Whether natural or chemical, most households have pesticides on hand, especially in the months more prone to bugs and critters swarming around your home.

While pesticides can be crucial to safeguarding your home from unwanted visitors, you need to handle pesticides properly and safely. Knowing how to use pesticides and warning children about the hazards of pest control sprays or other chemicals are of utmost importance.

If you’re considering applying pest control inside your home or on your yard where your children and pets play, you need to think about safety first. Even if you are using natural or non-toxic pest control solutions, you still to follow the guidelines and use precaution.

At Environmental Pest Management, we know how stressful it can be to think about any chemicals or pesticides in your home. Our experienced staff is available to answer questions and get your home protected from any rodents or insects trying to make their home in your home.

Also Read: How to Help Bees

Why Pesticide Safety is Important

You can get sick from touching or ingesting many pesticides, and some can also cause illness or distress from breathing in the dust or fumes. Always read the labels on pesticides and follow the directions carefully.

Pesticide use requires your care and attention. While many pesticides are marketed as safe to use, there are still hazards from overexposure or other risks.

The two central tenets of pesticide safety are: minimize your exposure and follow all directions correctly.

Minimizing Exposure and Following Directions

The most frequent exposure that humans have to pesticides is through the skin. Therefore when you are using pesticides, follow these guidelines:

• Always cover your limbs. That means long pants, long socks, and long-sleeved shirts.
• Never wear open-toed shoes while using pesticides.
• Do not use pesticides without gloves. If possible, use chemical-resistant gloves.
• Wear a mask if applying a powdered chemical.

Never assume you already know what to do with any pesticide. Always read the entirety of the instructions, not merely mixing directions. Follow them to the letter, even if some seem like overkill. They were written that way for a reason.

Most pesticide labels contain the following information: EPA registration number, ingredients, signal words like “CAUTION” or “DANGER,” precautionary statements, directions for use, first aid instructions, and storage and disposal information. Yes, that is a lot of information to digest but thoroughly reading the label can prevent disasters.

Pesticide instructions will tell you how much to use for the size of your treatment area. Do not assume that more is better. Only use as much pesticide as stated in the instructions.

Also Read: Natural Bug Repellents For Bug-Free BBQs

Kids’ Safety

Teaching children how to be safe around pesticides is extremely important. In some cases, exposure to chemical pesticides is a literal life or death situation, especially for a small child. Use these tips to help keep your kids safe around pesticides.

• Have conversations with your children and teach them that pesticides are poison. Remind them that it is not something they should eat, drink, or touch.
• Always store any pesticides in their original container with specific labels for their contents. If you transfer a pesticide to a different container, you run the risk of someone mistaking it for something safe. Labels such as “Poison,” “Adults Only,” or “Not for Kids” are a good start, but reminding yourself which chemical the container holds by writing it on the label will help you in the future as well.
• Keep all pesticide containers in a locked cabinet or area that is inaccessible to children. Keep them far away from areas where children or pets play as well.
• Show your kids how to wash or scrub their fruits and vegetables before eating them.
• Teach your kids to take off their shoes when coming into the home or scrubbing their shoes on mats before entering. Pesticides can be trekked in from the outside and be harmful to pets.

Remind your kids regularly about the dangers of pesticides, and ensure any regular babysitters are aware of any pesticides in your home. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has activity books and worksheets on their website to help you navigate pesticide safety with your kids.

Go Natural

To keep your home pest-free without the use of harsh chemicals, you can always take an all-natural approach. There are many ingredients and materials you can use that are safer than chemicals, inexpensive, and effective.

Spraying a mixture of water and eucalyptus oil in areas infested with flies or bees will cause them to move on. Combining citrus oil, your choice of liquid soap, and water creates a spray to prevent ants, roaches, and slugs from entering your home. These are just some examples of natural pest control methods.

While these natural pesticides are safer than chemical pesticides, you may need to use them more often to gain optimal results. If you need fast results but are worried about how to keep your family safe, Environmental Pest Management can help.

