What Pests to Look for This Fall

Fall pests are coming. We know, you’re probably looking at a cloudless blue sky on a warm day and thinking we’re crazy. Contact Environmental Pest Management and cut off fall pests before they can get started.

Most people associate spring and summer with bugs: mosquitoes, termites, bees, and ants are common hot weather infestations. You might reasonably hope and expect that fall and winter would give homeowners a break! Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

Where Do Fall Pests Come From?

Bugs and rodents really aren’t so different from you and me. As the weather gets cooler, pests and critters of all kinds head indoors in search of warmth and shelter.

Whether you are a homeowner or renting, make fall pest management part of your routine checks and maintenance. You don’t want to be caught unawares by unwelcome guests while you’re worried about keeping your home warm and dry.

Rodents

Rodents are probably some of the worst fall pests to find in your home. They’re dirty, they carry disease, and they’re destructive.

How destructive? Super destructive.

Rodents can get inside the walls of your home. Furthermore, once they let themselves in, they will help themselves to the contents of your kitchen.

They can gnaw on wires, pipes, and cabinetry. When rodents chew on these things, it can cause problems with plumbing, electricity, and cable and internet connectivity.

Rodents aren’t content to destroy your home, they have to make a mess out of it, as well. One very gross tell-tale sign that you have rodents is droppings, for crying out loud.

These particular fall pests can be quite costly, as well. Tracking down invaders living in your walls is tricky and time-consuming. The damage that rodents may cause can also be very expensive.

Don’t let rodents happen to you. Prevent rodents by sealing cracks in your foundation, and storing your food in airtight containers.

Biting Insects

Here’s a fun question: how do you make bug bites even more annoying?

Bring them inside!

When fall pests that bite like bed bugs, fleas, and spiders decide to winter with you, you’re all trapped together. For them, being indoors in a house during the winter is like living with an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Autumn is a particularly bad time for bed bugs, who can travel on clothes and backpacks. As kids go back to school in the fall, they can inadvertently bring bed bugs to share with their classmates.

Professionals can help you guard against biting insects by sealing your house and spraying in hard-to-reach places.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are probably the most famous indoor fall pest. Another dirty, ugly home invader, no one wants to be stuck in the house with a cockroach infestation.

Like rodents, cockroaches bring disease with them into your home. Cockroaches especially enjoy places where bacteria and decay are found. They thrive in sewer pipes, and then bring those germs with them into the homes where they seek shelter.

Cockroaches can hang out all over your house before you even realize they’re there. Fall colds and other seasonal viruses may be spread by these stealthy intruders. They are even known to trigger children’s asthma attacks.

Keep your home clean and sanitized, particularly the bathrooms and kitchens. Make sure you vacuum regularly. Find and seal any cracks in your home.

Of course, cockroaches aren’t necessarily an indictment of your housekeeping. However, regular cleaning can certainly help prevent these fall pests.

Ants

Ants enjoy a reputation as picnic-destroyers. If only those were the only places they hung out.

Unfortunately, ants are pretty much a year-round problem.

In colder months, ants turn up in homes and can cause all kinds of issues. Some ants are odorous ants, and they may help themselves to your food. Carpenter ants can do even worse by causing structural damage to your home.

As with preventing most other fall pests, regular cleaning and sanitizing can keep infestations at bay. Additionally, store food in airtight containers and seal any cracks in your home.

Some other ways to prevent ants is to eliminate any standing water in and around your home. Store any firewood away from the walls and foundation of your home, and don’t keep unused firewood inside overnight.

Termites

Termites are another fall pest that can get into the walls of your home and cause real, expensive structural damage.

The guidance for preventing termite infestations is very similar to the guidance to prevent carpenter ants.

Stink Bugs and Other Nuisances

Unlike the fall pests mentioned above, some autumn infestations are merely inconvenient.

Stink bugs fall under this category. Other fall pests that might show up in your home include ladybugs, silverfish, and centipedes.

Stink bugs don’t just release an unpleasant smell when they’re scared. They can also damage fabric such as clothing and upholstery.

Prevent these pests: inspect clothing and personal items when you arrive home to make sure you don’t have any stowaways.

