19Jan/17

5 Super Simple Ways To Keep Your Home Pest-Free

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There are many bad habits – including leaving food accessible, that can welcome pests into your home with open arms. Did you know there are a large number of ways you could be attracting these little visitors without even knowing it?

For your home to remain pest free and protected beware of these five unknown invitations:

 

1.Moisture

Warm and moist; the perfect combination to create a fantastic home for pests. Inspect your plumbing for leaks regularly, and repair them immediately to discourage pests from moving in.

 

2.Screen damage

Small tears in your window and/or door screens may seem unnecessary to repair or replace but in reality many insects can crawl through even the tiniest holes. Replace any screens with damage as soon as possible to avoid leaving an open door for pests.  

 

3.Clutter

Piles of items, yes even non food items-can attract a variety of rodents and insects. Both species love to burrow and hide in piles of papers or other clutter so remove any items that would make creating a home easy for these little guys.  

 

4.Cracks

Small cracks around doors and windows are ones most homeowners think of monitoring but many go unnoticed. Monitor your foundation, and walls for small cracks and around appliance vents, utility lines and plumbing. Filling these small, and seemingly harmless spaces sooner rather than later can protect from a bigger problem.

 

5.Your neighbours

Do you have a neighbour that throws their grass clippings behind their fence instead of bagging them? Or maybe they don’t clean up after their beloved dog regularly or at all? The surrounding neighbourhood, and people in it are a large contributing factor to pest control in the area. Should you experience issues or have concerns it’s best to address them with your neighbour in a friendly manner before infestation becomes a reality.

 

If you encounter a problem don’t hesitate to contact us. We have a variety of preventative options available for you in Regina and surrounding areas.

10Jan/17

Enjoying a Pest-Free Winter? Maybe not.

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We spend Spring time worried about ticks, Summers swatting mosquito’s and Fall Time it’s flailing season with flies and wasps.

Finally when the temperature drops and the winter sets in, we get reprieve – but where do they all these bugs go?

In case you were every wondering what happens to these little pesky pests during the winter months, here’s the lowdown on how our favourite and (and not so favourite) creatures spend the rest of their year.

Migrate South:

From monarch butterflies to leafhoppers and milkweed bugs, some insects escape to warmer climates. Can you blame them?

Go dormant:

Similar to hibernation, many insects enter a stage called “diapause”, or deep sleep, relying on the length of sunlight as a cue to bed down.

Mosquitos: These common Canadian pests spend the chilly winters outdoors. Even though we don’t see them they are still here but remain dormant. Some lay winter eggs which lie dormant in the soil until the spring. Commonly the females lay eggs in later summer or fall that then hatch in the spring when the weather warms up and sufficient rain falls. Some mosquitoes can survive winter in the larval stage.

House flies: Flies live for a maximum of two months however, some flies manage to live until winter.The larvae grow and pupate to protect themselves in the winter. In the spring the pupate hatch into adults.

Wasps: In fall, most male wasps die. The male wasps are the workers of the species and before they die, impregnate the queens. The queens seek out refuge in warm places for winter. Long, cold winters are ideal for the queen’s survival because mild winters bring them out of hibernation early where they are at risk to starve to death. In the spring, queens build nests to lay eggs in and create new colonies.

Bees: As winter approaches, bees gather the central area of the hive and create a winter cluster. They remain in the cluster for the entire winter. During the cold months a bees only job is to protect the queen. Keeping her safe and warm is the only goal. Worker bees flutter their wings and shiver around the queen as the constant motion and continuous energy is how they keep the temperature warm inside the hive. Before they retreat for winter, bees stockpile honey to sustain themselves and have enough energy to continue shivering throughout the winter.

Makes sense – most people wish they could sleep through winter too!

Brave the cold:

Insects like snow fleas (springtails), moths and some beetles can reduce their water content or replace water molecules in their cells with glycerol, which acts as anti-freeze and protects them from the cold. Wow! How unfair – insects can shed their water weight without a problem!

