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Everything A Ventura County Homeowner Ever Wanted To Know About Fire Ants
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Everything A Ventura County Homeowner Ever Wanted To Know About Fire Ants

If you have lived in Ventura County long enough, you know by now that fire ants are not friendly. Despite being tiny, fire ants are vicious and capable of causing a fair amount of pain and discomfort. Have enough bad encounters with them and you might start avoiding any place that even appears like it might have fire ants. This is the last thing we want for you on your own property. To help you fight back against these little ankle-biting pests, here is everything you need to know about fire ants.

What Sets Fire Ants Apart From Other Ants?

It doesn’t take an entomologist to tell that fire ants are different from other ant species. Where most ants here in Ventura County only want to steal your food, it seems fire ants' only goal in life is to destroy your grass and cause you harm. Why is this the case? The truth is fire ants do not originate from the US but rather from South America. This has a huge effect on their biology and explains why they possess a sting capable so they can kill other insects and eat them as food. What might surprise you is that a fire ant's sting is the only real thing that sets it apart from other local ant species.

Are Fire Ants Dangerous?

Compared to other ants, fire ants are quite dangerous. For one, victims attacked by fire ants are rarely stung just once, but rather several times. This can create areas of uncomfortable and painful raised welts around affected body parts. For individuals allergic to fire ant venom, being stung can result in a more severe reaction. We advise talking to your doctor to make sure you know if you are at risk. The biggest problem that comes from fire ant bites, typically, is infections due to over itching bites. To minimize your risk of infection after being bitten, we recommend applying a cold press to fresh welts and hydrocortisone cream to relieve itching.

How You Can Prevent Fire Ants

We wish there was an easy, do-it-yourself method for dealing with fire ants, like spraying your lawn with water or stomping on the ground around fire ant mounds. Unfortunately, fire ants are about as difficult to eliminate as they come. For one, a single fire ant colony can stretch on under the ground for a great distance and can possess multiple queens. This means that even if you were to kill one queen, others would still be able to reproduce and continue to expand the colony. There are a few ways you can stop fire ants from wandering into your home. To do this we recommend using a caulking gun to seal up gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation. Along with this, consider investing in fire ant proof covers for weep holes along your home’s exterior.

The Only Way To Treat For Fire Ants

There is only one effective way to deal with fire ants on your property, and that is with professional help. At Ventura County Pest Control, we know how to properly eliminate and deter fire ants from properties. With just one application, we can get your yard on its way to becoming fire ant-free. Our team is equipped with the tools and experience needed to handle any pest threatening you or your home. Give us a call today to have questions answered or to schedule services for your Ventura County property. Your solution to pests is just a phone call away.
A Guide To Safe & Effective Yellowjacket Control For Ventura County Property Owners
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A Guide To Safe & Effective Yellowjacket Control For Ventura County Property Owners

Do you remember the first time a pipe leaked in your home? How about the first time a window was broken? As a homeowner, you signed up for these inconveniences because you knew that the benefits of having a place to call your own outweighed the upkeep required to keep it feeling like home. This, however, doesn’t make facing trouble any less difficult. Today we will be talking about one problem many homeowners face, which is a little extra painful, and that, of course, is dealing with yellowjackets in Ventura County. To help you better understand these stinger-wielding nuisances and how to stop them, we have just the guide for you.

What Are Yellowjackets

Yellowjackets are aptly named for the black and yellow pattern branded around their abdomens. Like other stinging insects, yellowjackets possess the ability to fly and are equipped with stingers filled with venom. One thing that is important to know about yellowjackets is that they are more aggressive than most other stinging insects. It is not uncommon for them to go out of their way to sting someone for just walking too close to their nest. Depending on the species of yellowjacket nests can be found in both underground holes, or up high in aerial sites. If your property is having trouble with groud pests such as gophers, moles, or voles who are digging holes everywhere, a yellowjacket infestation will be more likely to occur. Trust us when we tell you stepping on an underground yellowjackets nest is worse than spotting one in a tree.

