Squirrel! What To Do When Gray Squirrels Get Too Close

Gray Squirrels may look cute and fluffy, but that doesn’t mean you want them living in your home. If you are facing a gray squirrel epidemic, contact Environmental Pest Management today. Get your free quote and let us get rid of your pests.

You may be wondering what type of squirrel you have as unintentional houseguests. One of the culprits is the gray squirrel. Squirrels in your home are no fun, we know. Check out what to do if they’re driving you nuts!

Grey Squirrel 101

The gray squirrel, often known as the Eastern gray squirrel, is typically found in, you guessed it, the Eastern half of the United States. They are mammals, and they generally range in size from 5 to 26 inches, including their tails. You will find gray squirrels anywhere from .5 ounces to up to 4 pounds fully grown.

The gray squirrels survive on a varied diet as they are omnivores. Their primary diet, though, consists of nuts, seeds, buds, and flowers of trees, which they forage.

Eastern gray squirrels are tree squirrels, meaning they spend much of their time in the leaves and branches of trees. They are essential to seed dispersal in their region. In the months leading up to winter, they hide or bury their food in several varied locations.

In their preparedness, they gather and store more food than they will ever be able to recover and eat. They are capable, and even known to build several thousand separate hiding places per season! Naturally, they will never be able to eat all that food, and much is left untouched.

Those untouched hidden caches of buried or stored nuts will eventually sprout. In the spring months, many new plants will grow, all thanks to the gray squirrel and its thriftiness.

Eastern gray squirrels rely on their excellent sense of smell to help them find the hiding spots for the nuts and seeds. They can also communicate with their fellow grey squirrels with particular scents.

Beyond those scents, gray squirrels communicate with each other through sounds and body movements. One prominent example of this movement-based communication is a good tail flicking.

They are also known to warn other squirrels of nearby predators, such as red foxes or red-tailed hawks. They will sound out warning calls to signal the incoming danger.

Reproduction and the Gray Squirrel

Female gray squirrels may become pregnant as early as five and a half months old. They can birth liters two times a year. A typical litter consists of two to four babies.

These expectant mothers generally build their nests high in the branches of trees to avoid predators. They create these nests out of twigs and leaves. Occasionally, they will find a secure enough den in a particularly well-protected tree root cavity.

When they are first born, gray squirrels do not have fur or the ability to use their eyesight. They typically weigh around 14 grams or half an ounce. They don’t begin to leave the nest until about ten or eleven weeks, and they don’t reach full maturity until around nine months.

Gray Squirrel Distinguishing Characteristics

Gray squirrels are generally, surprise, surprise, gray. They are small rodents with expressive, bushy tails.

As previously stated, gray squirrels are omnivores. So, in addition to their primary diet of nuts and seeds, gray squirrels are scavengers and will eat pretty much whatever is available to them. This includes insects, frogs, and even the occasional small nesting bird.

Gray squirrels are most active during the late hours of the day or the early hours of the morning. Gray squirrels are often considered an invasive species because of their tendency to overpopulate a given area.

Because of this overpopulation, gray squirrels have been known to invade human habitats, especially during the coldest of the winter months. They can most commonly be found nesting in attics, exterior walls, cellars, or basements. Their favorite indoor nesting material is, unfortunately, for the homeowner, all that essential and expensive insulation.

Signs of a Squirrel Infestation

One of the first, and most annoying, clues that you have a gray squirrel infestation is the scurrying noises they make. Unfortunately, because they are early risers, these scurrying noises will likely wake you up.

Additionally, gray squirrels have perpetually growing teeth. They are forced to continually grind them down to avoid endangering themselves. Therefore, you may notice tiny teeth marks on the wood, sheetrock, ceilings, exterior walls, or attic support structures.

Are Gray Squirrels Dangerous or Threatening?

While they are not generally dangerous to humans, gray squirrels are capable of doing considerable damage to your home. They can leave holes in your exterior trim as they create new or widen existing entry points.

