Unusual Problems (from Bedbugs to Snakes, etc.)
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Mexican free-tailed Bat Taken from University Dorm
BATS
Advanced Pest Control is one of the few pest control companies Recognized by Bat Conservation International for our “Bat Friendly” removal and exclusion methods.
When there are bats in your home or school or busines, no one is happy except the bats. They can pose all sorts of health hazards, from their disease carrying droppings to the possibility of bats being a carrier of rabies. Bats are a tremendous benefit to the environment by eating thousands of mosquitoes every night, but nesting in your attic is another story.
Bat Myths
The only mammal capable of flight...and one of the most understood.
- Are not blind
- Are non-aggressive
- Do not get tangled in hair
- Are not rodents
- Have only one or two "pups" per year
- Can eat 3000 insects per night
About 1,000 species of bats inhabit our planet and each has its own culture: unique patterns of behavior, roosting preferences, etc.
The U.S. government provides protection against harming bats, and rightfully so, since their contribution to the agriculture industry is well documented. However...
Bats in your business or home should be removed.
A call to your local animal or pest control may not provide the solution you seek.But a call to Advanced Pest Control is a guarantee that your unwanted bats will be gone safely.
 Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind and they do not try to become tangled in hair.
Bats are not related to rodents. In fact, fruit bats may soon be reclassified as primates!
Bats are the only flying mammals in the world. (Flying squirrels do not fly, they glide!)
Of the world's 1000+ species, only three are vampire bats, limited mostly to Latin America. Vampire bats do not attack humans. They are very small and generally drink the blood of animals and poultry. Seventy percent of all bat species eat insects; most of the remaining 30% eat fruit, pollen and nectar.
Less than one-half of one percent of bats contract rabies. However, a grounded bat should never be handled because it may bite in self-defense. Call a wildlife rehabilitator or an animal organization for help.
Bats are vital to the ecosystem! Fruit bats bring us over 450 commercial products, including 80 medicines. The seed dispersal and pollination activities of fruit and nectar eating bats are vital to the survival of rain forests. Seeds dropped by tropical bats account for up to 95% of forest re-growth on cleared land. Night blooming plants and trees depend on nectar eating bats for pollination. An excellent example is the baobab tree of eastern Africa that is so important to the survival of other kinds of wildlife it is referred to as the "Tree of Life." Bats in the US eat millions of tons of insects annually. Alarmingly, bats are disappearing worldwide. They are now considered the most endangered land mammal in North America.
Bats are such unique mammals that scientists have placed them in a group of their own, the Chiroptera, which means hand-wing. Bats are of the grand order, Archonta, grouped together with monkeys and flying lemurs.
Bats amount to approximately a quarter of all mammal species. They are found everywhere in the world except in the most extreme desert and polar regions.
Most bats navigate with high-frequency sounds. Using sound alone, they can detect obstacles as fine as a human hair in total darkness. The sophistication of their unique echolocation system surpasses current scientific knowledge!
HOW DO I GET BATS OUT OF MY BUILDING - WHAT DOES AND DOESN'T WORK?
Repellent devices are not effective. One Chicago manufacturer was fined $45,000 by the EPA for misleading claims about an ultrasonic device. In fact, when ultrasonic devices were tested by bat experts some of them actually attracted bats!
Moth balls are not effective because they evaporate quickly and require frequent replacement. Additionally, chemical toxicants should never be used to solve bat problems. In fact, it is a violation of federal law to use a chemical in any way other than for what it is strictly intended. Currently, there are no poisons or chemicals licensed for use against bats. Poisoning bats is illegal and, in fact, may create health hazards and liabilities for property owners. Poisoned bats will die inside the walls and ceiling, creating bacteria and odor, and dying bats may fall to the ground both inside and outside the property where they are more likely to come into contact with children and pets.
At Advanced Pest Control we use a safe, humane way to evict bats from a building by exclusion, a method of using netting to create one-way valves that allow bats to leave the roost but then prevents them from re-entering.
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Mexican free-tailed bats are easily recognized by their tails, which extend well beyond the tail membrane. Its long, narrow wings are designed for speed and long-distance travel. |
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How can I keep bats out of my home? For more information about "bat-proofing" your home, contact Advanced Pest Control.
The big brown bat is found throughout most of the United States and Canada. It feeds principally on beetles.
Things to remember when "bat-proofing"
- During summer, many young bats are unable to fly. If you exclude adult bats during this time, you must be very careful as the young bats may not be ready to fly. Thus, if possible, avoid exclusion from May through August.
Ultrasonic devices, chemical repellents, and smoke are not approved by BCI as effective methods to evict bats from buildings. In addition, canned spray foam is not an approved sealant for cracks and holes in most situations. It is not only unattractive, but can result in the death of bats that come into contact with it. This product should never be used when bats are still present.