Benefits And Problems Of Yellowjackets

Despite their aggression, yellowjackets can be quite beneficial. Like honey bees, yellowjackets spread pollen as they feed on the flowering buds of plants. This cross-pollination is crucial for healthy plant growth and greatly benefits the environment. This benefit, however, does not outweigh the problems they can cause when around properties. If you have ever been stung by a yellowjacket we don’t have to explain how painful dealing with them can be. For some individuals with allergies related to venom, being stung by a yellowjacket can be potentially life-threatening. Of course, a byproduct of this threat is that your yard becomes a place of fear and not the extension of your living space it is supposed to be.

How To Make Your Property Less Appealing To Yellowjackets

Yellowjackets are drawn to properties by a number of factors. Sometimes it’s flowers, other times a convenient hole to build their nests inside. To deter yellowjackets from building their home around your yard, here are some prevention tips our experts recommend.
  • Keep your grass cut short and your landscaping well maintained.
  • Fill in holes around your property.
  • Clean up all food and drinks after outdoor gatherings.
  • When eating or drinking outdoors, keep unattended food or beverages covered.
  • Pick up fruit from your yard that has dropped from trees.
  • Consider removing flowers and other flower budding plants.
Keep in mind that even if your own property is free of yellowjacket attractants, properties close by might still invite them to your area, and your yard may still be chosen as a nesting location. Fortunately, there is one simple and reliable solution if yellowjackets decide to settle in nearby.

The Only Sure Way To Remove Yellowjackets From Your Property

Preventing yellowjackets can be difficult, but removing them is a whole different ball game. To ensure your safety, we offer reliable and effective yellowjacket removal services here at Ventura County Pest Control. Our technicians have the tools and safety equipment needed to quickly and safely get rid of any stinging pest threats keeping you from enjoying your yard. Reach out to our dedicated team today to schedule a free inspection for your home and property, or for any questions about our pest control services.
Why Cockroaches In Your Ventura County Home Are A Bigger Problem Than You May Think
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Why Cockroaches In Your Ventura County Home Are A Bigger Problem Than You May Think

Even if you’re not bothered by bugs, you should be disturbed by finding a cockroach in your home. In fact, there are several reasons that you should be disgusted by a cockroach. Learn why cockroaches in your Ventura County home could be the sign of a serious problem and what you should do to prevent them.

What Are American Cockroaches?

Out of all the house-infesting cockroaches in the United States, the American cockroach is the largest. Depending on where you are, you might hear them referred to as a palmetto bug or water bug. On average, this insect grows between 1.4 and 1.6 inches in length. However, a large roach could be longer than two inches. This type of cockroach is reddish-brown and has a yellow band behind its head.

The Danger Of Cockroaches

There are very few people who welcome cockroaches into their homes. But not everyone realizes just how dangerous these pests are. If you find one in your Ventura County home, you should be concerned. Cockroaches pick up pathogens as they walk around dumpsters and other filthy places. When they enter your abode, they track those pathogens into your home via the spines on their legs. These insect can spread more than 33 types of bacteria, some of which are highly dangerous. Cockroaches also leave behind feces and saliva that could trigger an allergic reaction or asthma attack. If you have a cockroach infestation in your home, you and your family are at risk. Another issue with cockroaches is their hardiness and ability to breed quickly. At first, you may only have one or two insects in your home. But it will only be a matter of time before you have a problem that spirals out of control.

Signs Of An Infestation

Generally, there are four obvious signs that American cockroaches have taken over your home. If you notice any of the following, it is a sure sign that you have an infestation:
  1. You See Them - Although cockroaches are good at hiding, they are not invisible. Especially as an infestation grows you are likely to see a few roaches scurrying across the floor or in your food.
  2. You See Droppings - Cockroaches leave droppings everywhere they go. In dark areas of your home, you could find piles of cockroach droppings. They are easily mistaken for mouse droppings. If you are uncertain you should contact a pest control technician to find out which pest is in your home.
  3. You See Egg Capsules - Have you found long and dark capsules in your home? They may be cockroach egg capsules, which is a tell-tale sign of an infestation.
  4. You Smell A Musty Smell - If you smell something funny in your home, you might be smelling the pheromones of a cockroach. They have a musty scent that lingers in the air.