Join the family:

Many insects such as ladybugs, cluster flies, stink bugs and boxelder bugs find a home away from home in attics and wall voids, where they cluster in large groups or masses.

The ones that join your family to cozy up in the attic or walls over the winter can easily be given an eviction notice from us!

Get in touch with us for your winter home inspection.

30Dec/16

Why Your Hospitality Business Needs US…

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We live in a world of whistle-blowers -That’s why!

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Any hotel guest or restaurant patron is quick to leave a review, make a post and upload a photo…of a bad experience.

 

Sadly, that’s the truth! How many people run home and post a review about a great clean dining or hotel experience – not many!

But, we sure see a lot of david-downers and negative-nelly’s posting their rants about a less than stellar experience. It’s a social condition that we haven’t quite figured out yet. It’s an odd mindset of having to say something bad online but not address it directly with management.

Even though we don’t know why people do it – we know it happens.

 

In this day and age, it’s more important than ever to be diligent in your service to customers – bad news travels fast and good news seems hard to find.

We can help you in one particular aspect of your business – and it’s an aspect we think is important to customer satisfaction and peace of mind.

 

We want you to stay off the radar in the rodent department!

 

The hospitality industry is steadily beat-down with a barrage of rants.

A bad review is expensive and works against your marketing efforts.

Now we can’t help you with general customer service or day to day operations – but we can make sure that your business is rodent and pest free.

 

The last thing you want is to see a picture of a bed bug or cockroach end up on trip advisor!

You also don’t want to see mice or bugs end up on your restaurant review. Let’s be honest, hotels and restaurants have a high guest turn-over and pest issues are real – but they are also avoidable and detectable with regular monitoring and management.

If you have pest issues, we don’t want your guests and patrons to be the first to know about it.

 

So, we encourage you to allot a pest management fee into your monthly budget – just like you would for advertising or maintenance. It’s an invaluable part of taking proper measures to maintain your business.

The best defense against pest problems is offence.

We can help silence the negative nelly’s and keep you in the good books.

 

Your reputation depends on it.

Get in touch with us to see what we can do to keep pest management under control in your business, all year long.

10Dec/16

GOOD RIDDANCE TO RACCOONS!

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Curious, cute & smart, Raccoons though wild animals are like us in their pursuit of happiness for food & shelter. Their ingenuity makes these nocturnal bandits a challenge to evict once they’ve found their source for “happiness” in your space. Raccoons have migrated from woodlands to urban and suburban areas where they have discovered an endless supply of food and shelter options.
Do you have raccoons on your property or in your home? Here are some tips for homeowners struggling with these intelligent troublemakers and potential problems they may cause.
PREVENTATIVE SCARE TACTICS
LIGHT IT UP!
Raccoons are nocturnal creatures and prefer to do their work in the dark. Motion activated flood lights are a good scare tactic to employ for starters as a preventative deterrent.
CRANK IT UP!
Motion activated radios are also a great preventative. Particularly talk radio.
SOAK IT UP!
Specifically timed or motion activated sprinklers will deter these mischievous critters by startling them with a good scare soak.
CUT OFF THEIR SCAVENGER SUPPLY
Being good climbers and excellent problem solvers, Raccoons are skilled dumpster divers. Removing or limiting access to garbage ( put garbage bins in sheds or garages) compost, garden remains, fallen fruit, pet food, bird feeders, etc. will help in limiting these opportunistic feeders supply. They will simply find an easier source to access.
“NO VACANCY” HOME PROOFING
 

Raccoons like nice, dry, warm places like hollow logs, burrows, holes in trees, and dens abandoned by other animals. Being intelligent and urban opportunists they often go one step further and move into your attic? It’s warm, dry and more spacious. Good for them, bad for you. Raccoons often look for homes for their young in attics and will ruin insulation, wreck soffits and screens, and make holes in the side of your house to set up a cozy home for their families. Aside from being destructive, raccoons commonly carry fleas, roundworm, and rabies. For all of these reasons, evicting these unwanted guests is important.