Also Read: What Pest Problems Come With The Spring Thaw?

Call Environmental Pest Management Today!

Are you trying to figure out what to do with pest problems and pesticides in your home? We know how vital pest management is. Trying to find the right pest-control method while keeping your family safe can be a difficult task.

With over 30 years in the field, our qualified and experienced staff will help you find the methods that work best for your family and your home. Whether you are vexed by rodents or struggling with bed bugs, we serve the greater five-county metro area. Call us today at (952) 432-2221 for your free quote!

Most of the time, winged bugs are seen as obnoxious, annoying, or even dangerous. They sometimes prevent us from enjoying our yard or house, if they manage to make it inside. However, of all of the bugs that can ruin our day, the honey bee is one to appreciate. You may even be wondering how to help bees since they contribute so much to our lives.

Bees pollinate our flower and vegetable gardens as well as our fruit trees. They play a significant role in our ecosystem. Without bees, we wouldn’t have delicious honey, beeswax products, or flourishing plants and flowers. The importance of bees makes it essential for us to take care of them and ensure they are safe.

A pest-free home is your goal, but your family’s safety is your top priority. It is also critical to keep bees from harm when treating your home or yard for pests.

Environmental Pest Management specializes in safe and eco-friendly pest control. We strive to offer the least invasive and most safety-conscious way to eliminate pests from your home. We understand that our clients value our environment as we do, and are looking for safe yet effective ways to protect their homes and yards.

If you are looking for ways to help bees throughout the year, check out these fantastic ideas for your backyard. With the right plants and practices, you’ll be ready to watch your garden thrive and know that the bees are safe.

The Right Flowers

Are you an avid gardener? Maybe you’re only looking for some spots of color around your home or are hoping to add a few plants to help bees. Whatever your skill level when it comes to gardening, you can make a difference by selecting flowers and plants that will help keep bees alive.

Bees love flowers, but particular varieties are more attractive and appealing. Planting native flowers is one way to assist bees. These native plants are already adapted to your local area and therefore may offer bees food before or after other sources are available. Some fantastic Minnesota flowers to try include sunflowers, yellow and purple coneflower, borage, and blue lobelia.

Everything from flower color to design to pollen content is important when considering which flowers to choose for bees. Bees prefer blue and yellow flowers, as well as blossoms with nectar at the base. Dandelions, daisies, and traditional flowers offer the most pollen and nectar.

Adding some bee-friendly flowers to your landscape will not only provide nourishment for the bees but will help your home look beautiful and inviting as well. Another bonus: bees that have plenty of nectar to drink from flowers will not seek out human sources of food, such as sweet drinks on your patio. Keeping bees fed naturally reduces your contact with them.

Also Read: Pesticide Safety in the Home

Water the Bees

Bees need access to water to survive. Offering a shallow drinking area for bees will help keep them safe. Consider using a bird bath and place some stones inside for bees to land on when they drink. Bees also love moving water such as fountains or water features. These pieces also add ambiance to your garden and yard.

Consider Bee Keeping

Depending on where you live and the accompanying regulations, backyard beekeeping might be an option for you. What better way to help increase the bee population than to have your own hive? Not only will the bees pollinate your trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables, but you’ll be able to harvest delicious homegrown honey.

Keeping bees is not as challenging as you might think, and the rewards for the environment are fantastic. You can enjoy this beneficial hobby and learn a lot as well.

Also Read: Natural Bug Repellents For Bug-Free BBQs

Be Mindful of Pesticides

Pesticides can be very harmful to bees. Whether you’re trying to kill weeds in your yard or eliminate other pests, bees can also be affected by the chemicals you choose to use. Consider natural alternatives to pesticides.

Certain plants can help deter pesky bugs such as mosquitoes or other pests. For instance, lavender repels unwanted pests, but bees love lavender. To repel slugs and snails, consider adding diatomaceous earth or even salt to your landscape beds.

Do your research or consult the experts to ensure you’re using safe products that won’t harm the bees.