How To Prevent Cockroaches

Before you notice the signs of an infestation, you should take action. Keeping your home as clean as possible, will limit the food sources that attract cockroaches. This means storing food properly and vacuuming or sweeping on a regular basis. If your garbage cans don’t have tight seals, buy some that do. Another way to prevent cockroaches is to seal up cracks and holes in your home. If there are any entrances for bugs, they’ll find a way inside. Do your best to fortify your home by sealing all openings and repairing broken screens. As a final protective measure, eliminate as much moisture from your home as possible. Repair leaky faucets, ventilate crawl spaces, and use a dehumidifier.

Work With A Professional

Despite taking the above measures, you could still find yourself battling a cockroach infestation. At that point, you need the guidance and expertise of a professional. If you see signs of cockroaches in your home, don't put yourself or your family's health at risk. Instead, contact the professionals at Ventura County Pest Control.
How To Prevent Mosquitoes In Your Ventura County Yard The Right Way
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How To Prevent Mosquitoes In Your Ventura County Yard The Right Way

What is your current method for dealing with mosquitoes on your property? Do you have a hands-on approach, which involves slapping mosquitoes when they land on your skin?  How about bug spray? Do you cover yourself with smelly chemicals every time you plan on being outside for an extended period of time? Maybe you use another method that the internet suggested you try, but you haven’t found success with yet. Whatever you are currently doing to fight off mosquitoes from your property, we assure you, there is a better way. Here are some things the experts suggest you do to prevent mosquitoes in your Ventura County yard.

A Little Information About Mosquitoes

Understanding mosquitoes and how they reproduce is crucial if you want to effectively keep them out of your yard. The first thing you should know is that only female mosquitoes bite people for blood. They use this blood to provide nutrients for their eggs. These eggs are laid in stagnant sources of water around properties. How long does it take these eggs to turn into full-grown mosquitoes? 10 days. That’s it! Everyone knows that mosquitoes are annoying, but did you know that they are the most dangerous creatures on the planet? It’s true. On average, mosquitoes are responsible for close to a million deaths annually. Now don’t worry, most of these deaths happen in third-world countries where access to reliable health care is limited and sickness runs rampant. That being said, here are just a few diseases mosquitoes here in America have been known to carry and transmit.
  • Zika Virus
  • Dengue
  • Malaria
  • West Nile Virus
  • Yellow Fever
  • Chikungunya

Ways You Can Lessen Mosquito Activity On Your Property

There are a number of ways for dealing with mosquitoes. A few you may have heard of include using tiki torches, citronella candles, and bug spray. These methods can be mildly effective, but often do not provide homeowners with the results they are looking for. We recommend avoiding these methods unless you are going camping or are somewhere the following tips cannot be applied. To reduce mosquito populations on your property, here are some great tips we recommend.
  • Eliminate sources of standing water and fix leaks and moisture problems that might be attributed to water build-up.
  • Make sure decorative pools and birdbaths on your property have a way for water to circulate.
  • Trim back tree branches and shrubs to allow sunlight to shine directly on your home’s foundation.
  • Clear clutter from your yard such as leaf piles, toys, and other items that might collect water.
Another thing you can do to reduce your chances of being bitten by mosquitoes on your own property is to install fans around outdoor sitting areas. Even a light breeze is enough to make landing for mosquitoes an extremely difficult task.

A Better Way To Keep Mosquitoes Off Your Ventura County Property

Are you the kind of person who doesn’t settle for anything but the best? You are in luck. At Ventura County Pest Control, we have the absolute best solution for dealing with pesky mosquitoes, at a reasonable price. If you are planning on hosting an outdoor event, or are looking for a way to keep your property mosquito-free, year-round, our treatments are exactly what you need. If you are ready to find out what exceptional pest control could look like for your property, reach out to our team today. One of our highly trained service representatives would be happy to answer any of your questions an/or help you schedule a service visit for your Ventura County property.
It's A Great Time For Pest Prevention Tips For Your Ventura County Home
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It’s A Great Time For Pest Prevention Tips For Your Ventura County Home

Do you like to do a little spring cleaning? If so, take a moment to consider how your spring cleaning can reduce pests around your home and prevent pests from getting into your home. Here are five great spring cleaning tips that have an impact on pests.