Environmental Pest Management for Ecologically Responsible Fall Pest Prevention

Rodents and bugs want to come stay with you this fall and winter. You see there are a lot of practical, everyday things you can do to prevent fall pests. Steps include regular home inspections for cracks in the walls and foundations, and keeping clean kitchens, bathrooms, and floors.

Don’t limit these checks to your house. Keep in mind that many fall pests like to hide in clothes and personal belongings to come home with you!

On the other hand, sometimes there is only so much you can do. Fall pest infestations happen to even the most dedicated home organizers. When that happens, you need to bring in the professionals.

Don’t take on the intruders of fall all by yourself. The experienced professionals at Environmental Pest Management can help you.

We have been in Minnesota for over thirty years, and are affiliated with the National and Minnesota Pest Management Associations. Our Master Licenced Technicians bring years of training and experience to their work.

Contact Environmental Pest Management and prevent fall pests in your home this year.

June 12, 2020December 15, 2025

Mosquitoes: More than Just Biting Pests

Even if the bite is disease-free, the lasting itch and redness are enough to wish all mosquitoes disappeared forever.

If you have gotten your first mosquito bite of the year and are dreading a season of itching and swatting, call Environmental Pest Management today. We have years of experience ridding homes of biting, crawling, and pestering bugs.

What are Mosquitoes?

Yes, we all know what mosquitoes are. They are tiny little flying bugs that survive on the blood of mammals. In all, there are around 3,500 different species of mosquitoes on Earth.

Did you know that only female mosquitoes bite? On the other hand, female mosquitoes have to produce eggs and need blood to nourish those eggs.

Only female mosquitoes have the parts in their mouth necessary to suck blood, the proboscis. In this proboscis are two needle-like tubes, and both are inserted into the victim. One injects an enzyme that slows or stops blood clotting, and the other sucks up the blood.

Both male and female mosquitoes eat nectar and other sugar from plants as their food. The blood is only used as a protein to nourish eggs.

Mosquitoes are typically active in the evenings and early mornings. Some breeds are active at night and others during the day.

Mosquitoes find their victims by seeking out carbon dioxide that was exhaled, heat from bodies, or scents.

Technically, mosquitoes are not parasites. Many people qualify them as such, but a parasite lives on the body of their host. Mosquitoes rely on the blood of their victim but do not live on them.

As annoying as mosquitoes are, there is a silver lining to their presence. Mosquitoes are a common food source for many animals. Everything from birds to bats, frogs to dragonflies enjoys a tasty meal of mosquitoes.

Are Mosquitoes More Attracted to Some People?

No one likes getting bit by a mosquito. However, some people swear they get more mosquito bites than people around them. Is there any truth to this feeling?

Turns out, yes. Mosquitoes are attracted to some people more than others.

Carbon Dioxide

Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide. Everyone emits carbon dioxide when they breathe out, but some people emit slightly more. It might depend on the activity they’re doing, or the fact they are pregnant, but it is possible to emit more carbon dioxide.

Furthermore, different species are attracted to different levels of carbon dioxide.

Body Odor

Mosquitoes can smell you. And different people have different smells. Different compounds on our skin and in our sweat give us unique odors.

Mosquitoes are attracted to lactic acid and ammonia. Things like genetics and bacteria on your skin, or a combination of both, could cause mosquitoes to be more attracted to you versus your neighbor.

Body Temperature

Our bodies generate a certain level of heat, and that temperature depends on many factors. Some people’s natural body temperature is higher than others.

Furthermore, there is sweat and water vapor near your skin that attracts mosquitoes. Different things affect how much sweat and water vapor there is.

Color

For an unknown reason, mosquitoes are attracted to the color black. Wearing dark clothes seems to attract mosquitoes and their bite.

Alcohol

Unfortunately for anyone enjoying a drink by the pool or on their back deck, mosquitoes seem to be more attracted to people who have been drinking alcohol. In particular, mosquitoes seemed to be attracted to beer drinkers.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, more blood is circulating in a woman’s body, and her body temperature tends to be higher. Because of these factors, mosquitoes tend to be more attracted to women that are pregnant. Extra mosquito bites: just another fact that makes pregnancy fun.

Mosquitoes and Diseases

It’s no secret that mosquitoes carry an annoying bite. However, that bite is sometimes more than it appears. Mosquitoes carry a variety of diseases, many of which can be fatal.

