Rat Found in Toilet - Redmond (Greater Seattle) Good Job Girl's!!!

Thank you Gil for bringing in this video taken by some gals--roommates--in the Redmond area, a suburb of Seattle. Yes, rats do come up from the sewer. And, yes, rats do come right up into our toilets where we might be about to sit! Cascade Pest Control provides rat control in Seattle, Redmond, Bellevue, Everett and beyond. Call Cascade for your serious rat and rodent pest control needs. 1-888-989-8979 Cascade Pest Control

Seattle Rat not to be left behind has his own Pizza!!!!!

After all the commotion about the puny New York rat carrying off a slice of pizza our own home town 'Seattle Rat' made his statement by stealing and eating some pizza. As you can hear there are dogs barking and police sirens going off as this footage shows. Call Cascade for your serious rat and rodent pest control needs. 1-888-989-8979 Cascade Pest Control

Welcome Mike Sven (a.k.a. Seattle Pizza Rat!)

Micheal Sven brings his good nature and gumption to our Cascade team. And here he is in disguise! Click here to meet our whole team! Cascade Pest Control

Meet Bryant Myles.... what?

Bryant Myles, Cascade Technician extraordinaire, is seen here modeling his new winter ensemble, complete with tail.

Wait a minute. Mr Myles you are out of uniform! We want everyone to know that this is not acceptable dress code for meeting clients. Wait again...something's happening. OH,okay, here he is in uniform...I guess he just 'had a moment."

Seriously, Bryant is making headway mastering his skills in pest control, rat and rodent control in particular. Way to go Bryant! Thanks for your contribution to the Cascade Team! Cascade Pest Control

Drones fly into the picture for pest control

Drones are the latest technology gadget to emerge in the fight against pests worldwide. CNN shares a clip here on how these flyers help Australian farmers deal with costly agricultural pests: feral pigs, wild dogs and deer that cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to crops.

While the drone used in the video clip appears to be a de-militarized version, here in the States there are thousands if not millions of people learning to fly. There are already reports of pest professionals using these flying cameras to help with inspections of roofs, gutter lines, trees and surrounding vegetation. Have you seen drones flying around your house or neighborhood? What are your thoughts on businesses using this kind of technology?

Cascade's "Seattle Rat" BEWARE!

Technicians please post comments!! Humor courtesy of Casacde Pest Control. Www.cascadepest.com/rodent-overview/ Cascade Pest Control

Rats Come up through Toilets...Cascade Humor version

Controlling rats can be a tough and dirty job. And, yes, real rats do swim up from the sewer into peoples toilets. Here's our way to have a little fun with it, have some humor about what we do. Cascade's Rat In Toilet video ENJOY! Cascade Pest Control

Another Case of Plague - This Time in New Mexico

Another case of bubonic plague was confirmed in New Mexico, the fourth confirmed in the U.S. The patient is a 73-year old woman who, after hospitalization, is now recovering at home. Bubonic plague--or the plague organism-- is carried by fleas which, in turn, are carried about by rats. So rats are then the principle "vectors" of plague. And, as it stands, the frequency of plague cases are rare. Rats may rarely carry plague, but they do very frequently carry other disease organisms. One of the most frequent causes "Rat Bite Fever." Videos about rat-bite fever. For more information about rodent- or rat-carried diseases see related playlist on our Youtube channel: Cascade Pest Control. For information on rat control, rat inspections, rodent control, rodent inspections, rodent-proofing and exclusion from www.CascadePest.com . Rodent control is important to our health and well-being because rats contaminate our food and/or living space, spread diseases, cause damage such as by compressing insulation or gnawing on electrical wires. Rats live in cities, both urban and suburban areas...wherever there is enough human population to help them by with garbage, food (often pet food and bird seed or compost...but sometimes our actual food from household kitchens to stores to warehouses.) We also supply rats (rattus novegicus and rattus rattus) shelter with the cavities of our walls, attics and crawlspaces and our insulation for their nest material. Rat control should be maintained by professionals and an ongoing maintenance program designed to protect your home from future invasion. The rat populations is maintained throughout greater Seattle, from areas up north like Arlingtion down through Everett, Lynnwood, and down through Seattle north-to-south. The resident rodent population resides in other homes, greenbelts, saltwater beaches and so on. Besides a continuous rat population "reservoir" down through Seattle, there are more or less continuous pockets of rats living clear around the north end of lake Washington and in the communities of Kenmore, Bothell, Woodinville, Kirkland and down through Bellevue. Mercer Island is not immune. It has a high incidence of rats, many of which take refuge in the many greenbelts. This pattern of fairly continuous pockets of rat population "networks" also runs down through Maple Valley to Renton, SeaTac (including the airport), Burien, Des Moines and Kent. A few decades ago rats weren't found on the Sammamish plateau. But now, with the many housing developments the former population of field mice are rapidly being displaced by rats, found often now in Snoqualmie and North Bend.