Five Ways Your Spring Cleaning Can Deter Pests

1. Removing Clutter When you have items in your yard that don't need to be there, they can promote pest activity. Mice and rats will hide in the cavities of objects in your yard. Spiders will set up webs on objects to catch prey. Moisture pests will hide under objects that block the sun. Pests that are thigmotactic, and like to be squeezed into tight spaces, will squeeze under hard objects. Removing or stowing away unnecessary objects will reduce pest populations. 2. Trimming Tree Branches And Vegetation If you have a dense tree canopy, it can cause the perimeter around your home to be damp or moist. This is attractive to many pests, including cockroaches, centipedes, silverfish, termites, carpenter ants, and more. When you trim tree branches, you let the sunlight in to dry up the moisture. Trimming branches away from your roof-line can have another impact on pests. It can remove bridges for pests to get onto your roof and explore your roof for vulnerabilities. 3. Cleaning Gutters When your gutters are clogged, it can lead to over-saturation of the ground near your foundation walls. This can lead to wood rot, mold, fungi, and an increase in pest activity. This is an important time of year to make sure your gutter system is clean and working the way it is intended to. 4. Removing Leaf Litter If leaves are piled up near your home or underneath exterior structures, like porches, decks, and patios, they will not only promote moisture, they will provide a food source and habitat for many pests. Raking leaves up is one of the best things you can do to reduce pest populations and decrease your chances of an infestation inside your home. 5. Removing Spider Webs Spider webs can be an eyesore and ruin your curb appeal, but do you know that a spiderweb can also add to your pest problems? A web can have a silk egg sac with hundreds of eggs inside. In a matter of hours, you can have three hundred or more spiderlings hatching from those eggs and exploring the exterior of your home. If you're thinking, "Um. NOPE!" We're with you. It is best to remove those webs before the eggs hatch.

One Way To Add Even More Protection

Once you've cleaned things up, it is time to turn your attention to sealing gaps and cracks pests can use to get into your Ventura County home. The tools for this job are a caulking gun, some expanding foam, and a foundation repair kit. Do a detailed inspection of your exterior and patch up any potential entry points. Be sure to replace or fix your screens, door sweeps, and weatherstripping as well. While you can't entirely exclude pests from your home, you can deter them by removing entry points.

How Ventura County Pest Control Can Help

Whether you do a spring cleaning or not, the service professionals here at Ventura County Pest Control can help you keep pests out of your Ventura County home. Our general pest control plan provides ongoing treatments that will create a barrier around your home that repels, excludes, and eliminates pests. If you have questions about this service or you'd like to meet with one of our expertly-trained and fully-licensed pest control professionals, reach out to us today. We're standing by to assist you with this important protection for your health and property.
Ventura County Homeowner's Quick Reference Guide To Mice Control
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Ventura County Homeowner’s Quick Reference Guide To Mice Control

At first glance, you might not think that a house mouse is as dangerous or problematic as it is. Sure mice can cause a spook to anyone not expecting to see them late at night, but what trouble can they really be? The truth is, sometimes big trouble comes in very small packages, and mice are as trouble-packed as they come. Today we have put together a quick reference guide that you can utilize to keep mice out of your Ventura County home. Ready to get your home the protection it needs? Let’s jump right in.

How To Identify A House Mouse

As rodents go, house mice are as small as they come. Roughly 2 ⅓ to 3 ¾" in length, house mice can be identified by their dusty gray color, cream-colored bellies, large rounded ears, and long hairy tails. Typically mice are about half the size of rats. This does not make them any less problematic.

How Much Trouble Can Mice Be?

Despite their small size and cute appearance, mice can be extremely dangerous and destructive. With their sharp front incisor teeth, they are able to chew holes through walls, ceilings, and even into food boxes. They can use their teeth to sever electrical wiring and utility piping within your walls. We don’t have to explain to you how this can negatively affect your home. Mice are capable of carrying and transmitting a number of dangerous diseases such as Salmonellosis, rat-bite fever, and Hantavirus. This is mainly due to their filthy bodies and dirty lifestyles. When inside your home, mice carry bacteria over countertops, kitchen tables, and over left-out food. This combined with the pellets of fecal matter they leave around puts homeowners at risk. Last but not least, mice can cause a racket within the homes they infest. Nocturnal by nature, it is not uncommon for mice to be heard by homeowners scampering around within wall and ceiling voids late at night. This not only disturbs sleep but can also leave residents with a sense of uneasiness throughout their day knowing mice are around.