If there are raccoons currently living in your attic you can try the above scare tactics. Preventing easy access by trimming back all tree branches, wood piles, etc. that may be used to climb onto your roof can also be helpful.

Inspect roof and soffits to locate point of entry. If no raccoons are in the attic. Patch and seal entry holes. If there are raccoons or babies then live trapping is an option.

Ammonia, cayenne pepper, and moth balls are all scents that raccoons do not like. Using these scents as part of the preventative plan is often a good addition to the eviction process.

Premier Pest Management is happy to provide you with these simple, DIY tips to keep your home pest free. If you’re noticing your DIY efforts are unsuccessful our home pest protection program is an excellent option to keep your home pest free year round.
30Nov/16

Pest Management & Why it’s a Valuable Investment for Your Properties

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During your journey as a real estate investor, discovering a pest problem is not a matter of if you will, it’s when. We believe in defense before offense and deliver customized solutions based on this principle.

Working with investors with multiple properties including single family homes, townhouses, duplexes, apartment buildings and more is our specialty. We work with all types of investors to create a customized solution and prevention plan for each property on your roster.

We specialize in:

  • Rodent control
  • Bed bugs
  • Cockroaches
  • Fly control
  • Bee and wasp services
  • Bird control
  • Ant control
  • Flea & tick service
  • Mosquito mitigation

Myth: Working with a pest management company is an added and unnecessary expense.

Reality: Working with a pest management company will SAVE you money! The #1 way is by limiting your vacancies with regular maintenance and inspections. The list of benefits for working with a pest management company is long and includes:

  1. Cost control.

An infestation can end up costing thousands of dollars in extermination services and repairs. Many of the pests we control, can cause excessive damage without your knowledge and can quickly spiral out of control. Defending your properties will be a more cost effective solution than controlling an infestation by far.

  1. Long term tenants.

In our experience, having a monthly inspection for pests is beneficial to your tenants as well as your investment. Tenants feel more secure knowing you are taking care of the property and that it is a safe environment to live in. We have seen multiple properties on our monthly inspection list keep tenants for longer periods of time as the inspections give them security. Word travels quickly and when you take care of your tenants your reputation will spread and could lead to long lists of tenants waiting for a spot to open in your building.

  1. Save time.

DIY pest management is extremely time consuming. Your time is valuable and could be used to work with your existing properties or work on expanding your portfolio. Pest management is not one size fits all and DIY pest management is usually ineffective at protecting against pests. Our professionals take pest control seriously and are effective at dealing with a wide variety of pests and treatments.

  1. Avoid an infestation.

Catching a pest problem early on is essential to avoiding an infestation. Regularly scheduled pest assessments are the only way to protect your property against infestation. Early detection of a small pest problem can save you thousands of dollars in damages in the long run.

  1. Hands off, worry free partnership.

Premier Pest Management creates a customized plan that includes regularly scheduled visits to your properties. Setting up a regular schedule of visits takes booking an assessment off your to do list and guarantees you never miss an appointment. Diligence is necessary to efficiently monitor your properties for pests.

To learn more about how Premier Pest Management can help you and your real estate investing business please join us at PPREIG’s November meeting this Wednesday (November 30th) at 6:30 pm. We hope to see you there!

26Nov/16

How To Avoid Mice In Your Home

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Avoid having mice stirring in your house this holiday season!

With winter upon us and temperatures dropping it’s become the time of the year where many homeowners begin to see signs of pests seeking warmer environments. Mice are one of the worst pests that can move into your home.

While their faces may be cute, the damage they can cause may be more than you realize. Spoiling food, soiling floors and surfaces and spreading bacteria around your home are just a few of the nuisances, and dangers, presented by these unwanted guests.

To prevent these furry little friends from entering your home with these 5 tips:

  1. Don’t welcome them with open arms.

The easiest way for mice to enter your home is right through an open door. They will take advantage of any opportunity to sneak into your home without you even knowing. Keep all entry doors and garage doors stay closed unless absolutely necessary.