Mosquitoes and the diseases they carry are responsible for millions of deaths around the world every year. Unfortunately, children and the elderly are more affected by these diseases than adults. In the fight against infectious diseases, mosquitoes are the number one enemy.

Of the 3,500 species of mosquitoes, most of the diseases humans contract come from only three families.

Anopheles mosquitoes carry the malaria disease.

Culex mosquitoes carry encephalitis, filariasis, and the West Nile virus.

Aedes mosquitoes carry yellow fever, dengue, and encephalitis.

Interestingly enough, mosquitoes don’t only infect their victims through their bites. In cases like yellow fever and dengue, a mosquito contracts the virus from an infected host and passes the virus through it’s saliva to another victim. With malaria, a parasite attaches itself to a female mosquito and enters a human when the mosquito bites.

You need to deal with any sources of standing water to eradicate mosquitoes and their offspring, also known as future biters. Mosquitoes depend on standing water to breed. Removing this breeding ground will drastically limit the number of mosquitoes you see around your home.

Call Environmental Pest Control

If you seem to get bit more by mosquitoes and want to mosquito-proof your yard, call Environmental Pest Management today. Even if you don’t notice getting bit as often, mosquitoes are not something you want hanging around your next barbecue.

While there are things you can do at home to limit the number of these pests, the best thing you can do is call a professional. Let Environmental Pest Management take care of you and your home.

April 17, 2020January 22, 2024

Most Common Summer Bugs

With apologies to Don Henley, forget about the boys of summer. When the temperatures go up and the days get longer, it’s all about summer bugs. Contact Environmental Pest Management if you find your home overrun with pests instead of barbecue guests during the hotter months.

More time outside in beautiful weather means you’re more likely to encounter creepy crawlers and irritating insects. If you want to spend time enjoying the summer weather without pests, contact Environmental Pest Management.

Let’s take a look at the summer bugs you’re most likely to encounter both outdoors and indoors. Some bugs are mere nuisances, while others require some caution.

Common Summer Bugs: Example #1

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes may be among the least popular summer bugs. In the best-case scenario, mosquitoes are obnoxious pests who leave their victims with itchy welts they can’t ignore. In the worst-case scenario, mosquitoes carry illnesses that can make people very sick.

How to Prevent Them

Know the Time of Day

Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites and limit the mosquitoes’ numbers.

First of all, know when mosquitoes are the most numerous. Sunrise and sunset tend to be these flying pests’ favorite time of day. Avoid going out during dusk and dawn if you know you have a tendency to be mosquito-nip.

Dress Appropriately

Cover your limbs when you are outside, especially if you’re some place where the bugs tend to congregate. Especially if you’re doing yard work or involved in an outdoor activity, make sure you wear long sleeves and pants.

Don’t Give Them a Place to Land

Ensure that you do not have mosquito breeding grounds in and around your house. Eliminate any standing water, which is where mosquitoes tend to lay their eggs. Any standing water, whether natural or artificial, has the potential to become a mosquito labor and delivery ward.

Use Bug Spray

Above all, the most effective way to protect yourself from mosquitoes is bug spray containing DEET. Of course, any bug spray is probably better than no bug spray, but DEET repellent is the most effective ingredient.

Common Summer Bugs: Example #2

Ticks

Like mosquitoes, ticks’ impact can range from mild nuisance to disease vector, and they tend to bite more in summer. Ticks carry various diseases, but perhaps the best-known one is Lyme Disease. The more you know about ticks, the better you are able to combat their negative effects.

Cover Up

Ticks are sneaky, so you don’t want to give them an opportunity, if at all possible. To prevent tick bites, wear close-toed shoes, long sleeves, and pants when outside.

Avoid Certain Places

Don’t spend a lot of time around wood piles or debris; where possible, eliminate them completely. Additionally, try to avoid densely-wooded areas and thick vegetation. Areas like these are ticks’ favorite hideaways.

Take Precautions

In the summer, bug spray is essential. To get the most bang for your buck when it comes to insect repellent, DEET must be an ingredient. Try to find a spray that contains at least 20 percent DEET.

