provide a way for spiders to make their way inside your home
  • Items in storage spaces provide a hiding place for spiders to create their webs

How can you get rid of spiders?

  • Seal up your home by using caulk to prevent spiders from finding their way indoors
  • Cover vents, chimney tops and window screens
  • Remove vegetation around the perimeter of your home
  • Clean your home on a regular basis to avoid food crumbs and dust build up
  • Replace outdoor lights with yellow sodium vapor lights
  • Use plastic storage containers in place of cardboard boxes

While spiders make their way inside homes throughout the year, they are known to be extremely active in the fall with the temperatures getting cooler and prime time for mating season. The majority of household spiders in Wisconsin homes do not pose a threat and are more of a nuisance pest by leaving behind unsightly webs.

Prevent the spider invasion in your home by reducing attractants. Also, partnering with a local Wisconsin pest control company will guide you in preventative measures and a specialized treatment program to put pests in their place.