How and Why Mice Get Into Homes

Most people don’t know this, but house mice prefer living with people rather than out in the wild. Our homes provide them with security and an almost infinite source of food, assuming that you go shopping on a regular basis. The question is, how are they getting inside? Most commonly mice will find their way into homes through a crack or gap along the exterior. A typical house mouse can fit through a hole the size of a nickel They can also get inside through damage along rooflines or through open windows.

5 Steps To Keep Mice Out Of Your Home

  1. Keep your property well maintained. This involves regularly clearing debris and clutter, trimming back branches from the exterior of your home, and keeping the grass trimmed.
  2. Seal up potential entry points. Use a caulking gun and some wire mesh to seal up gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation. Also, consider using a wire screen to cover exterior vents leading into your home. Finally, make sure your roofline is properly sealed and that your chimney is equipped with a rodent-proof cap.
  3. Keep your home clean. Thoroughly clean your home on a regular basis making sure not to neglect beneath furniture and appliances. It helps to clean messes as they happen and to limit where you eat to just the kitchen and dining room.
  4. Eliminate food sources. You can do this by storing leftover foods inside of airtight containers and/or in the fridge. If you have pets, make sure to pick up and clean out their food and water bowls before going to bed at night.
  5. Reduce moisture around your home. To do this, make sure no pipes are leaking and that your gutters are in good working order. In addition to this, make sure no standing sources of water are present around your home and property.

What To Do If Mice Get Inside

Sometimes mice get past our defenses. If mice are able to get into your Ventura County home, give us a call here at Ventura County Pest Control. We have quick and effective measures to get mice out of your home. With our friendly pest technicians on your side, pests stand no chance. Call today and find out what premium pest control services look like for your Ventura County home.
What Happens To Spiders In The Cold Ventura County Winter?
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What Happens To Spiders In The Cold Ventura County Winter?

It is a common misconception that spiders invade homes during the wintertime to escape the cold. Although this is true for many other pests such as cockroaches, mice, and rats, spiders have one secret up their sleeves that allows them to shrug off the winter chills. This secret allows them to invade homes year-round, not out of necessity, but just because they want to. Want to find out how? We are ready to show you.

How Spiders Survive Winter

Do you know what antifreeze is? It is typically an ethylene glycol added to water to lower its freezing point. Most commonly, antifreeze is used in cars. What is interesting is that spiders have a sort of antifreeze running through their bodies. What is even more interesting is that spiders are cold-blooded creatures, meaning they should freeze right up in the cold. But they don’t. Instead, this miracle of biology allows them to invade our homes, undisturbed, regardless of what the temperature is outside.

Why You Are Finding Spiders In Your Home?

If it isn't warmth and shelter from the winter cold that attracts spiders, then what does attract them? Most often, if your home has spiders, they have been around for a long time, hiding out of sight, either within your walls, in your basement, or around other secluded areas. But why are they there? Because other pests are also there. Spiders are carnivorous by nature and feed on other insects to survive. This means if your home has spiders, it also has other pests. This idea may bring some mixed feelings. Sure spiders are killing other pests that you don’t like, but they themselves can be dangerous (in the case of black widows, tarantulas, hobo spiders, and brown recluse). If you are just now noticing spiders withing your home, chances are their populations are growing, which could mean trouble.

How You Can Prevent Spiders

There are many rights and wrongs when it comes to spider control. For instance, sealing gaps and cracks in your home’s foundation, repairing ripped screening, and replacing broken weather stripping are all great. Doing these things limits not only spiders' ability to get into your home but other pests as well. On the other hand, there are many home remedies that just don’t provide lasting results. For one there are smells. What smells do spiders hate? There are many that turn them away such as eucalyptus, tea tree, and peppermint. The only problem is the amount you would have to use to fully keep spiders away would be immense. These scents do not last forever, and they only deter spiders from the areas you put them. To keep spiders away, you have to remove the pests they invade to hunt. Doing this on your own can be a huge undertaking. Each pest is different and requires different DIY methods to deal with. At the end of the day, you would likely be wasting money, time, and effort hunting for a combination of solutions that works.