Bees Are Our Friends

When it comes to helping bees, taking these simple steps can go a long way toward keeping them safe and productive. Not only will the environmental impact be noticeable and lasting, but your yard will also potentially benefit. Attracting bees to your yard will help your veggies, fruit trees, flowers, and shrubs flourish and thrive. You can enjoy a robust and vibrant garden all thanks to our friend, the honey bee.

Also Read: Bee and Wasp Control

Let the Professionals Help

If you need pest control services for your home, let Environmental Pest Management create a safe and environmentally friendly plan for you and your family. You’ll appreciate their commitment to your family’s safety as well as the environment.

With over thirty years of experience, you can have confidence in knowing that they are knowledgeable and skilled at their job. From residential to commercial services, Environmental Pest Management is ready to help you keep your home pest-free.

If you are ready to take action against pests in your home, contact us today. We are ready to provide you with a free estimate and begin a plan to keep your home safe. We look forward to working with you and helping you safely eliminate pests in your home.

Whether you have an infestation you need to get rid of or are looking to take preventative measures, we are here to help. We always keep our environment in mind when servicing your home. Reach out to us today, and rest assured that we will keep you and your family safe.

Bug-Free BBQs: Natural Bug Repellents to Keep Pests at Bay

Everyone knows spring weather means it’s time to get outside. When the cold weather finally fades, and spring flowers start popping up, kids and adults alike find themselves outdoors more often.

However, the more time you spend outside in the warm weather, the more you will encounter outside pests. Outdoor pest control becomes critical when the mosquitoes and other bugs start biting.

At Environmental Pest Management, we focus on keeping bugs away from your family using safe and effective ways. We want to keep pests under control all summer so you can enjoy your time with your family outdoors.

Tips for a Pest-Free Yard

The most important thing you can do to keep pests from bothering you is to ensure bugs take up residence in your backyard. There are strategies you can use to make sure pests don’t make their home in a place where you like to hang out.

Bugs like clutter, or at least they feel safe and hidden in your clutter. If you have things piled on your patio or in your yard, don’t be surprised to find crawly things have moved in. Piles of toys, boxes, stacked wood, or unused flower pots make perfect homes. If you must have things like this around, make sure they are away from where you prefer to be, such as the far side of a shed or behind a fence.

Ensure there is no standing water around your house. Bugs are attracted to water, and many of them will lay eggs in it. Keep any bird baths or planters filled with fresh water. Keep the grass trimmed and cut as well.

It is also essential to keep all trash picked up. Keep lids on any trash bins and make sure drains and gutters are clear so water can flow freely. Bugs will also make their home in the built-up debris in clogged gutters.

Also Read: How to Help Bees

Natural Bug Repellents

If you are looking for natural ways to keep bugs away, there are many options. There are endless products that claim to keep bugs away from you. Choosing one is not such an easy task.

Without listing all the brands you could potentially buy, there are some ingredients you should look for in a natural pest-repellent.

There are several different types of plants that repel biting insects. In particular, garlic and rosemary are surprisingly good at keeping bugs away. Chive and lemongrass are also excellent at repelling insects you don’t want near you. Marigolds are also bug repellants on top of being beautiful.

Lavender is another excellent for keeping pests away. Not only does lavender keep bugs away, it is antifungal, analgesic, and antiseptic, meaning it will soothe your skin in the process.

If you are looking to repel adult mosquitoes and kill any eggs present, cinnamon oil is incredibly useful. Thyme is also excellent for repelling mosquitoes. You can also burn thyme leaves to keep mosquitoes away; be sure you have some anytime you’re camping and add them to your fire.

Citronella torches also go a long way to repel bugs. Using citronella torches and candles will provide double the protection, and create some mood lighting perfect for entertaining. If you know you will be spending time on your patio or porch, spray a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water on your porch and surrounding areas. Be sure to avoid spraying on your food and drinks.

Also Read: Pesticide Safety in the Home

Why Not Deet?

There is one ingredient that you might have noticed missing from this list: DEET. While there isn’t much argument that DEET is effective at repelling mosquitoes, there is some debate as to how safe it is to use.