They have been known to chew on and damage electrical wiring. If they are allowed to do this, you may be dealing with a short or even a fire.

Additionally, gray squirrels may even be carriers of fleas, harmful bacteria, or viruses. It goes without saying that your family’s health can be at risk if your home is infested with unwanted critters.

How Do I Prevent Gray Squirrels From Entering My Home in the First Place?

First things first, check with your local game warden. Gray squirrels are protected in specific areas; you should know if you live in one of them.

Thankfully, as a homeowner, you have several preventative measures at your disposal. One of the easiest ways to prevent gray squirrels from entering your home is metal flashing or mesh. Use this versatile material to cover any potential entry points.

Your unwanted squatters will be unable to gain entry and will likely move on.

You can also make a quick and easy DIY squirrel repellant. You can buy squirrel repellant from your local garden or hardware store, but it is easy and often cheaper to make it yourself. Use this easy recipe for foolproof results.

Use this repellant to squirrel-proof your fence, garden, the base of your house, or even your bird feeders.

You can also seal your outdoor trash can and sweep up and remove any nuts or berries from directly around your home. Removing their food source will go a long way to preventing those pesky critters from invading your home.

Also, it is a good idea to keep the branches of the trees closest to your home trimmed back. Prevent gray squirrels from jumping on your roof by removing their access.

If you are still experiencing squirrel problems, contact Environmental Pest Management. Our humane animal removal methods will leave you pest free.

December 5, 2019December 15, 2025

What Are Voles? Everything You Need To Know

If you love gardening, chances are you love Mother Nature. As lovers of Mother Nature, we know that there is a place for all of her creatures. As gardeners, we hope that place is anywhere but our gardens.

Voles, small rodents, also known as meadow mice, are small and cute. Unfortunately, they can be quite damaging to your garden and yard.

Here at Environmental Pest Management, we employ a capture and release method to take care of household pests. Contact us today if you are having vole issues. We know how to get rid of voles that are ruining your lawn.

Before you know if you are having vole issues, though, you might need to learn a little bit about voles. Let us take you through a few vole facts.

What are voles?

Voles are small mammals. They are part of the rodent family. While they look very similar to field mice or common house mice, there is one main difference between mice and voles.

Voles rarely, if ever venture indoors. They live their whole lives outside, much of it underground. Most of their time underground is spent burrowing and building a network of tunnels.

The primary purpose of these tunnels is food storage. They also birth and raise their young in this tunnel network.

What do they look like?

Voles can be anywhere from 4 to 9 inches long, including its tail. They have small, round ears that are hard to see because they are usually hidden by fur. Their eyes are small and beady.

Voles have small, stocky bodies, short legs, and a short tail. They are usually brown or grey.

Where do they come from, and where do they live?

Voles can be found exclusively in the Northern Hemisphere. They inhabit parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. Of the 143 species of voles, only 23 of them can be found in the United States.

Typically, a vole lives its entire life inside of a quarter-mile radius. Depending on the species, a vole can live and thrive in a wide variety of habitats. One thing they need, though, is a dense ground cover.

As previously stated, voles spend most of their time underground. They live in colonies, and they create complex tunnels and burrow systems.

In these tunnels, the nest, protect themselves and each other, store and eat food, and live out their lives. These tunnels are extensive and are usually connected by runways. Additionally, voles may even take over tubes that have been evacuated by other burrowing animals.

What do they eat?

As they are herbivores, A vole’s diet consists mainly of plants. Some of their favorite foods include, but are not limited to:

Grasses
Herbaceous plants
Roots
Seeds
Seedlings
Bulbs
Alfalfa
bark

If their preferred food is scarce, voles may eat insects or snails. Though they definitely prefer vegetation.

What is typical vole behaviour?

Voles do not hibernate. They are active throughout the entire year, both day and night.

Speaking of active, voles are some of the most prolific breeders in the entire rodent family. Each year, one female vole can produce anywhere from five to ten liters of three to six young each. While they are capable of reproducing all year long, but their peak birth rates are during the spring and summer months.