What You Can Do To Keep Spiders Out

For centuries, scientists have been developing products and methods to deal with pests. These products and methods are implemented today by skilled and trained professionals and often are not sold for public use. If you want the absolute best pest protection for your home, the licensed and qualified pest technicians here at Ventura County Pest Control are here to help. We have the treatments needed to get and keep spiders (and the pests they hunt) out of your home. Pest-free is just what we do. Give us a call today to schedule a service visit for your Ventura County home.
Why Homeowners Need Year-Round Pest Control In Colorado
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Why Homeowners Need Year-Round Pest Control In Colorado

For everything there is a season, and here in the Centennial State, we have the luxury of enjoying every weather extreme. From warm summers to snowy winters, we have it all. As a result of our geographic diversity and dynamic weather changes from season to season, we experience issues with a host of pests trying to invade our Colorado homes. Whether it’s rodents, ants, spiders, or cockroaches, we have them all. If you are tired of dealing with pests in your Colorado home, it may be time to consider the benefits of a year-round pest control plan.

Why Pests Invade Homes

During the year pests invade homes for a number of reasons. Most commonly pests begin to explore our properties in search of food, water, and shelter. Other pests find respite inside to avoid the chills of winter. Snow-filled Colorado winters are certainly chilly enough to encourage pests to find their way into our warm homes. During the colder seasons, pests such as rats, mice, and cockroaches struggle to survive outdoors, so they make their way inside. Every year we see an influx of these pests invading homes due to the chilly weather. Unfortunately, unlike other pests that just want to use your home as a shelter through the winter months, these pests are likely to stick around come spring. Many pests don’t even try to get into our homes; instead, they manage to find their way inside accidentally. This happens when the lights are turned on, screens have rips in them, and doors have no door sweeps. Once inside, these pests do their best to make themselves at home. Some try to find their way back outside while others try to survive within your walls.

The Downsides Of DIY Pest Control

There is a whole industry for solving pest problems. Having trouble with ants? Buy this product! Don’t want cockroaches in your kitchen? We have a spray for that! Dealing with rodents? This trap is guaranteed to work! They all have their promises, and all come with a fair amount of downsides. For instance, many pest control products contain dangerous chemicals that, when applied improperly, are harmful to humans as well as pets. There is also the problem of variety. So many different products for so many different pests. How much money will you spend before your home is pest-free? The amount of effort alone is not worth the stress. There is an easier solution to pest problems.

The Best Way To A Pest-Free Home

There is no better way to get and keep your home pest-free than to turn to the professionals. If you’re experiencing problems with one pest, chances are there are more issues at play. A professional pest control company has the tools and experience needed to exclude all pests that want to share a home with you. They know what treatments to use, and the right amount to be dangerous to pests but not to your family and pets. The take the stress and guesswork out of pest control. Furthermore, in the long run, hiring a professional is much more cost-efficient than trying to handle pests on your own.

Ventura County’s General Pest Control Plan

If you are looking for a plan that keeps a wide variety of everyday pests out of your home, our general pest control plan is right for you. We start with a thorough inspection of the exterior and interior of your property. Then, we help you choose from our three service options: quarterly, bi-monthly, or monthly treatments that handle both the inside and outside of your home.  Lastly, our services come with a pest-free guarantee. If pests come back between our scheduled visits, we will retreat for free. You will not find a better deal than that. To find out more about our pest control options, or to schedule a service visit for your Colorado home, reach out to us today.
Are There Seriously Rats On My Ventura County Roof?
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Are There Seriously Rats On My Ventura County Roof?

In most cases, a creature's name does not describe what they actually do or what they are. For instance, a killer whale doesn't really go around killing people. And a honey badger is not actually made of honey. But joking aside, today we are talking about roof rats. Do they actually climb on roofs? And, if so, what kind of threats do they pose to homes? We will answer these questions, and more, right now.

What Are Roof Rats?