Studies have shown that DEET is toxic to the central nervous system. Another study demonstrated that while DEET is prevalent in commercial bug repellents, it is still controversial. DEET can kill neurons in the brain that are responsible for muscle movement, learning, memory, and concentration. Because kids absorb things through their skin faster than adults, children are at a higher risk using DEET.

DIY Natural Repellent Recipe

There are many recipes available for a natural bug repellent; most include essential oils. Because there is some concern as to the safety of applying essential oils directly to the skin, especially on children, consider spraying these repellents to clothes or gear when outdoors.

There is a basic formula for natural bug repellents. Generally, you will use a combination of essential oils, water, witch hazel, and sometimes glycerin. The glycerin helps keep ingredients combined. The best essential oils to repel bugs are lemongrass, eucalyptus, rosemary, tea tree, lavender, mint, clove, geranium, and citronella.

For the DIY natural bug repellent, you will need:

• 20-30 drops geranium essential oil
• 20-30 drops citronella essential oil
• 15-20 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
• 15-20 drops lavender essential oil
• 5-10 drops rosemary essential oil
• 1 tbsp vodka (or rubbing alcohol)
• ½ cup witch hazel
• ½ cup water (or white distilled vinegar)
• 1 tsp vegetable glycerin (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a glass or BPA-free spray bottle. Keep the mixture with you whenever you plan to be outdoors. Apply to your body, clothing, or outdoor furniture to keep bugs away.

Call Environmental Pest Management

If you are concerned about bugs around and in your home, contact a trusted pest control company. At Environmental Pest Management, we have years of experience protecting people’s homes from pests that bite and bother your family.

We take extreme caution with the products we use. We treat your home as if it was a medical facility, meaning our products have little to no odor, and we apply them safely and only in specific areas.

We first complete a thorough inspection. Then, we deal with your pest problems both inside and outside. We will evict any pests inside your home, and make sure they can’t take up residence outside of it. We customize our services for each of our clients based on their needs and budget.

Call Environmental Pest Management today so you won’t have to worry about insects crashing your barbecues and bugging you all season.

Spring is finally here! While snow is still falling over much of Minnesota, we can see the early signs of spring. Unfortunately, the spring thaw brings a whole host of problems. With the warmer temperatures and moisture, many bugs, such as mosquitos, come out in full force.

The thawing ground can also lead to foundation cracks and other problems with your home. Many of these issues create an accessible entrance for a variety of bugs.

At Environmental Pest Management, we want to help you prepare for the warmer weather, and the bugs it brings. We will provide regular pest management at your home, and promptly deal with any infestations that arise. You can trust us with your home, no matter the season. Spring brings a set of symptoms and solutions for pests.

Excess Moisture

As winter ice and snows melt, the significant amount of moisture becomes a problem. There are steps you can take to prevent excessive damage to your home.

Besides damage to your home, excess moisture is attractive to pests. Many bugs and insects, like mosquitos, are attracted to the water that is around your house. Eliminating this water will not only decrease the number of pests but also preserve the integrity of your home.

Also Read: Pesticide Safety in the Home

How to Prevent Damage and Pests from Water

There are a few easy things you can do to prevent water buildup and damage in your home. If you have a basement, ensure that your sump pump is working correctly and that you have a battery backup just in case you lose power. You don’t want any water standing in your basement.

Inspect the outside of your home. Doing a thorough examination and removing any debris or buildup around your home will take away potential hiding places for pests. Plus, removing debris from gutters and downspouts will ensure water can freely flow away from your house, bringing the bugs with it.

Doors and windows are other places to inspect. If there are openings or cracks, bugs and water can get inside. Both of these things could cause damage to your home. Also, make sure your exterior walls are sealed, and there are no gaps in the siding or holes in the bricks.

Thoroughly inspect your foundation in the spring. Wet, soggy soil and landscaping around your home could adversely affect your foundation. If you notice any cracks in your foundation, there could be structural issues with your house. The cracks also provide a way for pests to get in.

