Small 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…]
A New Homeowner’s Guide to Pest Management
Purchasing a home is one of life’s greatest joys and one of life’s most significant responsibilities. Whether you are buying an older home or a new build, there is a huge learning curve and many new tasks. An often-overlooked aspect of new home ownership is pest control: making sure your home is free of pests before moving in and planning to keep it that way. [Read more…]
What You Need To Know About Termite Swarming
Most homeowners know that termites are tiny insects that eat wood and can cause irreparable damage to their homes, which is enough to cause concern all on its own. But many homeowners are unaware that termites swarm and what those swarms mean for their homes.
Which Species of Termites Swarm?
All termites species swarm, though the timing varies for each one – subterranean termites swarm in the spring, dampwood termites swarm during the summer, and drywood termites swarm in late summer/early fall. Effective swarms’ ideal weather conditions include damp ground, calm winds, and higher humidity.
The termites that swarm are from a specific group within the colony whose sole purpose is to swarm and reproduce. They are the only termites in the colony with wings; workers and soldiers lack wings. Males and females will swarm when the colony reaches a maximum capacity and needs to expand. A homeowner finds broken wings near swarms of termites because once the male and female become a mated pair, they break their wings off as a sign of their union. These newly coupled pairs now become the king and queen of a new colony.
Does a Swarm Mean You Have a Termite Infestation?
Unfortunately, a termite swarm means termites on the property in nearly all cases. Termites may use a dead tree or stump on the property to swarm. While the swarm may not have originated in your home itself, it is still a cause for concern. A termite swarm does not cause actual damage to your home. The colony’s worker termites accomplish this, so a swarm trapped indoors will die if it cannot get outside. It would be best if you still had a termite inspection done by a licensed professional because a swarm means an entire colony somewhere close by. Discarded wings may be difficult for an average homeowner to identify, and distinguishing between a termite’s discarded wings and an ant wing can be tricky.
What to Do If You Have a Swarm
If you have or see a termite swarm on your property or in your house, you must immediately call a qualified termite control company. Swarms are a sure sign of a full-sized colony somewhere nearby. The last thing you want is for these swarms to survive and create new colonies of termites on your property or in your house. Be sure to take samples of any wings that you find to show your pest control expert and get an identification.
Rapid identification is key to preventing more termites so if you see any, act quickly. Termites are not bugs to wait on and see if they go away, and their capacity for destruction is overwhelming.
Trust Twin Forks Pest Control® to Get Rid of Your Termites
At Twin Forks Pest Control®, we advise a yearly inspection to provide the peace of mind that your home is termite-free. Our termite experts will help with termite prevention, removal, and extermination if termites are spotted until your home is termite-free. For more information about our termite inspection service, Southampton residents, please call (631) 287-9020, East Hampton residents please call (631) 324-9020, or Southold residents, please call (631) 298-0500. You can also fill out our contact form and request a free inspection or schedule your first service appointment.
What to Know About Carpet Beetles
Scientists occasionally decide there is no need to get creative when naming a new species. When they named carpet beetles, it was one of those times. Carpet beetles are precisely that, beetles that feed on wool carpets. If the scientists had been specific, they might have been named “wool carpet, fur, animal product beetles that sometimes also feed on plant materials.” [Read more…]
Squirrels and Your Attic – How to Handle Unexpected Guests
Many people enjoy watching squirrels jumping and romping through trees or eating acorns while perched on a picnic table or back porch. Squirrels are undoubtedly cute little creatures… when they’re outside where they belong. But when the weather turns cold, and they are searching for a warm winter home, squirrels become a genuine threat to your home.
We strive to make our homes as safe and comfortable as possible for ourselves and our families. But are we unintentionally making them comfortable for uninvited bushy-tailed guests as well? Learn about the potentially costly and widespread damage that these furry creatures can cause and why you should call an expert pest control company at the first sign of them.
Squirrels 101
- Do Squirrels Make Nests in Houses?
- Where Do Squirrels Nest in a Houses?
- Why Are Squirrels in My Attic?
- What Time of Year Do Squirrels Build Nests?
- How Long Can a Squirrel Live in an Attic?
- Will Squirrels Damage My Attic?
- Why Do Squirrels Chew Electrical Wires?
- Can Squirrels Cause House Fires?
- How Can I Get Squirrels Out of My Attic?
Squirrels like comfort and safety, often nesting in houses and outbuildings. They are determined and persistent and will enter through any small opening they find.
Squirrels will nest almost anywhere they have access to a comfortable, dark spot in your house. Squirrel nests can be found in attics, walls, chimneys, and garages.
Squirrels gain attic access by climbing downspouts, trellises, vines, and nearby trees. If they don’t find a convenient opening, they may chew through roofs, siding, walls, and insulation to create an entry point.
Squirrels can find their way into your attic any time of year, but it is most common right before female squirrels birth a litter. Squirrels usually give birth around February and again in August. Climate is a factor as well. When your attic is too hot in the summer, they will leave, and when the weather is cooler, they return.
If a squirrel can come and go from your attic freely, they will stay until their young until they are old enough to fend for themselves, which is about two months. If you discover you have attic squirrels, don’t seal up entry points while the mother forages outside during the day. Her young will not survive without her, and you will create a new set of problems.
Squirrels can be very destructive in an attic. They chew on wiring, pipes, insulation, and your stored personal items. The longer they are there, the more damage they will do. They’ll even chew through walls to create new entry points.
Like other rodents, squirrels constantly need to sharpen their teeth, and electrical wires are one of the primary materials they chew to accomplish this task.
It is estimated that around 12 percent of residential electrical fires begin in the attic. Many of these incidents are attributed to squirrels or other rodents chewing on wires.
Fire isn’t the only problem squirrels can cause. They’re also responsible for service interruptions, as well as electrical shocks and electrocution when a human goes into the attic and touches a damaged line. Have an electrician inspect your wiring if you suspect a squirrel infestation in your attic or walls.
The best way to get rid of squirrels in your attic is to find and close up entry points while they’re out foraging during the day. If you’ve done all you can to prevent squirrels from nesting in your attic or walls, and it hasn’t worked, it’s time to seek the services of a qualified professional to trap and remove them, especially during the months when baby squirrels are present.
Call at the First Sign of Squirrels
Twin Forks Pest Control® has been eliminating pests, including squirrels, for more than 20 years. Our trained wildlife experts will rid your property of unwanted pests, and we offer year-round protection plans so that your home stays pest-free. At the first sign of problems, contact us for a free estimate by calling (631) 287-9020 if you’re in the Southampton region, (631) 324-9020 if you’re in or around Easthampton, or (631) 298-0500 if you’re in or around Southold. We look forward to hearing from you.
7 Things You Need to Know About Raccoons
Raccoons are among nature’s cleverest mischief-makers, and they can quickly become problem pests, especially in residential areas. Here are some frequently asked questions about these masked bandits. [Read more…]