 

  1. Seal the deal.

If mice are unable to enter your home through the front door they will find another way. Cracks, gaps, breaks or holes in your walls or around windows are all welcoming spots for mice. Caulk around openings smaller than ¼ inch and fill openings larger than a dime with copper wire mesh.

 

  1. Setup a barricade.

Block off exhaust vents and chimneys with ¼ inch hardware cloth. ¼ inch is thick enough that the mice are unable to chew their way through and enter your home. – Steel Wool is also a great deterrent.

 

  1. Remove the buffet.

Put all food away after dinner and do not leave unwashed dishes sitting out. Pet food bowls also need to be washed, cleaned and put away as kibble is another favorite snack for mice. With a food source not readily available, mice won’t have many reasons to stay around for long.

 

  1. Spread the holiday cheer.

Peppermint oil is a natural, non-toxic mouse repellent. How fitting for this time of the year! Mixing two teaspoons of peppermint oil with one cup of water in a spray bottle can protect your home from these little guys while giving your home a holiday smell. Spray the mixture around door frames, on walls and floors, etc.

Premier Pest Management is happy to provide you with simple, DIY tips to keep your home pest free. If you’re noticing your DIY efforts are unsuccessful our home pest protection program is an excellent option to keep your home pest free year round.

 

17Nov/16

The Shocking Truth Of The Health Dangers of Flies

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According to most, flies are one of the most annoying insects on the planet. The majority of people agree that flies are unsanitary and bothersome which would be one hundred percent correct. Flies are unfazed by pesticides, fly swatters, and other methods of elimination – making their population continue to grow. Since the fly population is sure to stick around get acquainted with these 5 informative (and unpleasant) points!

1. The Spread of Disease

Flies are unable to chew their food so they break it down to a liquefied texture that they can slurp up by vomiting stomach enzymes onto it. Sounds appetizing right? While snacking, many houseflies also lay eggs. The hair on legs and arms of a fly can be infected with Cholera or E.Coli. Since flies land in a variety of disgusting areas including on feces, carcasses, etc. it only takes a split second for them to spread bacteria to your food. If a fly has landed on your food you’re better off getting something else to eat!

2. Maggot Infestations

Most breeds of flies can lay maggots inside of you. Open and exposed wounds are a favorite spot for flies to seek out. Flies are capable of laying a maggot inside you, which can then live under your skin until becoming full grown. Once it outgrows the space the only place to go is out at which point it can break through the skin. Maggots feed of flesh and blood so an open wound is the perfect environment.

3. Rise of the Modified Fruit Fly

Fruit flies can live for several days without their wings or their heads but not both. Fruit flies have been tested extensively in labs by geneticists who have modified and engineered them to adapt without these vital parts of their anatomy. Females can live a few days completely headless and continue with their regular activities. Males continue to court females even when they are headless encouraging their species to grow.

4. The Breeds of Botfly

Botflies are the queen bee of the fly world. There are different types of botflies, most of which sting or bite mammals, and some which lay eggs under their skin.

  • European deer nose botfly larvae are called stag worms. These botflies can only affect male deer and post no threat to humans.
  • Tree squirrel botfly can be seen in infected tree squirrels in parks. The lumps caused by these type of botfly are large in size but post a minimal risk to squirrels. A healthy squirrel can survive with 5-6 tree squirrel botfly implanted in them.
  • Horse stomach botfly make their way into the animal by resting on a horse’s leg waiting to be licked up. They end up in the stomach where they grow and rest until they mature at which time they are excreted. A horses’ stomach can hold up to 100 of these botfly’s’ at a time with no exterior symptoms of an infestation. Horse owners beware of horse stomach botflies.

5. The Common House Flies

House flies are the most common breed of fly that humans interact with. These nasty creatures defecate every 3-5 minutes of every day, on any surface they land on. It is a possibility that a housefly can even defecate on you. Since flies taste with their feet, if they think you taste good they will vomit stomach enzymes on you to try and liquefy your skin into something edible. While their stomach enzymes post no harm to human skin, the tiny speck left on your arm or leg could carry disease.