To help repel bugs and insects, keep the landscaping of your home in good shape. Ensure there is proper drainage, so water flows away from your house. This strategy will help the lawn and keep away bugs. Also, make sure nothing is overgrown or in large piles around your home, to remove hiding places for insects.

Also Read: How to Help Bees

Pest Problems

If you do have standing water, and you have noticed those annoying biting insects, you are probably wondering how to get rid of mosquitos.

Mosquitoes lay their eggs either in water or around it. Females mosquitoes prefer standing water, frequently in a container made by humans. After the mosquito eggs hatch, they will become blooding-drinking adults in only one week.

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes

The most important thing you can do to limit the number of mosquitoes in and around your home is to ensure there is no standing water. At least weekly, empty water from containers around your home.

Make sure you scrub and turn over any containers, such as flower pots, pet bowls, buckets, pools, birdbaths, and trash cans. Scrubbing the container will remove any mosquito eggs, and keeping the containers upside-down will ensure water does not collect again.

If you do need to store water for any reason, keep the container or pool tightly covered. A mosquito will not be able to get inside and lay their eggs if there is a lid over the water.

General Tips to Avoid Pests this Spring

In addition to monitoring your home for water issues and mosquitoes, several other strategies will help ensure pests don’t become a problem this spring. Keeping your home clean inside and out is essential to keeping bugs at bay.

Insects love clutter. Piles and enclosed spaces that are warm and safe are perfect for hiding out. A garage or shed full of clutter is a dream for bugs. The same goes for interior rooms. Don’t stop at piles. To avoid bugs in your home, go through your cabinets and pantry and toss opened or expired food.

Following a regular cleaning schedule will go a long way in keeping pests away from your home. Keeping dust and dirt outside will deter bugs, too. Along with cleaning, regular home maintenance is also vital. Keeping screens and door seals in working order goes a long way in protecting your home from pests.

Also Read: Natural Bug Repellents For Bug-Free BBQs

Call Environmental Pest Management

If you are concerned about the spring thaw or have already seen some bugs around, call Environmental Pest Management. We will do a thorough inspection and find any pests that have already made their way in. We will also predict how bugs might enter your home and stop them before they can.

We want all pests, from mosquitoes and ants to mice and spiders, outside your home. To be successful, we have to take care of the inside and outside. We will get any unwelcome pests out, and make sure they stay there.

Most importantly, Environmental Pest Management customizes our service for each of our customers. No two homes with pests are the same, and no two treatments are the same. To create the best plan, we will combine our initial inspection with input from you, the customer.

At Environmental Pest Management, we want to be your partner in keeping your home pest-free. You don’t have to worry about how to keep mosquitoes out, anymore. While we can’t fix your foundation cracks, we can keep unwanted pests from taking advantage of them. Call Environmental Pest Management today.

It’s spring! Flowers are blooming, and animals of every sort are having babies after the long winter. This includes the carpenter ants that may have been nesting in your home’s walls all winter or decided to move in this spring.

As the weather warms, you may notice swarms of flying ants in your home, especially in your kitchen or bathroom, they are most likely carpenter ants. The flying ants are female reproductives, and they are busy establishing world domination — well, at least the domination of your home — for their future generations.

There are 12,000 species of ants in the world, but only a few of them are household pests. The notorious carpenter ant is one of these problematic ant species, and their presence is on the rise in the United States.

Here at Environmental Pest Management, we are seeing an uptick of calls about possible carpenter ants. We’ve compiled some tips for what to look for and what to do if you suspect carpenter ants are building an empire in your home’s walls or foundation.

Also Read: What Pest Problems Come With The Spring Thaw?

What Do Carpenter Ants Look Like?

You’ve probably seen a lot of ants in your lifetime, but you won’t likely forget seeing a carpenter ant. By “ant” standards, they are big — between ¼” and ½” inch in size. They are also typically a solid black color, though some have a reddish brown abdomen. In the spring, they will swarm, so they’ll be hard not to notice. Swarming carpenter ants is a sure sign there is a colony nearby.