How long do they live?

In the wild, voles live for about 3 to 6 months. They have one of the shortest life spans of all rodents. Even in captivity, voles rarely live longer than one year.

A Few Fun Facts:

Several species of voles are excellent swimmers. The European Water Vole is capable of swimming up to 50 feet underwater.
Voles share the same taxonomic family, Cricetidae, as hamsters.
A few of the North American species of voles actually live in trees. The Red Tree Vole are excellent climbers. They can be found in the forests of the Northwest United States.
Some of the species of voles are monogamous.
The most densely populated vole population on record is around 2,000 voles per acre.

How do I prevent voles?

Voles like to be in your backyard. Keeping them out is best, but we also have some tips to get rid of them.

Keep your yard free of dense, heavy vegetative cover
Keep your yard mowed and bushes trimmed short
Bird feeders can be an attraction, be aware and try to keep them high off the ground
Both dense mulch and snowfall can become a home for voles, keep them clear from your yard
Use tree-guard mesh to protect your trees
Protect your flowers and plants with a fence of at least twelve inches in height
Some forms of repellent can be useful; the most effective are the various predator urines that can be found at gardening stores

What kind of damage can they do?

A few of the common signs of the damage voles can cause are:

Look for irregular paths, about one to two inches wide, of trampled grass or soil
Holes with a diameter of 1.5 inches close to surface runways
Teeth marks on the bark or stems around the bottom of your trees- they will be about ⅛ in wide and ⅜ in long
Damage to the roots of your trees
Yellow and wilted plants
Missing bulbs from flowering plants

If you are experiencing the problems that accompany a vole infestation, contact Environmental Pest Management today.

November 18, 2019December 15, 2025

What You Need to Know About Creepy, Crawly Millipedes

Do you know the difference between millipedes and centipedes? While they are in the same family, several small but significant points differentiate these two common pests.

For today, we are going to focus on millipedes and everything you should know about them to avoid an infestation.

If you are currently experiencing issues with a millipede infestation, contact the friendly and knowledgeable professionals at Environmental Pest Management for your free quote. We will take care of your bug problems without harm to mother nature.

Now, onto the stampede of millipede facts!

What do millipedes look like?

Millipedes are often mistakenly thought to have a thousand legs, hence the name. The name comes from the joining of the Latin words mil, meaning a thousand, and ped, meaning feet.

In reality, most millipedes have somewhere between 30 and 90 pairs of legs. The millipede with the most legs, in fact, only has about 750 legs in total. Now that’s a lot of legs!

The Illacme plenipes aside, most millipedes range in length from a little less than 1 inch to a whopping 15 inches. You can find millipedes in many different colors with brown being the most common. But you can also find red, orange or black millipedes.

Millipedes may look like worms, but actually, their bodies are segmented. Each segment houses two separate pairs of legs. When they move, their rows of legs resemble a flowing wave.

Millipedes are arthropods. An arthropod is an invertebrate with an exoskeleton and jointed appendages. When threatened, they will curl up in a coil to protect their soft underbellies.

Where do millipedes live?

There are about 1000 different types of millipedes in the US.

Millipedes are nocturnal. They like damp, dark places and require a high level of moisture to survive. They can swiftly die from being exposed to dry conditions for too long. When this happens, they curl up and dry out and are easily vacuumed up and disposed of when found this way.

Millipedes would much rather be outside than in. You will most commonly find them in your garden or in or around outdoor structures; such as your storage shed or dog house. You can also often find them in damp mulch, piles of leaves, or freshly cut grass clippings.

Crawlspaces and basements are particularly vulnerable to millipede infestations. If your entry points to these spaces are not properly sealed, these creepy crawlers may find their way in.

You want to be particularly aware of millipedes when there is excess moisture around, like when the snow is thawing or after extended periods of rain.

Millipedes are nocturnal. They are most active at night and therefore, if you have millipedes in your home, at night is the most likely time you will see them.