It’s important to be familiar with the wide range of problems that can be caused by the different breeds of flies. Ensuring your home is clean at all times and fly free can protect yourself and your family from disease and infestation.

After a fly has landed on any surface or your food use a disinfecting cleaner or throw the food away and get a new snack!

If your fly problem has become more than an annoyance, we can help!

Click here to contact us today.

07Nov/16

Commercial Pest Problems

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Hotels, restaurants and other businesses have a deep, dark secret that owners and managers like to keep under wraps; we know that you are not exempt from pest problems. We also know that you did nothing to attract bedbugs, cockroaches or other unwanted pests into your business but once they are there- you better act fast!

We will quickly and quietly cure your problem.

At Premier Pest we know your hotel depends on having no vacancy and that a pest problem is sure to turn travelers away.

We know that you can’t close down your restaurant, or any other retail business as this costs you money…

You also do not need rumors to start flying!

We offer several confidential pest control solutions for commercial business, including:

Night Assessments

We provide night time assessments of vacant rooms to check for signs of pests and to treat pest problems. Out of sight, out of mind is our policy. We strive to provide 100% private assessments for our hotel clients.

 

Confidential Vehicles

There is nothing worse for business than a pest control vehicle in the parking lot as potential guests are pulling in. Premier Pest will assess your pest problem and needs in an unmarked vehicle, always.

 

Monthly Assessments

Exclusively for hotels, Premier Pest offers monthly assessment services. During your monthly assessment we will inspect between 6 and 10 unoccupied rooms as a precautionary and preventative measure against infestations.

The most common culprit of infestation in hotels is bed bugs. They can spread quickly turning into an infestation in as little as a couple of months. Ensuring proper education of your staff and having a pest prevention plan in place is ideal to keep your hotel running smoothly.

 

One simple call to Premier Pest can ensure your hotels pest problem is treated quickly or better yet prevented all together!

Get in touch with us to find out more.

01Nov/16

The Unwanted House Guests – Maple Bugs In Saskatchewan

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They won’t harm you – but they will move into your home, make a mess and leave a foul smell behind – Who wants a guest like that?

With fall in full swing we have seen a drastic increase in box elder bug sightings here in Regina. Also known as the maple bug, box elders become an annoyance in the fall when the cooler weather sets in.  They are an agricultural pest – they feed all summer in crops and fruit trees, then they look to bunk down in your home for the winter. We’re going to let you know how to detect them and explain why they aren’t a health hazard, just a dirty, smelly, annoyance.

 Identify the Maple Bug

Maple bugs are black with red or orange markings and are approximately 12.7 mm in length as a full grown adult. When nymphs first hatch they are bright red and stick close together for warmth. These pests release a compound that deters their predators allowing them to grow rapidly without being preyed on.

Ideal Living Conditions

Maple bugs only nest indoors during the fall and winter. During spring and summer, they dwell in box elder, maple and ash trees, giving preference to female box elders. Maple bugs are quite harmless and do very minimal damage to any trees they encounter. They are commonly found grouped together along warm outside walls of houses and buildings, along foundations, under loose siding, under windows and in walls/door cracks. Commonly, we see an influx of maple bugs in the spring as they emerge from their warm winter hideaways.

 What’s the Harm?

Maple bugs, while a nuisance, are harmless to property, structures, pets and house plants. The biggest concern with maple bugs is that their excrement can stain curtains, furniture and clothing. Aside from that, they emit a foul odor when squished.

Maple Bug Life-cycle

After emerging in the spring, maple bugs fly to the nearest boxelder tree to deposit their eggs. Boxelder eggs are oval shaped and rust coloured. During their stay, they feed on the soft parts of the box elder trees including leaves, flowers and new twigs. They are able to extract juices from the trees they live for sustenance as well.