Because of our expertise in unusual problems, even other pest control companies bring specimens to us for identification.
With our Advanced Digital Microscope and Experience;
Advanced Pest Control is the BEST at Identifying and Solving Unusual Insect Problems.
The Brown Recluse Spider-Loxosceles reclusa
This spider exists, but is far less menacing than our urban legends promote. The Violin Spider is one of several species of spiders in a group called Loxosceles, and they are characterized by a rather distinct "violin" shaped marking on the top of their thorax. This also gives them another common name of "fiddle back" spiders, and the most notorious of the group, Loxosceles reclusa, also goes by the name of the Brown Recluse Spider. This describes the habit it has of hiding when possible, hunting for food at night by wandering around the structure and hiding in the daytime.
 Many other kinds of spiders are similar in appearance. They may be the same size, brown, long legged, and even have the vague outline of a violin on top. However, the one way you absolutely can identify the Violin Spiders is by using a magnifying glass and looking at their eyes. They have six of them, arranged in 3 pairs in an arc across the front of their head. No other kinds of spiders have eyes arranged in this manner.
Bed Bugs: Cimex lectularius |
Color: Mahogany to rusty brown; red after a blood meal
Legs: Six
Shape: Flat; broad oval
Size: 1/4
Antennae: Yes
Flight: No |
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Bedbugs get their name because they like to live and feed in beds.
Habits
Bedbugs like to travel and will hide in suitcases, boxes and shoes to be near a food supply. They are elusive, nocturnal creatures. They can hide behind baseboards, electrical switchplates, picture frames, even wall paper. They come out at night for a blood meal.
Habitat
Bedbugs like to hide in small cracks and crevices close to a human environment. They can be found behind baseboards, wallpaper, upholstery, and in furniture crevices.
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Bedbugs can be found in All 50 States |
Threats
Although bedbugs can dine on any warm-blooded animal, they primarily dine on humans. Bedbugs do not transmit diseases, but their bites can become red, itchy welts.
Prevention:
Vacuum suitcases after returning from a vacation. Check your bedsheets for tell-tale blood spots. Bedbugs are elusive creatures, so it is imperative to seek professional pest control to address an infestation. |
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Related FAQs
Has there really been a resurgence in bedbugs in the U.S. and how do you know?
There HAS been an increase in bedbug infestations. Our member pest control companies who received 1 or 2 bedbug calls a year are now reporting 1 to 2 each week. That’s 50 times more calls.
Where have you been finding the bedbugs?
These pests are not limited to any one specific type of dwelling. Pest control companies have been reporting the infestations in multi-family housing, apartments, hotels and even hospitals.
What states have been affected?
Pest control companies have reported bed bug activity on a national scale. Bedbugs are being found from the East to the West Coast; and everywhere in between.
Why are bedbugs so hard to treat?
Bedbegs should NOT be equated with filth or sanitation problems -- in hotels or in homes, for that matter. Bedbugs are VERY elusive, transient and nocturnal pests. They are often found in other areas besides the bed. And they are hardy. They can live for a year or more without eating and can withstand a wide range of temperatures from nearly freezing to almost 113 degrees Fahrenheit. Bedbugs CAN be controlled with vigilance and constant inspection and treatment by professional pest control companies.
Are bedbugs hard to control?
No. They simply require the expertise and constant attention of a pest control professional.
What can a consumer do to protect themselves from bedbug infestations?
To prevent bedbug infestations, consumers need to be vigilant in assessing their surroundings. When returning from a trip, check your luggage and clothing. If you think you may have a bed bug infestation, contact a pest control professional. This is not a pest that can be controlled with do-it-yourself measures.
Are bedbugs just in beds?
Bedbugs are not just in beds. They can be in chair cushions, sofas, behind electrical outlets, cracks and crevices around baseboards, or even behind picture frames. In other words, they can be live pretty much anywhere
How does one control bedbugs?
Any effective bed bug control strategy should start with a careful, thorough inspection by a pest control professional of all known and suspected spots where the bugs may be harboring. This is not a pest that can be controlled effectively with do-it-yourself measures. As they are discovered, the pest control professional will develop a treatment and control strategy with the customer depending on the extent of the infestation.
Snakes: How about finding this snake in your dishwasher?
We are often called upon to remove snakes from customers front porch or patios.
Which is the harmless Hognose snake and which is the poisonous Copperhead?
Copperhead.......................................................................................... Hognose
 
Houston Animal Control & Wildlife Removal
Contact us for an Evaluation & Estimate at 281-494-8900 |