If you spend a lot of time outside, or are especially concerned about ticks, don’t forget the importance of clothes. Ticks can get on your clothes. In the event that you find them on clothing, put them in the dryer or wash them with hot water.

Finally, when you get back from being outside, check yourself and your family for ticks. Ticks can be very small, so make sure you check everywhere on your person and that you check thoroughly. These bugs prefer warm, dark environments, so pay special attention to joints.

Common Summer Bugs: Example #3

Ants

Ants are probably the iconic summer bugs. Everyone is familiar with the stereotype of ants invading and ruining a picnic. Worse than ants appearing as unwelcome picnic guests: ants arriving as home intruders.

While many types of ants are harmless, they have the potential to damage homes. Some varieties of ants are able to bite and sting, however.

Tend to Your Plants

Don’t give the ants a chance. Make sure that you trim shrubs and branches outside of your house away from your home.

A Little Prevention Goes a Long Way

To prevent ants in your home, seal cracks and holes in your home that would allow ants entry. Furthermore, don’t provide these insects with bait. Pick up crumbs and clean up spills; don’t leave anything behind that might draw the ants’ attention.

Common Summer Bugs: Example #4

Shoo Flies

Flies are some more superstar summer bugs. Flies aren’t just bothersome; flies are gross. These flying insects may seem harmless, but they are in reality incredibly dirty creatures.

When you think about some of the less-savory places you’ve seen flies, you can see why they’re especially undesirable. You don’t want something that hangs out in those environments heading right for your hot dog.

Keep Your House Clean

As with avoiding ants, you can prevent pests like flies by picking up after yourself and your family. Avoid leaving out anything that might serve as bait to flies (and that’s a pretty wide spectrum).

Screen Time

Screens on doors and windows allow fresh air to circulate in your home without inviting in critters. In addition to installing screens in your home, try to keep entryways closed. Avoid repeated, frequent trips in and out of the house, which just create more opportunities for flies to get in.

Prevent Summer Bugs with Environmental Pest Management

Don’t sweat this summer any more than you have to when it comes to summer bugs. If you want to protect yourself, your family, and your home, contact Environmental Pest Management.

We have over three decades in the pest management business. Our commitment to environmentally safe products means you can feel good about choosing us for your pest management needs.

Environmental Pest Management’s dedication means we employ only master licensed technicians with years of personal experience. We value the communities we serve in a service area that spans counties throughout Minnesota and greater Burnsville.

Prevent unwanted and unsafe home infestations with Environmental Pest Management.

February 29, 2020December 15, 2025

Cockroaches: The Seemingly Invincible Pest and How to Combat Them

Cockroaches: The Seemingly Invincible Pest and How to Combat Them

When it comes to the creepy-crawlies, none is quite so creepy or crawly as the cockroach. The mere mention of the word roach causes even the stoutest among us to get the chills. Anyone who has ever dealt with a cockroach infestation only has one question on the mind-

“How do I get rid of these roaches?”

Environmental Pest Management is here for all your pest questions and removal needs. Contact us for help with your cockroach problem. Get your free estimate today.

Before you can know if you have a cockroach infestation, you need to know precisely what a cockroach is so you can accurately identify the pest.

What is a Cockroach?

The most common form of cockroach in the US is the American cockroach. The American cockroach, also known as the water bug, is the largest of all the house-infesting roaches. Considering it is named the American cockroach, you might be surprised to learn that it is not native to North America.

They are believed to have originated in Africa. There is some evidence to suggest that they were first introduced in the early 1600s on trade ships. Most likely due to their adaptability, you can find the American cockroach all over the world.

You will know an American cockroach by its reddish-brown color, oval shape, and length of about 1 ½ inches. They have six legs and antennae. Look out, both the male and female cockroach has wings and can fly.

As if you needed one more reason to be wary of the American cockroach, they can bite humans. Fortunately, they rarely do, but a bite can become infected. If you are bitten, seek the proper medical attention.

The American cockroach can be the bearer of around 33 different kinds of bacteria. Some of these include-

E. coli
Salmonella
Parasitic worms
Dangerous human pathogens

Because cockroaches are attracted to decaying matter, they frequently carry viruses or bacteria that are found in sewage and other filth.

What are the Habits of the Cockroach?