During the colder months, millipedes will often migrate to warmer climates. They are also known to move in masse when the area they live in experiences heavy rain. To be clear, they need moisture, but too much liquid can be deadly.

Interesting fact:

According to ThoughtCo. Fossil evidence indicates that millipedes were the first animals to live on land. Scientists believed they were the first species to leave the water and evolve to breathe air.

What do millipedes eat?

Millipedes are scavengers. Their primary diet consists of damp and decaying leaves and wood, and other rotting plant material.

On a grosser note, they occasionally shed their outer layer of skin. After this shedding, the millipede will eat what it molts. The reason for this behavior is unclear, but it could be to replace lowered calcium levels after molting.

Sometimes, millipedes will eat small insects, snails, or even earthworms. Usually, they eat the dead insects they find, but they infrequently hunt these creatures for sustenance.

How long do millipedes live?

Millipedes hatch from eggs. The female millipede will lay around 100 eggs at a time. She will burrow into the soil and protect them until they hatch.

When they do hatch, depending on the species, most millipedes have three pairs of legs to start. As they grow, so do the rest of their legs.

Millipedes have surprisingly long lifespans. They are extremely good at camouflage, and they can effectively evade predators by staying buried underground.

Millipedes are capable of living up to 10 years or more. Thankfully for us though, they do not live very long once they find themselves inside a house or apartment. They are unable to find the moist conditions or food they need to survive.

Are millipedes poisonous?

Well, we’ve got good news and bad news.

The good news is, millipedes do not bite. They are not considered venomous.

The bad news? Some species can produce foul-smelling, irritating liquid from glands on the sides of their bodies. This liquid, while not deadly, can cause slight irritation flare-ups on your skin if you come into contact with it.

The millipedes use these glands as a defense mechanism. This fluid can also be released when the millipede is crushed or if you accidentally step on it. For this reason, you should never handle a millipede with your bare hands or squash one with your bare feet.

Should I be worried about millipedes?

Thankfully, if millipedes do get into your home, they will not do any damage. The only thing you should be concerned about is the pungent liquid they could emit as a defense against any perceived threat. This fluid can be particularly harmful to small children or pets.

If you suspect a millipede infestation in your home, don’t hesitate to contact us. At Environmental Pest Management, our priority is you and your home. We only utilize products and methods we would use in our own homes around our own families.

So, call us today and let us make your bug worries disappear!

November 6, 2019December 15, 2025

8 Legs and Lots of Fear: Spider 101

Spiders have a bad reputation. So many people are afraid of them, that fear of spiders has its own name; Arachnophobia.

Here at Environmental Pest Management, we want to show you why spiders are essential. While they might be a little scary, spiders play an indispensable role in their environments and, beyond that, they are simply fascinating.

If you have any bug questions or concerns, contact us for a free quote. Bugs belong outside your home, and we will make sure they stay away.

Now, let’s dive into some fun spider facts!

What are they?

Spiders are arachnids. They are a class of arthropods. Other arthropods include scorpions, mites, and ticks.

There are about 45,000 species of spiders around the world. You can find spiders on every continent except Antarctica. Interestingly enough, scientists believe that we have discovered and classified less than half of the spider species in existence.

Spiders can range in size from a few millimeters to almost a foot long. There are so many varied types of spiders that it is hard to believe that they are all in the same family!

Where do they live?

Because there are so many different types of spiders, it is hard to pinpoint only one kind of habitat. Spiders live in almost every climate on earth.

There are a few types of spiders that live almost exclusively indoors. These common house spiders like to make their homes in the forgotten corners of your home. You will find them tucked away behind boxes, stowed away on shelves, or hiding in the dark spaces of your basement or attic.

Most of these house spiders are harmless and actually do you a favor by eating other bugs that may be harmful to you and your family.

What do they eat?

Spiders are carnivorous. A spider’s primary diet is composed of the insects we consider pests. Some of these include roaches, flies, mosquitoes, moths, and earwigs, to name a few. Because of this, spiders are very effective at pest control.

