Automobiles get Trashed by Rodents in Redmond, WA

This engine compartment was trashed by rodents. The cleaning work will be considerable, but the damage to hoses, belts and wiring could cost a lot more $$$$!. "This is the engine bay/ mouse motel of a 1961 Olds Super 88. This was my great grand dad's car, and has been sitting in a barn since 1977. I just recently purchased it from my late grand dad's estate. Now I am making plans to get it to my house to bring it back to a road worthy condition, with no mouse nest!" Thanks to Brent in Redmond Washington for the story. Cascade provides rodent and pest control for the Redmond, Kirkland and Greater Eastside area. For more information about Cascade and rodent control see For pest control in Redmond For Pest control in Kirkland

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

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?

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.

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

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

Smart Pest Management for Your Garden

IPM is a smart way to approach pest control, especially for your garden. Cascade has been employing various aspects of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for years and we'd like to share it with you to improve your gardening experience and help you avoid relying too much on chemical pesticides. -- First, Identify the pest organism (mites, insects, diseases or maybe even rodents). This usually means that you won't be applying any pesticides ahead of time, anticipating the pest. But that depends on the pest and whether there are other ways to mitigate the impact of that pest organism. So, sometimes you may identify a pest from previous years--a pest insect, for example, that just keeps coming up. In that case you may need to plan ahead and utilize one or more of the following tactics in anticipation of that insect pest. In most other cases you become patient and watch your garden diligently, becoming particularly aware of what's happening to your vegetables, or your shrubs, or your lawn. Gaining a good idea of the various kinds of pest in your area is important an we suggest looiking up our local Extension Agency and Master Gardener resources online. http://www.mgfkc.org/
Try to keep in mind that some pests are agressive and others are slow. Plan around which pests are so aggressive that some least-toxic pesticide may be needed to save your plants and which ones you can use other methods to mitigate. Learing this calls on you to become knowledgable about the various pests taht might attack the plants you're caring for. --- Carefully Select Plants according to how resistant they are to disease and bugs. Some plants have few natural defences. Others may be resistant to pests but only when they get enough sunlight, or water, soil PH, or other nutrients. Also, select the healthiest plant stock when at the nursery! --- Employ sanitation. Sometimes it's helpful to sanitize garden tools. Especially if you've been working with a diseased plant--maybe pruning--it's good to sterize the tool with a 10% chlorine bleach--then allow it to air dry before using the tool(s) on other plants. --- Crop Rotation. This is common place in agriculture but can also be helpful in your backyard garden. Consider roating by plant family as all nightshade plants--peppers, tomatoes and potatoes, for example--may share a common insect or disease pest. --- Weed Management. Starting with a clean seedbed is a must, and can take some planning and work. Using cover crops during winter--such as annual ryegrass--could compete with weeds and kekep them to a minimum. Tuen over the winter cover crop about a month before spring planting. --- Insects and Mites: A first line of defense may be least-toxic approaches such as insecticidal soaps and oils. Many of these are non-toxic to us. Also, consider interspersing certain plants that are insect repellent by nature. Only use other pesticides as a last resort, select those allowed for the plant type (special care for edibles!), read and follow the label directions carefully, and try to use the lowest % and lest amount at first. --- Integrated Pest Mangement for deer or rabbits includes mechanical controls such as fencing. There are "water skunks" that can be attached to the end of your garden hose which have a motion sensor and, when an animal moves nearby, the spray nozel shoots out, scaring the raccoon or bird away. Don Leland

Cascade's New Informative Rodent Video

We at Cascade Pest Control are happy to announce a new and very informative video about rodents: Rats and Mice, their behavior and examples of what might be found at a home. In the video we explore rat evidenced and signs, what rodents eat, and the many places in a home that rats and mice can gain entry. We explore the house exterior, roof, crawlspace and more. Rats are an important pest in the greater Seattle area and they run rampant on Mercer Islann, and in communities like Medina, Bellevue, Issaquah and Kirkland laregly due to all the waterfront areas. But rats are not confined there. Rat populations are soaring throughout the eastside (of Lake Washington), south King county and throughout most of Snohomish county due to the growth in human population. Rats are "commensal rodents" meaning they live with or near humans--actually dependent on human habitation. So rats are now being found throughout all residential neighborhoods, whether urban or suburban. Rats also cause considerable damage to homes and can carry harmful diseases. Please take a look at our rodent vieo to learn more. http://www.cascadepest.com/videos/ Don Leland

Abundant Blackberries in Seattle Area Invite Rats

This hot and dry summer has been a boon to the blackberry patches in and around the greater Seattle area. Throughout King and Snohomish counties we have loads of blackberry bushes, sometimes taking over corners of lots, or even whole vacant lots. These berries are a source of enjoyment for all of us each year. However, these same blackberries--along with other berries and fruits--atract rats. And the blackberry vines and bushes create well hidden spaces for them to hide. Rats and other pests thrive on the berries this time of year, encouraging them to bread and multiply while the food is plentiful. Later, after the rat population has increased and it gets cold, the rats will tend to move into the attics, garages and crawlspaces of our homes. This hot and dry summer has been a boon to the blackberry patches in and around the greater Seattle area. Throughout King and Snohomish counties we have loads of blackberry bushes, sometimes taking over corners of lots, or even whole vacant lots. These berries are a source of enjoyment for all of us each year. However, these same blackberries--along with other berries and fruits--atract rats. And the blackberry vines and bushes create well hidden spaces for them to hide. Rats and other pests thrive on the berries this time of year, encouraging them to bread and multiply while the food is plentiful. Later, after the rat population has increased and it gets cold, the rats will tend to move into the attics, garages and crawlspaces of our homes. http://nematode.unl.edu/norway_rat1.jpg We're not suggesting you remove all blackberries from you property. Nor could you remove them from adjacent or nearby property without permission. Plus, the blackberries are for you to enjoy. But if you have blackberries growing nearby it is all the more reason to have Cascade set up a protective barrier around your home and service it often enough to keep the rats at bay. So, enjoy those blackberries...and have Cascade protect your home today. 1-888-989-9879 Don Leland We're not suggesting you remove all blackberries from you property. Nor could you remove them from adjacent or nearby property without permission. Plus, the blackberries are for you to enjoy. But if you have blackberries growing nearby it is all the more reason to have Cascade set up a protective barrier around your home and service it often enough to keep the rats at bay. So, enjoy those blackberries...and have Cascade protect your home today. 1-888-989-9879

Pregnant Mother of Four Dies from Bee Stings

A young mother of four children from the state of Vriginia died from wasps stings. She was only 32 years old and pregnant with her fifth child. http://freeyellowjacketremoval.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/YellowJacket.jpeg While this is rare, the wasps encountered are plentiful here in the greater Seattle area. During August and September wasp nests, particularly Yellow Jackets, have populations of up to four thousand in any one nest! Problems we've encountered with wasps and yellow jackets in the Seattle area, Bellevue and Redmond include wall nests that can break into the living space of the home presenting an escalated risk to people and pests. What happens is the wasps nest in wall cavities or in attics just above the ceiling, and the wasps slowly scratch through the sheetrock until there is only a layer of paper and paint separating them from the home interior. We at Cascade have had a number of people over the years call us from their neighbor's house because they were driven out from the yellow jackets breaking through the wall and invading their home. In a few cases we caught the situation before they'd broken through. If you have wasps, yellow jackets or other pests--or, better yet, to set up pest protection before it's a problem, call Cascade today! 1-888-989-78979 WWW.CASCADEPEST.COM Don Leland