Cockroaches can be found both in and outdoors, though they generally prefer the latter. Typically, they can be found in drains or sewers or anywhere that water is readily available.

In warmer climates, where water is more scarce, you can commonly find cockroaches in shady, humid areas- think flower beds or mulch piles.

Cockroaches will eat almost any organic matter that they can easily find. They are omnivorous scavengers and are highly adaptable.

They prefer meats, starches, and sweets. In a pinch, though, they will feed on such items as hair, books, or decaying matter.

When they face a food shortage or a significant change in their environment or climate, they often move indoors. Their ideal temperature range is between seventy and eighty degrees Fahrenheit.

The most common form of entry is as passengers on human clothes or belongings, access through pipes from the sewer, or even mass migration from dumpsters or trash cans.

Once they enter a residence or commercial building, they often make their way to the places with the most abundant food supplies. In your home, that means your kitchen, bathroom, basement, or laundry room.

In commercial buildings, a cockroach infestation can be anywhere. Cockroaches are most common in factories and restaurants where the high concentration of food can be hard for the swarms to resist.

As we mentioned, cockroaches will eat almost any organic matter, but they tend to prefer fermenting or decaying material. A home with an abundance of litter or crumbs is an attractive space for the American cockroach.

How Do I Know if I Have a Cockroach Infestation?

It is often hard to tell if your home is infested with this elusive pest. Cockroaches are nocturnal, and therefore most active at night. The hours between dusk and dawn is when they tend to travel to feed.

Because of this proclivity to the dark, they prefer to live and hide in dark places. If the area is also moist and musty, all the better.

When searching your home for a cockroach infestation, there are four main signs-

1. Cockroach Droppings

One of the earliest signs of a cockroach infestation is the feces they leave behind. These droppings resemble black pepper or coffee grounds. These remains can be even larger and more cylindrical, depending on the size of your roaches.

They can become so large that people often mistake them for mice droppings. The more feces you find, the more roaches you have, and the longer the infestation has lasted.

2. Cockroach Eggs

Another sure sign that you may be facing a cockroach infestation is the presence of cockroach eggs. The egg of the American cockroach is oval-shaped. You will typically find them out of sight in areas of lower traffic.

3. Unpleasant Odors

Many species of cockroaches emit an unpleasant odor. These pheromones are often described as oily or musty. This odor springs from pheromones intentionally released by live cockroaches or the bodies of the dead and decaying specimen.

4. Cockroach Sightings

The last and most obvious clue that you have a cockroach problem is a sighting of the pests themselves. Rest assured, if you see one bug, you are playing host to many more unseen pests.

How Do I Prevent a Cockroach Infestation?

Unfortunately for those who suffer from an infestation, cockroaches are some of the most resilient pests in the entire world. They are uniquely adept at surviving and are even able to live without their head for a week.

In light of that terrifying information, it is easier to keep them out than to get to remove them. The most effective preventative measures are cleanliness and barrier exclusion.

Clean Your Area

The best way to keep cockroaches out of your home is by maintaining an unwelcoming environment. To a cockroach, a clean home free of debris is incredibly unwelcoming.

Keep your counters, cabinets, sinks, tables, and floors free of crumbs and clutter. Clean and put away your dishes promptly and store your food in airtight containers.

Barrier Exclusion

Cover or fill any small cracks and gaps in walls, electric sockets, drains, or switch plates. Whenever you find an opening, seal it with silicone-based caulk.

If you find that preventative measures have come too late and you are facing a full-blown infestation, contact Environmental Pest Management today.

February 19, 2020December 15, 2025

Garter Snakes: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) with tongue out,

If you live in North America, the chances are that you have seen a Garter snake at some point in your life. Garter snakes are some of the most common varieties of snakes.

Garter snakes are harmless. In fact, many people keep them as pets. Let’s talk a bit more about this fascinating animal.

At Environmental Pest Management, we respect and care for all aspects of nature. We understand that every creature has its place in the fabric of nature, even the ones that aren’t’ cute and cuddly.

How do I know this snake is a Garter snake?

Garter snakes are not the easiest to identify. They come in a wide variety of colors, but most have three stripes running down their bodies. The color of each individual snake and its stripes depends on its species.

Some species have intricate patterns as well as stripes, making each one unique.