How Do Carpenter Ants Get In My House?

Carpenter ants get into your home the same way all critters and pests do: they find an opening and exploit it. Carpenter ants have the added bonus of being able to tunnel their way through wood so once they are inside and have some soft wood to chew on, they can make long highways through your walls and floors.

Top contenders for how carpenter ants got into your home include dampened wood from water leaks, poorly flashed windows, chimneys, vents, leaky windows or doors, or through your porch or deck timbers. They can also come inside from firewood your bring in from outside, especially if it was stacked in a pile that became moist and soft at the bottom.

But why do carpenter ants come in your home? First and foremost, for food. Carpenter ants will eat your pet food, dropped crumbs, and the carcasses of other insects. However, carpenter ants have a mandate to build and expand. Especially in the spring, carpenter ants are looking to grow their numbers and care for their young.

Your home may be attractive to start a new parent colony, which will contain an egg-laying queen, her brood, and an army of worker ants numbering 2000 or more. Also, if a successful parent colony is nearby — say in your woodpile, landscape timber, or that old stump  — your home is prime for establishing a satellite colony, composed entirely of worker ants.

Also Read: How to Help Bees

Carpenter ants love to make their nests in moistened wood, such as from a water leak. Consequently, places like inside the wall behind your dishwasher, toilet, sink, or tub, or in a porch column are prime places. You won’t see the nests or any exterior signs. You might find some chewed up wood debris that resembles sawdust. You might even see the ants themselves disappear into one of their tunnel entrances.

What Damage Do Carpenter Ants Do?

Like termites, carpenter ants can cause structural damage to your home as they hollow out the wood for their tunnels and nests. Unlike termites, however, carpenter ants usually take years to do significant damage.

The presence of carpenter ants typically means there is a moisture problem somewhere in your home. You’ll want to check for roof leaks, especially in your attic, or plumbing leaks. Since some leaks can be inside your walls, pay close attention to any staining or soft spots.

Because carpenter ants cause structural damage, you’ll want to get them out of your home as soon as possible.

Preventing Carpenter Ants

• Fix water leaks, check under all your sinks, check your dishwasher, washer, and laundry room. Check faucets and behind your tub, if you can get to it.
• Repair faulty flashing. Roof leaks are often caused by poorly flashed vents, chimneys, or trim.
• Rubber seals around vents can also fail, so check those for possible replacement.
• Clean your gutters to avoid water leaks.
• Seal windows and doors. Weatherstripping and caulk are your friends.
• Remove their sources of food. Store your food in tightly closed containers
• Clean up any debris against your home’s foundation.
• Store firewood away from your home and check for signs of ants before bringing wood inside.
• Trim trees and shrubs so they can’t form a bridge.
• Check to see if your home’s porch or deck post are in direct contact with the ground. These should sit on concrete piers or footers.

Getting Rid of Carpenter Ants

It can be easier said than done to get rid of carpenter ants because it is often quite difficult to locate their nests. If you can spot an ant trail and see where they are entering your walls, you might be able to use your vacuum’s nozzle attachment to pull many from the nest. That likely won’t solve the problem entirely though, as the nest may be deep within your walls.

Treating carpenter ants requires a combination of bait and insecticides, often injected into your walls. It also requires patience, strategy, and typically repeated treatments as well as plans to prevent reinfestation. While some home pest problems can be taken care of yourself, a carpenter ant infestation requires the services of a professional.

Also Read: Natural Home Remedies to Get Rid of Ants

Environmental Pest Management Can Help

If carpenter ants have infiltrated your home, give us a call. We have years of experience dealing with pests, including carpenter ants. We will pinpoint areas that carpenter ants find delicious and delightful and offer ways to make them less appealing. Our pros will locate the nest and eradicate the colony. We’ll treat your perimeter and create a plan for preventing their return.

Carpenter ants are incredibly important to our ecosystem as they help turn fallen branches and trees into fertile soil. They belong in the woods, not in your walls. Contact us to send carpenter ants packing and to keep your home pest-free.