Infestation Risk  

Maple Bugs only become a problem when they infest the inside of homes, storage sheds or garages. It’s important to note that certain structures are more likely to become attractive to box elder bugs. Homes with a lot of sun exposure, that are at higher elevation than others or those on flat ground with no surrounding buildings are ideal ground for maple bugs.

 Take Control to Prevent an Infestation

Prevent your home from an infestation with the following simple suggestions:

×         When possible plant male boxelder trees vs. females

×         Seal cracks in foundations, windows, doors

×         Reattach loose siding

×         Use a mixture of liquid laundry detergent and water to apply to bugs to

×         Vacuum or sweep up any bugs found indoors

If maple bugs have turned from nuisance to pest, we can help! We service Regina and the surrounding area. 

27Oct/16

German Cockroaches, Saskatchewan’s Newest Major Pest

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German Cockroaches…Regina’s Newest Major Pest

Here in Regina, German Cockroaches are becoming widely well known for all the wrong reasons. They are an urban pest that commonly invade homes, apartments, restaurants, hotels and other buildings. German Cockroaches are one of many species of roaches and are the most common we see Canada.

Identifying Characteristics of a German Cockroach

German cockroaches are long, flat and wide with two long antennae and six legs. They are light brown to tan in colour and have two dark lines on their back. German cockroaches are unable to fly and adults can be anywhere from 13 to 16 mm in length.

German Cockroaches are omnivorous and prefer sugary foods, grease, starch and meat. In overly infected buildings, German Cockroaches will resort to eating glue, and packaging or one another. Cockroaches can survive an entire month without food and approximately 2 weeks without water.

German Cockroaches reach adulthood faster than any other species of cockroach in Canada. This quick development enables them to populate indoor areas quickly, causing infestation to occur easily. A German Cockroach has a 10-week life span and lives for approximately 5 to 7 months after reaching adulthood. Adult females produce 7 or 8 egg cases in her life and produces an average 350 offspring during her lifespan.

These nocturnal pests prefer warm and humid areas to inhabit. German Cockroaches seek out food and water sources and a safe place to reproduce once they make their way into your building. You can expect to find roaches in a variety of spots including:

×         Medicine cabinets

×         In and under appliances

×         In bathrooms

×         Under the sink

×         In pantries

×         In storage closets

How do Cockroaches Travel?

It is highly unlikely that cockroaches move from one building to another on their own but they can and do spread via shipments and packaging to nearly anywhere in the world.

The Dangers of a Developing Infestation

German Cockroaches can cause great amounts of damage to you and your home. They transfer pathogenic organisms to humans through contamination of food with their feces and defensive secretions. The diseases they carry can cause diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid fever and cholera. Frequent or prolonged exposure to cockroaches can cause mild to severe allergic reactions including dermatitis, itching, swelling and respiratory conditions.

Do cockroaches bite?

If German Cockroaches bite it is during your sleep. Cockroaches feed off food particles left on the face and skin of humans. Babies and children with sensitive skin are increasingly attractive to cockroaches because of the smell of milk. There is no information to suggest German Cockroaches are able to transfer pathogens by biting. Cockroach bites appear as small red spots that eventually scab over and can cause secondary infections.

Your Best Methods of Prevention and Control

To prevent an infestation of cockroaches, ensure:

×         You are mindful of good housekeeping practice including regular vacuuming, washing of floors and counters and more

×         You do not leave leftover or pet food out overnight

×         You wash dishes, pans and utensils immediately after use

×         You clean food and drink spills immediately

×         You remove garbage regularly

×         You repair leaky faucets or pipes promptly

×         You recycle cans and bottles on regular basis

×         You increase ventilation to avoid condensation

Be mindful of the fact we have seen a dramatic increase in the presence of German Cockroaches here in Regina and the surrounding area. Keep an eye out for cockroaches in your home, office, restaurant or storage space.

Premier Pest Management is one call away to solve your German Cockroach battle efficiently!

Contact us today.