Not only are spiders good at keeping pest populations at bay, but they can also help reduce the spread of diseases. Many common pests can transmit harmful bacteria and viruses to humans; spiders are nature’s disease prevention.

Spiders also eat other spiders. When two spiders meet, they usually engage in a battle royale of sorts. The victor eats the loser. Interestingly, long-legged cellar spiders, commonly known as daddy long legs, have been known to kill and eat black widow spiders.

Are they dangerous?

All spiders do contain some degree of venom. Most spiders though are not dangerous to humans. In fact, there are only three poisonous spiders in the US.

Black Widow

There are three separate species of the black widow spider; the Southern black widow, the Western black widow, and the Northern black widow.

Black widows are aggressive, and you should avoid them at all costs. If a black widow bites you, seek medical attention immediately.

Brown Recluse

The brown recluse spider can also be known as the fiddleback or violin spider because of its distinctive markings. They like to hide in cool, dark places, like your attic, basement, or even piles of wood.

The bite from a brown recluse is very toxic. Its venom is destructive to human flesh and can cause extensive damage to the tissue which can lead to infection. If a brown recluse bites you, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Hobo

The hobo spider is a funnel-web spider that is found exclusively in the Pacific Northwest. It waits at the bottom of its web for its prey.

Although the hobo spider is aggressive, it avoids humans and rarely bites. Like the brown recluse, the bite from a hobo can cause tissue damage at the site. If bitten, seek medical attention.

How long do spiders live?

This question is difficult to answer as there are so many different species of spiders. Suffice it to say; most spiders can live about one to two years. Some species live longer, and the oldest known spider lived to the ripe old age of 43!

All About Webs!

All spiders are capable of making silk. Not all spiders spin webs though. Some use their silk as a means of travel. No spider can fly, but with these nifty parachutes, they are able to traverse great distances.

When spiders spin webs, they do so for many different purposes. Spiders live on their nest, and they use them to attract and trap prey.

Once the prey is trapped, the spider will inject the insect with a liquefying toxin, essentially allowing the spider to drink its prey from the inside out. Gruesome, yes, but utterly fascinating and essential for the ecosystem. Spiders are necessary because they kill and eat bothersome pests that destroy crops.

How do I keep them out?

Prevent spiders and other insects from entering your home by sealing up their entrances. Use caulk or silicone to block any place a pest may infiltrate your home; such as doorways, windows, or vents.
Clear away debris from the outside of your home. Trash, dead leaves, mulch, and plant debris can be a good place for spiders to congregate. Keep these places of refuge away from your home.
Store your clothing and other items in plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Cardboard boxes attract insects, which in turn attracts spiders.
Store your firewood far away from your house to avoid transporting spiders and other insects indoors. Shake off and bang your wood on the ground or a tree to dislodge hidden pests.
Use a pesticide around your home, especially in the typical places spiders live. We recommend an environmentally friendly option like vinegar or chili powder. Check out this great list of all-natural spider removal techniques.
Contact Environmental Pest Management, and we will apply an outdoor pest treatment around the foundation of your home.

Hopefully, with some of this new information, you have a more favorable opinion of spiders. They are an essential component of their environment. Without them, the world would literally be crawling with bugs.

If you are experiencing pest problems, contact Environmental Pest Management for your free quote.

October 25, 2019December 15, 2025

Too Many Legs to Count: What You Need to Know About Centipedes

If you have seen creepy, crawly pests with too many legs to count scurrying around your home, you might have centipedes. These bugs can be frightening and are often a cause for worry.

If you have centipedes, or any pests, in your home, call Environmental Pest Management. We have the experience you need to take care of any pests in your home.

What are Centipedes?

House centipedes are known to scientists as Scutigera coleoptrata. To the general public, house centipedes are known as the “hundred leggers” even though they have less than one hundred legs the name suggests.

What house centipedes do have are 15 pairs of very long legs which help the furtive pests run extremely fast. These swift-moving pests may be scurrying right into your home soon as they are known for searching out warmer habitats in early fall.