Out of the two most common rats here in North America, the roof rat is the smallest, although their size does not make them any less of a threat to a home. In fact, roof rats are one of the most problematic rodent pests. Part of the reason for this is that they are amazing climbers, hence their name. Brown in color with lighter-colored undersides, these rodents can be found up high, nesting in roof voids and attics. To answer our title question: Yes, there are seriously rats on our Ventura County roofs.

How Roof Rats Get Inside

Because roof rats can climb and chew through practically anything, their options to get into a home are numerous. If there is a single hole anywhere, or a patch of damage that gives them access to wall voids, they can get inside. Often they will climb to the top of a home and look for entryways.

Are Roof Rats Dangerous?

Fortunately for us, roof rats are terrified of people and will rarely venture out into a home during the day. But, unfortunately, just by being in a home, they are a threat. Wherever a rodent leaves it’s fecal matter and urine, there is a chance for disease. In addition to this, roof rats commonly host fleas, ticks, and mites. Between fleas, ticks, and rats, here are some diseases they are known to spread.
  • (rat) Salmonellosis
  • (rat) Rat-Bite Fever
  • (rat) Leptospirosis
  • (flea) Murine Typhus
  • (flea) Bubonic Plague
  • (tick) Lyme Disease
If this wasn’t enough, roof rats are also destructive with their sharp teeth, chewing through anything in their way including utility piping, walls, cabinets, and even electrical wiring.

4 Great Rodent Prevention Tips

  • Use steel wool and a caulking gun to seal up gaps, cracks, and holes in your home’s exterior foundation and roof line.
  • Fix more serious damage that could allow rats a way in.
  • Limit food sources by storing leftovers in plastic containers and cleaning regularly.
  • Reduce clutter inside and outside of your home. This reduces the places roof rats are able to hide and find shelter.

Why Call The Professionals For Roof Rats?

Because of the potential dangers that come with roof rats, it is not recommended to treat for them alone. Here at Ventura County Pest Control, we have the tools and knowledge needed to safely handle roof rats to get them out of your home quickly. If you suspect your home has a rodent problem, reach out to us today and let us find the best solution for your pest problem.
Ventura County Homeowners Guide To The American Cockroach
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Ventura County Homeowners Guide To The American Cockroach

Did you know that the American cockroach isn’t actually American? In fact, the American roach is native to Africa & the Middle East and wasn’t introduced to the Americas until 1625 through the slave trade. So why is it called the American roach? Maybe it's because of its size and resilience. Known for being the largest common cockroach with a lifespan of up to 700 days, the American roach has proven to be a formidable opponent to homeowners here in Ventura County as well as across the States.

American Cockroaches Facts

There is a reason roaches are a rare pest to see around homes. Not fond of the light, cockroaches spend their days hiding and only come out when the sun has set to scavenge for food. What sets the American roach apart from other roaches is the amount of time it takes them to mature—a staggering 6-12 months, and in this time they go through 13 moultings. As an adult, an American cockroach can produce upwards of 150 offspring in their lifetime. Another interesting fact is that an adult American roach can run at record speeds of 3.4 mph. For their body size, that is the equivalent of a human running at 210 mph. Just like many other pests, the American roach likes their environment to be hot and damp, preferably above 80 degrees. As the weather outside drops, these roaches find a way indoors. Here are some common ways the American cockroach gets into homes.
  • Through cracks, gaps, or holes in a home’s foundation
  • Through sewer connections
  • Under doors
  • Through plumbing or air ducts
When cockroaches get into homes, they will hide anywhere that is dark and moist such as basements, crawlspaces, and sometimes even laundry rooms.

Prevention Steps To Keep American Cockroaches Out

  • Seal potential entry points in your home’s foundation using a caulking gun.
  • Install door sweeps on exterior doors.
  • Reduce moisture in your home by fixing leaks and installing dehumidifiers in particularly humid areas.
  • Store all leftover food inside airtight containers.
  • Clean regularly and in areas where cockroaches like to hide such as under refrigerators and stoves

What To Do If American Cockroaches Get Inside

When American cockroaches invade homes, they bring problems with them in the form of disease and contamination. If you suspect your home has fallen siege to these dangerous and resilient roaches, reach out to the professionals here at Ventura County Pest Control today! We will send one of our highly trained pest technicians out your way ASAP with a solution to get and keep roaches out of your home for good.
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