Bubonic Plague Reported in Michigan

There have been 14 human cases of bubonic plague in the United States this year alone. A fact few Americans are aware of. Just recently the Michigan Dept. of Health & Human Services reported a new case near Lake Superior. Locating the "reservoir" of rats carrying bubonic plague is being complicated by the fact that this person had recently traveled to Colorado and back. See original article. Cases of bubonic plague, while rare, show up in various parts of the country. In the 1960's rats carrying fleas infested with bubonic plague were found. Since 1970 most cases have been from New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona. However, with Seattle ranking highly* among the most rat-infested cities in the U.S. could harbor some bubonic plague carrying rats as well. Rats actually carry fleas, particularly the oriental rat flea, which in turn carry the plague organism. See Cascade Pest Control YouTube channel with playlist devoted to rodent-borne diseases. For more information on Rats and Rodents in the greater Seattle, Eastside (Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, Kirkland +), King county and Snohomish county. *Seattle ranked 7th and 1st on two different reports within the last 12 months.

Cascade's YouTube Channel - Rats in Restuarants

We have compiled about 17 videos from all over the world which depict rats or rodents in restaurants. It's pretty graphic at times but shows us the real threat to our food supply...mostly in terms of contamination and the spread of disease. What's quite something are the reactions of people when they realize there are rats in a restaurant...perhaps a restaurant they frequent...up to now. Rats are a huge problem in the greater Seattle area, which includes Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Everett and so on. And the rat population is strong. Seattle has ranked both 7th and 1st most rat-infested large city in the U.S.! There rats can show up anywhere, whether a vacant lot, a restaurant or our homes. Other rodent problems we encounter are house mice and deer, or field, mice. So, take a look at our YouTube channel, "Cascade Pest Control," where you will find both entertaining video playlists as well as educational ones. For more information about rats and their control see our Rodent page within our website. Don Leland

Cost of Pest Control at busy Airports?

With all the jets going back and forth, and the enormous amount of people coming and going, we mostly notice the rush, the security and the schedules of Arrivals and Departures. But with all those people come food--restaurants as well as the food services to replenish the airliners for their passengers. And there is the waste: waste food and cooking debris...and also all the waste products that come off the airplanes. There is usually an on-going rat or mouse population around airports that, hopefully, you don't have to see. Then you add all the places that jets travel and the possibility of transiting parasites, insects and particularly bed bugs in all that luggage! What does it cost? Well, Los Angeles' airport, LAX, has just caught up with the pest control budgets employed by other major airports and it will be $750,000 per years to protect the airport from runaway pest infestations. Part of the cost will insure that there is a pest control technician on site 24 hours/day, 365 days a year! Our own SeaTac has a similar budget and has had long-term experience with rat problems.

