Humans have battled rodents since time immemorial. Throughout history, rats and mice have damaged crops, destroyed stored food, and spread diseases. Today we have safe, effective methods to eliminate these pest threats… but that was not always the case.
What Pests Can Affect People With Asthma?
May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. What does that have to do with everyday pests? Quite a bit.
Asthma is a respiratory condition where a person’s airways become inflamed, narrowed, swollen, and filled with mucus, making breathing difficult. Additional symptoms can include chest pain, wheezing, and coughing. Asthma often flares when an individual is exposed to allergens or environmental triggers to which they have a particular sensitivity. Did you know that some common household pests are among the top asthma triggers?
The Importance of Professional Pest Management in Society
When you engage the services of a professional pest management company, it’s almost certainly because you want to protect your home and family from bugs and rodents. But are you aware that keeping your property pest free with professional pest management helps your neighbors, your community, and the ecosystem as well? Proper use of pest management techniques on the individual level actually has benefits to society in general!
Can Pets Protect Your Garden from Pests?
In 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.
Coronavirus – COVID-19 – Is It a Vector Disease?
There are many questions surrounding the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including how it’s spread. With warm weather approaching, there may be concerns about disease transmission from insects, but it’s important to note that coronavirus is not spread by vector pests. While the best and most up-to-date resource for information on coronavirus remains the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we’ll take a look at the differences between common vector-borne diseases and various coronaviruses to help dispel any myths about transmission. [Read more…]