Garter snakes are small, between 23 to 30 inches in length. They have been known to reach lengths of five feet in rare cases. They are often stout-bodied with a ridge down the center of their back.

One more defining characteristic of the Garter snake is its dual-colored tongue. Some of the species of Garter snake possess a mild neurotoxic venom, but even those bites are not dangerous to humans.

There have been some cases of mild swelling and itching in humans after a bite. Allergic reactions are rare, but they can happen. If you are bitten, you need to clean the bite immediately and thoroughly.

Where do Garter snakes live?

The answer is, almost anywhere. Garter snakes are not picky in their preferred habitat. You can find them in meadows, woodlands, grassy knolls, and anywhere that is close to a source of water.

The Garter snake can be found all across the North American continent. The largest population concentration of this snake can be found in the Eastern United States. In fact, it is the state reptile of Massachusetts.

Interestingly enough, Garter snakes have been spotted in the Northernmost US state, Alaska. Alaska has no native snakes, so these appearances are a bit of a mystery.

Garter Snake Habits

Garter snakes are shy. They will generally avoid humans and animal contact and prefer to be left alone. If you have Garter snakes in your yard or garden, chances are you may not even know.

Garter snakes are incredibly active. They come out both night and day. They are typically ground-dwellers, but they may also climb shrubs, vines, or trees to escape predators.

Some species of Garter snakes are even proficient swimmers.

Whenever a Garter snake feels threatened, they produce a foul-smelling musk. They use this odor to defend themselves against predators. This musk comes in handy because the Garter snake has many predators.

Some of the common predators of the Garter snake include-

Hawks
Crows
Bears
Bullfrogs
Snapping turtles
Foxes
Squirrels
Raccoons

The species of Garter snake that live in colder climates spend their winters in hibernation. They gather in large groups and hibernate together in hidden dens. These clusters of Garter snakes can number into the hundreds.

Garter snakes will travel great distances to hibernate in their particular communal den. Some dens in Canada can contain thousands of snakes.

Garter snakes make excellent pets. Their small size and daytime activity level make them the ideal pet for someone who wants a snake. They are small enough that even children can hold them with an adult nearby.

If you are considering adding a Garter snake into your family, don’t catch one from the wild. Depending on where you live, that practice might be illegal.

Instead of facing the potential backlash that can come with the dangerous and potentially illegal catch, contact a pet store or breeder. You can even try to find a rescue organization.

You can feel good in the knowledge that you have given a second chance to an animal that probably needed it.

For your new pet, you will need a 40-50 gallon aquarium. Make sure it has a lid that can be secured. Your snake will need fresh water, and you will need to keep the tank in a warm place.

Consider purchasing a heat lamp to keep your new critter warm. It would be best if you fill your new pet’s habitat with rocks and a bed of shredded paper. Just make sure you change the paper frequently.

Garter Snake Diet

Garter snakes feed on all the pests that you would like to disappear. Some of the principal sources of food for a Garter snake include-

Slugs
Snails
Grasshoppers
Small insects
Small rodents
Worms
Frogs
Salamanders
Fish
Tadpoles

The neurotoxin found in the venom of Garter snakes can cause paralysis in their prey. They use their quick reflexes and sharp teeth to help them catch their prey. Like most snakes, Garters swallow their food whole.

Garter Snake Reproduction

Peak Garter snake mating season occurs congruently with the hibernation period. Large concentrations of Garter snakes emerge from their communal dens. They also gather together in large numbers right before the hibernation period begins.

For Garter snakes that live in warmer climates, they don’t hibernate. For those species, instead of a mating season tied to hibernation patterns, they rely on pheromones to find mates.

The female Garter snake puts off a strong-smelling pheromone, which will attract dozens of males. After the mating is complete, the female snake carries the sperm inside her body until she is ready to fertilize her eggs.

She will give birth to anywhere between 20 to 40 babies at a time. Garter snakes birth live young. The baby snakes are pretty much on their own right away.

Garter snakes are incredibly common, but thankfully they are not dangerous for humans. Humans and Garter snakes can live in relative harmony together.

If you have questions or concerns about Garter snakes or any other pests, contact Environmental Pest Management. We will make your pest problems our pest problems, and taking care of pest problems is our business.