For more information about rats, rat control or rodent control. For information about rodent exclusion and preventing rats. here we discuss how to block out rats, to create a rodent-proof barrier. For information about why rats and mice are so successful. Here we discuss the abilities of rats and mice to climb, gnaw, chew, jump, swim and burrow their way into a home or business. Don Leland

Ants may Harbor Virus that Threatens Honey Bees

Researchers in New Zealand, Argentina and Australia conducted a study showing that a previously unknown virus--one which may have caused massive honey bee deaths in New Zealand...in carried by ants. The virus causes "deformed Wing," which is correlated with hive collapse. Original Article This finding comes as honey bee populations have experienced a significant decline. Speculations have risen about certain, specific pesticides to other factors. However, the primary causal factor continues to allude science. Much more will need investigated and uncovered for us to stave the collapse of bee populations in the U.S. and certain other regions on the planet. Some researchers point to the fact that our modern, large-scale agriculturally-driven practice of raising massive amounts of honey bees--apis sp.--is basically set us up for failure. Our many crop systems, including everything from alfalfa to berry and orchard crops now rely on a mono-culture of pollinators--the "European" and "Caucasian" honey bees (two strains of one species.) Healthy, and natural pollinator systems rely and a wide range of various bees, some wasps, beetles, butterflies, and even flies. Such a system would required us to move from mono crop cultures as well, but specifically would favor green belts of bushes and trees near crops to supply the naturally occurring range of pollinating insects. Originally from NPR, and can be heard here. Don Leland

Woman Has Portions of All her Limbs Amputated Due to Tick Bite

It's a very rare instance, but a 40-year-old Oklahoma woman had portions each leg and each arm amputated due to a life-threatening infection from a tick bite this summer. Her name is Jo Rogers, a mother of two. She likely got bit--and, hence, contracted the disease, while hiking. This is an extreme case, but we are not without ticks here in the Seattle - Puget Sound region. Yes, there are far more ticks usually found in eastern Washington, but we do have ticks here in western Washington as well. Many are found on deer trails in the woods right around us. Perhaps the most common species of tick here is the 'brown dog tick.' Don't let the name fool you...deer and other animals are their hosts as much, if not more, than dogs.

Fortunately, we have few cases where ticks are plentiful on any small portion of property and neither homes nor lawns--knock on wood--need be treated. Nevertheless, we at Cascade Pest Control provide control for fleas and, in the rare instance, ticks. Cascade Pest Control is dedicated to protecting your health and property. Call Cascade Pest Control for all your rat, rodent, insect and other pest needs.  Don Leland

Opossums In the Bellevue-Eastside Area

Opossums are not native to the Pacific Northwest. Nonetheless, opossums are now wide-spread and have been cited in Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Everett, Issaquah and just about every other city and town of King and Snohomish counties.

Here's a few facts about opossums:

1. The only opossum species in North America are the "Virginia 'Possums." 
2. Males average about 6 lbs. and females normally weigh in at around 4 lbs. But they can sometimes weigh as much as 15 lbs! 
3. Opossums have a gland somewhat like a skunk and can emit a similar odor. 
4. When attacked they can "run." But they may also snarl at their attacker. And, of course, they can also "play possum," that is, they hold still and act as if dead. 
5. We at Cascade get a few calls here and there for infestations in crawl spaces beneath the home. 
6. On some calls we've encountered them eating copious amounts of dog food. One technician went out into the client's garage--with the client--only to find an opossum starring up at them from the bottom of a large bin of dog food! 

Opossums are just another example of vertebrate pests of homes in the greater Seattle, Eastside and other areas. Of course, rats still cause the most damage and calls. But opossums are strange to encounter. You might at first think you'd found an "atomic rat!" Cascade Nuisance Wildlife Control. Call Cascade Pest Control for all your rat, rodent, insect and other pest needs.  Don Leland

Ant Researcher Nearly got Arrested!

Dr. Laurel Hansen We at Cascade Pest Control have known Dr. Laurel Hansen for decades. In fact, nearly 40 years ago, and prior to the inception of Cascade, I (Kurt T.) was collecting carpenter ant samples from around the greater Seattle area and sending them to Dr. Akre, her professor. I later found out that I could have been better directed as some of what I collected was not quite what she needed. But I did my best to contribute samples and she went on to earning her PhD. Since then she's been perhaps North America's expert on campnotus...carpenter ants. And we at Cascade have attended her lectures and even brought her in for training. But the funny thing is that some years ago when Ms. Hansen was conducting research at night following carpenter ants with red-shaded flashlights. She had permission of the property owners, but apparently the property owners hadn't mentioned her nighttime studies to their vacation-time house sitter. The house-sitter called the police who found her and her, along with some entomological colleagues, "lurking" about in the dark shining red-colored light onto the ground. It took some explaining but eventually the police let her go, but not without her teaching them a thing or two about ants! :)

