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Twin Forks Pest Control® - Pest Control and Extermination

Serving East End and the Hamptons

Can Pets Protect Your Garden from Pests?

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Family dog in the yardIn honor of National Pet Day, April 11, let’s unpack a frequently asked question: Can pets protect your garden from pests?

The assumption is that outdoor cats will kill rodents and large bugs, and dogs will chase off larger pests like squirrels and raccoons. The actuality is a bit different: your pets actually may attract pests looking for a meal or a host, and those pests can do them harm.

Can Garden Pests Harm Your Dog?

There are many garden pests that can harm dogs, cats, and other domestic animals. Pest threats include insect bites, rodent bites, and pest-vectored diseases.

Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes are the worst offenders. Fleas can transmit babesiosis and tapeworms… as well as cause anemia and contact dermatitis. Ticks are carriers of Lyme disease, bartonellosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, hepatozoonosis, and babesiosis. Mosquitoes can infect dogs and cats with West Nile virus (although the symptoms are typically mild). The bigger mosquito threat comes from heartworm infections – which can be fatal if not treated.

Among other yard pests that can infest or sicken your pets are stinkbugs, mites, worms, and bottle flies. Don’t forget that rodents (such as rats, mice, and squirrels) can transmit diseases through their bites, urine, feces, and carcasses.

How Do You Get Rid of Pests without Harming Pets?

The first step toward keeping your pet safe is to avoid attracting pests in the first place. Be sure your yard is free of debris that could provide food or cover for pests.

Indoors, keep your home clear of food and water sources that can entice bugs and rodents. Pay close attention to your pets’ food dishes, clean them often and refrain from leaving food in them when your pet has finished eating.

Avoid forms of pest control that can sicken your pet. While domestic animals like dogs and cats are rarely attracted to poisons intended for insects and rodents… adventurous pets may chew or consume them anyway. They also may become ill (or worse) if they encounter a rodent that has eaten poison.

If you use pest control products commonly available at retail outlets, do your research to ensure they are pet safe. Just because you can buy garden control products at grocery and home improvement stores, doesn’t mean they can’t harm your pet. Even something as seemingly natural and benign as citronella candles can be harmful or fatal to your pets.

The best way to keep your pets safe and your home pest-free is to use the services of a qualified professional pest control company like Twin Forks®. We are trained in the safe use of pesticides and are committed to the well-being of your entire family, including your pets!

How Long Should Pets Stay Away from Pest Control?

Generally speaking, you should ensure pets stay away at least until the pest treatment is dry. Timing will depend on the product used, as well as environmental factors like humidity and rainfall. If you use a pest control product, read the instructions thoroughly and if it doesn’t state how long pets should avoid contact then don’t use it.

If you’re concerned about your pets’ safety, a professional pest control company will give you detailed instructions on how long to wait before allowing your pets to come in contact with treated areas of your home or yard.

Twin Fork Pest Control® Treats Your Pets Like Family

At Twin Forks Pest Control®, we understand that your pets are members of the family, and their safety is a priority. We eliminate dangerous pest threats from your home and yard, using the safest products available. We will inform you clearly, with specific instructions, if there is a need to temporarily exclude your pets from a treated area. For pet safe pest removal, contact us online for a free estimate, or call (631) 287-9020 in the Southampton area; (631) 324-9020 near Easthampton; or (631) 298-0500 in Southold.

Impact of Climate Change on Rodents

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Mouse hiding in burrow.In 2012, Superstorm Sandy was a wake-up call for Long Island residents. We learned that climate change – once dismissed as a problem mainly for those in hotter climates – might be knocking on our door.

In the decade since then… we have seen warmer, shorter winters and a warming, rising Long Island Sound. Climate change is already having an effect on Long Island’s ecosystems, and it’s affecting pest populations as well. Even rodents are feeling the effects of warmer winters – and changes to their biology and habits will ultimately impact us.

[Read more…]

Are Squirrels Territorial?

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territorial squirrelWith their bushy tails and the way they seem to dash about playfully (they actually run in erratic patterns to avoid predators), squirrels look adorable. Underneath that playful exterior, could squirrels be hiding territorial or aggressive tendencies? As with most wild creatures, it’s a bit complicated.

Certain species, such as the American red squirrel and the northern flying squirrel, are very territorial. Both types of squirrels keep interlopers away and use their urine to mark their territory.

Also, remember that female squirrels, regardless of their species, can behave territorial or aggressively when protecting their young. That’s also true of most females of any species, squirrel or not.

Squirrel communication is also rather complicated. They can aggressively chitter and wag their tails to send a “stay away” warning signal. Some untrained observers can also mistake their more normal chittering vocalizations as a warning.

Are Eastern Gray Squirrels Territorial?

Remember when we said, “it’s complicated”? Eastern gray squirrels are the perfect example because someone watching their activities and behavior could easily think they’re territorial, but they actually aren’t. The confusion is because eastern gray squirrels have hierarchies and use dominance to establish and maintain their place in that hierarchy. As such, they’ll chase each other, not to drive a squirrel away from their territory but to exert its dominance over the other one. It can look the same to those who aren’t trained wildlife experts.

Other traits that lead people to think eastern gray squirrels are territorial involve courtship and training. When trying to attract mates in the spring, male eastern gray squirrels will chase females, but in a far less aggressive manner than they do in the dominance games. It’s a courtship ritual they engage in to evaluate each other as mates. Young squirrels, much like puppies and kittens, will chase and playfully “fight” each other as a way of learning how to do it for real.

Are Squirrels Aggressive to Humans?

Generally, no, squirrels aren’t dangerously aggressive to humans. However, a lot of C.W. Postgraduates can tell stories about the squirrels on campus chittering at them with attitude and body language that makes it clear they should keep their distance.

Squirrels can be aggressive to each other under certain circumstances, regardless of the species. For example, wildlife experts have found that male squirrels will kill young squirrels belonging to their rivals and not just in times when food is scarce. They’ll also do it when food is abundant.

Are Squirrels Loners?

Whether a squirrel is a loner depends upon several factors. Certain types of squirrels live in extended groups or colonies called a dray or a scurry. Other types, such as tree squirrels, will live alone or in small family groups. However, even squirrels that are natural loners will come together in extreme weather to huddle together to stay warm and survive.

Let Twin Forks Pest Control® Solve Your Squirrel Problems

Squirrels are cute to watch from a distance but difficult to remove if they’ve gotten inside your attic, chimney, or walls. At Twin Forks Pest Control®, we have more than 20 years of experience humanely removing squirrels. If you think squirrels have gotten into your home, give us a call at (631) 287-9020 if you’re in Southampton, (631) 324-9020 if you’re in Easthampton, or (631) 298-0500 if you’re in Southold.

The Most Annoying Winter Pests On Long Island

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annoying winter pestsThe weather is getting colder here on Long Island; it’ll be months before spring warms us back up again. We do our best to stay warm and limit our time out in the cold, and unfortunately, we’re not the only ones out there doing just that.

If you want to stay out of the cold, you can bet all sorts of pests out there would like to do the same. And if you’re keeping your home warm, they’ll think that’s the perfect place to go. [Read more…]

When to Call Wildlife Control Services

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wildlife controlSmall furry animals like squirrels, raccoons, and chipmunks are cute in cartoons and zoos, but they can pose severe hazards to homes and homeowners. Long Island residents are accustomed to living harmoniously with these critters, but sometimes they get too close for safety. When wildlife destroys your yard or invades your home, it’s time to talk to a wildlife removal expert who can humanely trap and remove them. [Read more…]

Twin Forks Pest Control®