According to the University of Minnesota Extension, you may discover house centipedes running across a wall, ceiling, or open room toward a dark area.

They may stop abruptly and remain motionless before they suddenly begin running again with excellent maneuverability over and around objects. If you see centipedes darting around, here’s two primary reasons to contact a pest control company like Environmental Pest Management.

Centipedes in your home could mean they are happily hunting prey inside the house, and you may have another insect problem. A professional will look for bedbugs, termites, cockroaches, silverfish, spiders, and other household pests.
You want to halt any potential centipede infestation by sealing up all access points and eliminating the ones already inside before they settle in. Environment Pest Management will quickly and authoritatively show them the door.

Bathroom Invaders

Outside, centipedes primarily live under large rocks, under piles of wood, in compost piles, or buried in mulch piles around outdoor planters. They start to come indoors when the weather turns colder.

Entry points for house centipedes are usually gaps in your home’s foundation, around door frames, or through broken and basement windows. Knowing this, you can try to implement measures to keep them out.

The University of Minnesota Extension, suggests you start on the outside of your home. You should seal cracks in exterior walls, remove leaf litter, and trim foundation plantings.

Once they break in, house centipedes usually head for dark corners, damp basements, crawlspaces, and bathrooms. They like places that are dark, moist, and damp.

As a result, house centipedes are known to get trapped in sinks and toilet bowls. They will sometimes emerge from the bathtub or other drain holes. WHOA!

If the thought of sharing a bathroom with house centipedes make you shudder, you should initiate contact with Environmental Pest Management sooner rather than later.

Nighttime Hunters

Nighttime is when stealthy and covert house centipedes love to hunt. They feed on insects, spiders, cockroaches, moths, crickets, silverfish, and other arthropods, like sowbugs and millipedes.

Some even say this predatory habit and diet is what makes house centipedes potentially one of the good guys and worth keeping around the house. If you are not among that group, the Environmental Pest Management phone number is 952-432-2221.

More Speed Than Bite But Beware

The legs of the centipede are on the side of the body, rather than underneath. This enables the house centipede to move extremely fast. According to insectidentification.org, their ability to go from 0-60 mph in half a heartbeat can be freaky.

Though scary looking, house centipedes are not considered dangerous. They may bite, however, if picked up and handled.

The painful, local reaction to a centipede bite will be similar to a bee sting, and it could become red and swollen. There could be an allergic reaction. Children are often more sensitive to the bite.

More Identifying Characteristics

The University of Minnesota Extension provides a list of identifying characteristics of a house centipede on their website:

They are more than 1 inch long fully grown.
House centipedes have fifteen pairs of long, jointed legs that are striped.
Their flattened brownish or grayish-yellow body is marked with three dark stripes
Two long, whip-like antennae and “feelers allow them to locate prey in the dark moist places where they like to live and hunt for food.”

You can also check out our online pest library for photos of house centipedes and more identifying facts.

How Many Centipedes Can A Centipede Produce?

Ready for another WHOA? The house centipede can live its complete life span indoors. According to Ohio University Extension, They overwinter as adults and lay eggs in the spring. Females deposit as many as 60 eggs and often wind their bodies around their eggs to protect them from other predators. Eggs will hatch around 3 months later. Larvae, or newly hatched centipedes, are very seldom seen.

If you believe “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” give Environmental Pest Management a call at (952) 432-2221.

Free Estimates For All Pest Control

It’s getting cold outside, which means all kinds of other pests are trying to get inside. Environmental Pest Management has developed some helpful ways to keep a host of these bugs outside. This blog post provides a good starter list.

Environmental Pest Management provides services to east-central Minnesota including the greater ten county metro area of the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs. We also service several communities in Western Wisconsin.

We customize our pest control programs with considerations for your safety and budget. An initial inspection will include a chance to go over your concerns and expectations. You will find a full description of Environmental Pest Management residential services right here.

Let us help you get rid of the “WHOA” and reclaim your home!