Shown here is 'damage done by carpenter ants' and 'lone carpenter ant worker.' For more information on carpenter ants. http://www.cascadepest.com/ant-control/ Cascade Pest Control provides Carpenter Ant and other Ant control in the greater Seattle area, including Bellevue, Issaquah, Everett, Kirkland, Redmond, Kent, Lynnwood, Woodinville and beyond. Cascade also provides rat and rodent control. Don Leland

Seattle summer means more wasps are about

Summer is still going strong here in the Greater Seattle area, and after another mild winter, this means we'll be seeing large populations of rodents, spiders, and wasps among other nuisance pests.

One of the more notable jobs we handled this week was a call for a wasp nest near a playground at a condo association (COA) in Bothell. Take a look at the size and location of this nest!

 

Wasps build their nests on bushes or trees, on fences, in attics and crawlspaces, in the ground and even in wall voids. Here in this case we see a large nest established very close to the playground area of a condo association. We see so many of these, in fact, that we've made a short video showing examples of wasp nests.

For further reading, UC Davis has a very good site on bees and wasps. 

Seattle is #1....but not in the way you might think.

Seattle leads the country in contact with rodents, according to a recent study released by the US Census Bureau. The agency conducts a biennial accounting of rat, mouse and cockroach sightings across the country. The most recent numbers, collected in 2013, were released in June 2015, and show Seattle is a rat paradise!

Amazingly, this graph suggests that Seattle has more homes with rodent infestation that New York City, the alleged city of 2 million rats, as does Austin, Miami, Tampa and San Antonio.

The same report shows Seattle scoring in the lower-ranking cities with mice and cockroaches. View the Bloomberg article here, and contact Cascade Pest Control TODAY if you have a rodent issue!

Drought May Cause Plague of Yellow-Jacket Wasps This Year

The late Dr. Akre of WSU, a leading expert on yellow jackets predicted huge population explosions on years with dry, warm springs and early summers, says Kurt Treftz of Cascade Pest Control. "If Dr. Akre is correct we may see yellow jackets all over our outdoor eating and other activities. And we may find a record number of yellow jacket nests on and around our homes and other locations." 

Yellow jackets are a wasp that builds paper 'enveloped' nests. The populations can reach into the thousands. While some nests may be situated such that they hang under eaves of homes, other yellow-jacket nests may locate underground, actually excavating soil. These ground nests can be agitated when walking or lawn-mowing over them.  

Worse yet is when yellow-jackets locate their nest in a wall void or attic of a home. In such cases their nests of perhaps 4,000 wasps is only kept out of our living spaces by a half-inch 1/2 inch of sheetrock and some paint. The trouble is that they will slowly scratch through the sheetrock and enter the home. "We get calls every year by folks who have to leave their home, driven out by hundreds of wasps. Or, if they're lucky, some people call us while they still hear the scratching sounds well before they've burst into the home."

Some other species nest in bushes and trees, including the nick-named "bald-faced hornet." "Sadly, I rode my tricycle into a bush with such a nest as a kid," says Treftz. "I was covered with stings and traumatized."

Treftz holding Dr. Akre’s book,
“Yellow Jackets of North America”

Dr. Akre had predicted the surge in paper wasp populations in the greater Seattle area in 1979 and other years since. He was the leading authority, having written 'Yellow Jackets of North America  (north of Mexico).' 

"His predictions have proven correct a number of years, including 2003. What remains uncertain is whether a year this dry would actually impede them," says Treftz. "We have to wait until late July and into August to know the full impact. But we at Cascade Pest Control have already had to respond to a number of calls, including a yellow-jacket nest hanging from wires over an intersection. Traffic had to be halted during the process."

For more information about yellow jackets or other pests call Cascade Pest at 1-888-989-8979.