Monthly Archive April 19, 2023

Seal all openings that are bigger than ¼ in.
A mixture of steel wool and caulking may be used
for smaller holes.  Regularly inspect and repair entry points by
covering with heavy gauge screening or 5 mm
hardware cloth or metal mesh, ideally woven and
galvanized to prevent edges from being gnawed
and to prevent rust. Use elastomeric sealants to seal long gaps, such as
those between walls and floors. Seal gaps anywhere pipes meet walls with
escutcheon plates, securing to the wall with screws
or sealant. Install sheet metal kick plates on door exteriors. Consider industrial door sweeps designed for exclusion (not just weather stripping).
 Build outbuildings like sheds on concrete pads,
not bare ground. Native plants like wild mint are used by some
Indigenous peoples to discourage rodents. Prune back branches at least 2 meters from
balconies, eaves and roofs. Inspect and seal all structural lines that connect with
or enter buildings at any level, such as utility lines
and vents, pipes, electrical lines, sewer lines and
drains, cable lines, dryer vents and exhaust vents. Consider hiring a professional to identify problem areas and design a long-term IPM strategy.
Gaps under doors may allow rodent entry.  
Inspect and repair any holes or gaps around your home that may create
rodent entry points.  
Mice can gain access through a dime sized opening, while rats only need a
quarter-sized hole

Be prepared to leave the home during treatment and for 6 hours afterward.

Remove all pets from the home during the time of treatment except for fish tanks. Fish tanks are to be covered with plastic wrap, and pumps turned off until you are allowed to reoccupy the home.

Remove all sheets, covers, dust ruffles, or any other bedding covers from the mattresses and box spring in all bedrooms. Wash all bed linens in the hottest water possible. Do not replace the bed linens until six hours after treatment.

If any mattresses, box springs, or other furniture are in poor or ripped condition and infested, they should be placed in large plastic storage bags (available from moving or storage stores), then removed from your home and discarded.

Remove all personal items including clothes, toys, shoes, stored materials, etc., from the furniture and floor area throughout the home.

Remove everything from all closets. Completely empty all bedroom drawers and empty all books and items from bookcases prior to treatment.

Clean or launder all clothing in the hottest water possible and store in clean storage bags for up to two weeks after treatment. Any stuffed toys or other fabric-based personal items should be run through a pre-heated, hot dryer cycle for at least 15 minutes.

Vacuum all carpeting, bedding, bed frames, backs of pictures, and other areas where bedbugs have been seen. Immediately empty the vacuum cleaner bag and dispose of it in an exterior dumpster or trash.

To give the treatment time to work, do not shampoo or clean floors or carpet for at least three weeks after the treatment. The vacuum should be used regularly.

Move all items and furniture away from walls, access is required for all baseboards and behind all furniture. (Everything may be returned to its original location after the treatment is completed.)

The bathtub, kitchen counters, dining room tables, and coffee tables can be used to place items during treatment.

Ants are showing up all over, invading homes and gardens and annoying people who see them crawling everywhere. “They’re looking for sweets; they’re looking for carbohydrates, they’re looking for crumbs. Anything they can take back to their nest and store it for the winter time.” explained Randy Bilesky of Go Green Pest Control in Delta B.C.
Bilesky says he’s been staying busy with calls from customers who want to get rid of ants. He says spraying around foundations outside– and baseboards inside can get rid of the pests. It’s important to locate the nest. “To find the nest, feed the ants and follow the ants,” Bilesky said. Sugar will attract the ants, and then people can see where they go and take steps to get rid of them. Finding the nest lets you target the entire colony, which can contain hundreds of thousands of ants. You can also buy ant baits at the store or use recipes from the internet that utilize ingredients available at home such as borax, sugar and warm water. Recipes recommend that you dip a cotton ball in the mixture and put it in the path of the ants.
Remember to keep ant bait away from children and pets.